BIGGA and ICL reveal scholarship participants

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BIGGA and ICL reveal scholarship participants: The British & International Golf Greenkeepers Association (BIGGA) and Premium Partner ICL have revealed the five participants of the eighth ICL Continue to Learn Scholarship. 

From a remote links course on the north coast of Scotland to a nine-hole championship venue close to central London, the ICL Continue to Learn Scholars for 2024 accurately represent the diverse greenkeeping industry and how anyone can make a great career for themselves by grasping the opportunities made available via BIGGA membership.

BIGGA and ICL reveal scholarship participants

BIGGA and ICL reveal scholarship participants

The five successful BIGGA members have been invited to attend Continue to Learn at the BIGGA Turf Management Exhibition, taking place in Harrogate, North Yorkshire, in January 2024. Continue to Learn is considered the largest learning experience for those in sports turf management outside the United States.

The ICL Continue to Learn Scholars for 2024 are:

  • Chris Hale, deputy course manager, Taunton & Pickeridge Golf Club
  • Sam Norman, assistant greenkeeper, Abbey Hill Golf Club
  • Kate Stillwell, course superintendent, West London Golf Centre
  • Jason Norwood, greenkeeper, Reay Golf Club
  • Jamie Caswell, Blue Course supervisor, Frilford Heath Golf Club

To earn an ICL Continue to Learn Scholarship, BIGGA members must demonstrate a commitment to developing their own professional abilities by engaging with BIGGA’s Continuing Professional Development scheme. Whether through in-person learning, reading the association’s monthly journal, Greenkeeper International, or by accessing resources on the association’s website, BIGGA members can enjoy thousands of learning opportunities, all aimed at improving their professional abilities.

Jason Norwood has previously enjoyed success with BIGGA, having been crowned the Toro Student Greenkeeper of the Year in 2019 and participating in the The Open Volunteer Support Team and the Future Turf Managers Initiative. The Reay greenkeeper said: “Living in the far north of Scotland, there is a lack of educational events that you would find in other areas of the UK. Being a lone greenkeeper, this proves challenging to get the time away from maintaining the golf course without it impacting the rest of the working week. The ICL Scholarship will enable me to access the best educational event in the greenkeeping calendar.”

Kate Stillwell is course superintendent at West London Golf Centre, a nine-hole championship golf course just five miles from Wembley Stadium. She said: “I feel very fortunate to have been accepted as there is a huge wealth of knowledge to take advantage of at BTME that I can bring back to share with the team. There is huge importance in continuing to educate ourselves on advances in technology, techniques and knowledge within the groundscare industry. There have been contacts I have made for life at BTME and my hope is to carry on sharing and spreading the knowledge, bringing new people into the industry.”

Continue to Learn at BTME 2024 will take place in Harrogate, North Yorkshire from 21 to 24 January 2024. For further information about BTME and Continue to Learn, visit www.btme.org.uk

The Turf Rewards loyalty scheme from ICL and Syngenta, BIGGA members can claim Continue to Learn education vouchers. Points are gained by purchasing products for use on the golf course. For further information visit www.turfrewards.com

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GroundsFest Announces Education Fund

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GroundsFest Announces Education Fund: Organisers of GroundsFest have announced that event profits are being reinvested back into the industry to form The GroundsFest Education Fund.

The GroundsFest Education Fund has been designed to provide support to help students at land-based colleges overcome specific barriers to participation so they can remain in education. The aim of the Fund is to not only support and enhance a student’s education experience but to encourage more people into the industry by making education more accessible.

GroundsFest Announces Education Fund

GroundsFest Announces Education Fund

Through profits generated from GroundsFest, students will be able to reach their full potential by obtaining funding for a wide range of items such as course literature, stationary, tools, laptops, computers and other electrical goods, driving lessons, and accredited training courses on subjects including machinery, weed management, sports turf maintenance, lawn care, arboriculture and many more.

Commenting on The GroundsFest Education Fund, Event Director Christopher Bassett said: “Unfortunately, the number of young people embarking on a career in grounds management is in decline and collectively, we should be doing all we can to change this. Education is the first step into the industry but the numbers coming through and qualifying are worryingly low.

After several conversations, we were shocked to hear that students are being forced out of education or are being prevented from entering education due to not having the money to purchase necessary items. Our aim was to always give back to the industry through the event and therefore we are extremely proud to be launching The GroundsFest Education Fund.”

The scheme will be trialled for the first year at Wiltshire College & University Centre before being rolled out nationwide. Victoria Fiander, Assessor in Horticulture, and Bradley Tennant, Sports Turf Lecturer, both from Wiltshire College, were instrumental in the development of The GroundsFest Education Fund.

Commenting on the new scheme, Bradley said: “The Education Fund is a fantastic initiative for students to access opportunities they may otherwise not have. Coming from a public school, and a council area background I would have loved to have had an opportunity like this, having personally paid for my own certificates such as spraying, tractor driving, and chainsaw tickets, knowing this is a key area that holds many back from pay rises or even progression within their workplace.

“Working with students, I know they often can’t find work due to travel arrangements. We are located in a very rural area, and having access to The GroundsFest Education Fund has the potential to bring more young people into our industry. Something as simple as driving lessons could pave the way for their future to become an industry leader.

“Land-based colleges are the point of entry for the vast majority of horticulture, from sports turf stadiums to the local garden centre. It’s vital we support our colleges. There are currently only 12 land-based colleges within the UK, which is a worrying number considering you can’t turn your head without seeing something that’s been involved with horticulture in some form.

The industry is struggling from top to bottom and education is the way forward.”

To watch the show highlights please click here

For more information, please visit www.groundsfest.com

You can also follow GroundsFest on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram @GroundsFest for much more news, reviews and insightful views. 

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Introducing Nano-Spray

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Introducing Nano-Spray: Recognising the need for a breakthrough solution to small scale precision spraying, Compact Sprayer manufacturers Martin Lishman Ltd are thrilled to introduce the Nano-Spray to their line-up of compact amenity sprayers.

The little sibling to the industry-leading Micro-Spray, the Nano-Spray is an ultra-compact, 36 litre, fully-electric self-propelled sprayer that delivers a high precision spray application with no impact on fine turf.

Introducing Nano-Spray

Introducing Nano-Spray

In an industry where precision is paramount, spraying delicate areas like cricket grounds and golf greens can be a challenge. Vehicles used to move sprayers can damage the turf, which has led to the adoption of small push-along and knapsack sprayers. While easier on the turf, these alternatives present their own set of limitations, most notably small tank capacities, and uneven spray application.

Targeted for use on smaller amenity areas and serving as an invaluable tool for contractors, the Nano-Spray is small enough to fit through most gateways and passageways. Despite its small size, it is fully equipped with an array of features typically reserved for larger, professional-grade specification sprayers.

Designed from the ground up, the durable yet lightweight space frame chassis is propelled by an advanced rear wheel drive system and a calibrated 12 speed controller. The UV-safe 36 litre polyurethane tank feeds a 2m folding boom via a two-section valve block. The Nano-Spray also comes equipped as standard with boom break backs, independent shut-off nozzle bodies and chemical agitation.

At the heart of the Nano-Spray is a custom built 24-volt lithium battery pack, ensuring consistent peak performance for over an hour of continuous spraying. The battery compartment is designed to store up to 3 batteries, effectively giving an impressive runtime of over 3 hours; a handy battery gauge is mounted in the control panel to give the user an indication of remaining battery life.

Up front, an ergonomic steering handle provides a simple trigger throttle system and a spray on/off button for easy fingertip control of spraying. An integrated rocker switch allows the user to change the motor direction for ultimate manoeuvrability.

“We wanted to get it right” says Joel Capper, Managing Director of Martin Lishman Ltd. “Our sprayer line-up has a reputation for reliability and durability that we wanted to ensure was carried through to the Nano-Spray during the design stage. It has been an eagerly awaited product to add to our line-up, and we hope our amenity customers will see it as a valuable addition to their armoury”.

The Nano-Spray will be on display for the first time at Saltex 2023, in November on the Martin Lishman stand (E080).

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Autumn renovations made easy

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Autumn renovations made easy: Autumn renovations are par for the course and Reesink Turfcare provides the chance to get ahead in the game with Toro and AgriMetal bringing the perfect solution with state-of-the-art aeration and leaf clearance equipment.

Renovation is an essential part of course maintenance; repairing damage from the summer, bolstering surfaces for the winter and keeping the course clear of leaves and debris is a demanding job, but it can be made easier with the right machinery.

Autumn renovations made easy

Autumn renovations made easy

Here’s where Reesink Turfcare steps in with a selection of machinery from some of the brands it distributes, as David Timms, national accounts manager, explains: “Autumn is crucial for repairing the damage done during summer, preparing the course so it can get through the winter without too much damage and is ready to go in the spring. We have what greenkeeping teams need to do that.”

Aeration work will be key. Relieving some of the compaction in the top surface and removing thatch, allowing the land to drain better and encouraging seed germination and grass growth, and as David says: “the best partner for that work is the Toro ProCore 648s, also widely known to be the most efficient pedestrian aerator on the market.”

It’s not only a fast worker with a 122cm aeration swath that lets it aerate up to 18 greens in seven hours, but its unique design with the wheel located in front of the aeration heads means operators can make pass after pass without running over cores or freshly aerated turf, preventing damage and making cleanup easier.

With aeration work taken care of, it’s vital to make sure falling leaves don’t undo all the good work. As the old grass recovers from summer and the seeded areas begin to get their roots down, don’t risk leaves smothering the grass, allowing moss to take over and thatch to form, as well as creating the perfect micro-environment that is conducive to disease occurrence.

Toro’s ProLine H800 is productivity and efficiency personified. It clears leaves and other organic debris from the tees, greens and fairways quickly into a 810 Litre capacity system in one pass. Meanwhile Toro’s Pro Force debris blower clears grass clippings, leaves, chaff, and other debris from fairways, clubhouse grounds, fence lines, paths, and other paved areas farther and faster — in little time.

AgriMetal’s lightweight PTO driven blowers are a great option for shifting large quantities of debris. There are three attachments of varying horsepower that can be attached to the back of a tractor and can work in the worst of conditions without marking or compacting the turf. All models benefit from the lighter weight impeller increasing air flow output whilst reducing load on their drive belts. Quieter, more powerful and kinder to the tractor.

David concludes: “Getting the turf in the best possible position now ready for spring is the best time spent this season. And with the right equipment there’s no reason for this to be difficult, stressful or time-consuming.”

To learn more about how Toro and AgriMetal can help you to get ahead of the game with your renovation plans this autumn, visit the website reesinkturfcare.co.uk, call 01480 226800 or email info@reesinkturfcare.co.uk

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One week until SALTEX

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One week until SALTEX: Exhibitors are getting ready with just one week to go until SALTEX.

Visitors are guaranteed that a trip to the exhibition in Birmingham will introduce them to all the new additions and advancements in the industry including the latest cutting-edge electric machinery launches from leading suppliers.

One week until SALTEX

One week until SALTEX

Here’s a snapshot of what visitors can expect from some of the 400 brands in three halls, across two days, at one location.

For Kubota, SALTEX will provide the European launch platform for the next addition to its eco-friendly line-up, tightly under wraps until the show. And from EGO Power Plus, an exclusive viewing of its new-look PRO X range, set to launch in 2024, featuring what it classifies as a ‘trailblazing battery’ with charging technology specifically designed for professional and local authorities.

Reesink UK has chosen SALTEX to debut the industry’s first all-electric outfront rotary mower from Toro. The battery-powered Groundsmaster e3200 is joined by the Toro Workman MDX Lithium, also launching at the show.

Alastair Rowell, managing director of Reesink UK, says: “We’re delighted to introduce the latest electric technology to groundscare at SALTEX. Battery power is an integral part of the industry’s future and these are two crucial launches from Toro for the market.”

Kress will also be showcasing its new line of commercial-grade outdoor power equipment and revolutionary commercial 8-minute Cybersystem battery platform engineered to have the fastest re-charge of any commercial battery system. While Infinicut and its technical team will be on hand to demonstrate the newest additions to its innovative InfiniApp, including its new fleet management feature.

New machinery isn’t the only thing visitors can expect a preview of at SALTEX this year. Green Best will be unveiling new turf management products with its latest organo-mineral fertilisers developed for its Velvit range.

Concluding Geoff Webb, CEO of the GMA, organisers of SALTEX, says: “Getting up close and personal with the latest innovations on the market from our exhibitors is one of the many reasons visitors come to SALTEX year on year. Hearing from industry-leading experts about the latest developments in our Learning LIVE programme, receiving guidance on funding from the National Governing Bodies in attendance, or networking with some of the greatest in the business, are just a few of the others.”

There are plenty more exhibitors both new and returning to SALTEX to showcase the latest additions and advancements in their line-ups. Don’t pass up the opportunity to see them, register now for Europe’s largest and leading sports turf, amenities, and landscaping trade exhibition at Birmingham NEC on 1-2 November 2023 at: https://bit.ly/456l0dA

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