Six months work experience on Ryder Cup course

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Six months work experience on Ryder Cup course: Four young greenkeepers from around Europe are coming to the end of a unique six-month work experience placement at Marco Simone Golf and Country Club in Rome, the host of this year’s Ryder Cup. And their stay will culminate in golf’s biggest spectacle, the Cup itself, being held in the last week of September.

The placement scheme was organised by FEGGA, the Federation of European Golf Greenkeeping Associations, and sponsored by CapillaryFlow, the leader in water, carbon dioxide and oxygen management techniques for golf courses and other sports fields, and equipment giant Toro. It is the second time Capillary and FEGGA have combined to give greenkeepers work experience at a Ryder Cup site, but this scheme is very different to the one run at Le Golf National in Paris in 2018.

Six months work experience on Ryder Cup course

Six months work experience on Ryder Cup course

“In Paris, ten greenkeepers came from Europe and ten from the USA, but they were just there for tournament week,” says FEGGA executive officer Dean Cleaver. “Unlike all the other volunteers, who had to pay their own way to Paris, we took care of all our delegations costs for getting there and back. It worked really well, bringing greenkeepers from across the world together. But this programme is on a completely different level.”

The four scholars, Oscar Gummesson from Sweden, Ciaran Killeen from Ireland, Michele Lazzeri from Italy, and Mathis Reboullot from France, have been part of the greenkeeping team at Marco Simone since April, including for the Italian Open in May, and will remain there until the end of the Ryder Cup. “We’ve taken care of their accommodation, gave some help with flying in and out, and there has been regular education throughout the programme,” says Cleaver. “Toro has been and delivered a course on irrigation, Kneale Diamond from CapillaryFlow is going to do one on bunkers, and Alejandro Reyes, who is serving as director of agronomy for Marco Simone, has been educating them on the grass choices that were made for the golf course. It has been a really great experience for them, and I’m confident that what the four of them have learned during the placement will help them go on to become leaders of the greenkeeping community in their countries.”

CapillaryFlow chief executive Martin Sternberg, himself a qualified course superintendent, says: “We were really happy to be involved with the programme in Paris, and are even more so this year. As a company, our mission is to help improve the standard and economics of golf course – and other sports field – presentation, and improving the education of the greenkeepers who take care of those courses is a really important part of that. It’s been a fantastic programme, and I hope our scholars will go home afterwards and remember it as one of the highlights of their careers.”

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No sleepless nights with MM50

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No sleepless nights with MM50: Jamie Foyster, owner of Sportsturf Management, has revealed that he has been sleeping that little bit easier since using MM50 grass seed.

Jamie began maintaining cricket pitches at the age of fifteen and has done so his whole life. In the early years it started as a hobby but in 2012 he acquired Sportsturf Management and has worked full-time on cricket pitches ever since.

No sleepless nights with MM50

No sleepless nights with MM50

Sportsturf Management currently provides all year-round pitch management for four clubs as well as carrying out end of season renovations for approximately twelve more. When Jamie is not providing first class management, installation, and repair of cricket pitches, he somehow finds time to be the Chairman of the Essex County Groundsman Association.

Jamie first turned to MM50 ten years ago after trialling various brands of seed. It was the seed which impressed him the most and he has used it ever since.

MM50 possesses exceptional shoot density along with tolerance to close mowing making it particularly suitable for cricket squares. This superior mix contains the perennial ryegrass cultivars, Singapore, Venice, Alison and Malibu, which are renowned for providing a great sward for cricket use. Singapore is a fantastic cultivar for cricket partly due to its ability to recover from play and wear very quickly meaning that wickets can be back in play quicker after use.

“We use MM50 across all of the grounds we look after,” said Jamie. “For the end of season work we will generally overseed every square – and then during the season, there might be a few ends which need topping up a little bit just to thicken them out. We might also use it later in the season to get the grass back in the foot holes to repair them and level them off.

“In terms of the grass plant the MM50 produces, you get very good root depth and density, which gives it its brilliant wear tolerance. I have one pitch where they had six days of cricket and between the five-foot markers, the important bit in the middle of the pitch, it was still good grass coverage. This shows you how strong the plant is and that’s what you want, because sometimes the weather dictates that you must use a pitch more than you want to.”

MM50 is also treated with HEADSTART® GOLD – a unique seaweed-based seed treatment which helps to ensure rapid and even germination. This tried and tested grass seed treatment helps the seed get off to the best possible start – making it ideal to use in the less than favourable conditions that can sometimes be found on cricket pitches during renovations.

“When there is rain, I can get MM seed up to about an inch within a week and that is without a germination sheet or a pre-seed fertiliser,” continued Jamie. “MM50 germinates really quickly, and you don’t have any sleepless nights.

“We also get great customer service which helps, and Matt Gresty (MM Sales and Brand Manager) is so down to earth. I’m a small customer that doesn’t compare with some of the massive sites that use MM seed, but Matt often calls me to find out how everything is going and is always quick to offer his advice.”

For further information, please contact MM Sports Seed on 01386 791102 or visit the company’s website www.mm-seeds.co.uk.

You can also follow the company on Twitter: @MM_Seed.

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Pioneering the Wildflower Turf Revolution

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Pioneering the Wildflower Turf Revolution: Wildflower Turf Ltd are delighted to celebrate their 20th birthday as the original innovators of Wildflower Turf. Their remarkable journey has seen Wildflower Turf Ltd expand from their Hampshire HQ to Shropshire and Yorkshire.  

This news comes in the wake of many groundbreaking initiatives and accomplishments of the company, including:

Pioneering the Wildflower Turf Revolution

Pioneering the Wildflower Turf Revolution

  • How their first square metre of wildflower turf was discarded, only for it to flourish in the yard one month later!
  • Their first RHS Chelsea Flower Show appearance in 2004.
  • How a green roof above a playhouse in 2004 is now eclipsed by huge projects such as Skelton Lake Services.
  • The highly acclaimed 256-page book ‘How to make a Wildflower Meadow’ by James Hewetson-Brown was released in 2016.
  • In 2023, Wildflower Turf Ltd James Hewetson-Brown was voted onto the GRO (The Green Roof Organisation) board.

To learn more about the 20 year milestone, click here.

About Wildflower Turf Ltd: Founded in 2003, Wildflower Turf Ltd pioneered and developed a soil less growing system which has transformed the concept of turf growing. As the original innovators of Wildflower Turf®, the research laboratory at their Ashe Warren Farm headquarters reinforces them as leading experts in Wildflower spaces, with unwavering commitment to promoting sustainable practices and biodiversity.

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Ormskirk and Farleigh greenkeepers earn prestigious awards

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Ormskirk and Farleigh greenkeepers earn prestigious awards: One has an obsession with board games while the other is a rock climber who scales cliffs around the UK, but the winners of the 34th Toro Student Greenkeeper of the Year Awards are united in a passion for the greenkeeping profession.

The British & International Golf Greenkeepers Association (BIGGA), Toro and Reesink UK have revealed the winners of their prestigious student greenkeeping awards following a day of judging in the historic surroundings of Cheshire’s Carden Park.

Ormskirk and Farleigh greenkeepers earn prestigious awards

Ormskirk and Farleigh greenkeepers earn prestigious awards

With finalists representing eight education providers from across the UK, the awards also provide the students with the opportunity to develop their knowledge and expand their professional network.

The winner of the Toro Student Greenkeeper of the Year Award was revealed to be Michael Russell, assistant greenkeeper at Ormskirk Golf Club in West Lancashire. Michael’s nomination was endorsed by Phil Lomas, tutor at Oldham College.

Michael, 31, switched career four years ago from a role in the Civil Service and hasn’t looked back. A keen board game collector, he was a finalist in the 2021 hosting of the awards and has optimised his BIGGA membership, becoming an ICL Continue to Learn Scholar and graduating from the Future Turf Managers Initiative. He is married to Megan and has a one-year-old daughter, Millie. Michael was also the first finalist to ever score full marks in the multiple choice stage of the examination.

Michael said: “It was a little bit of a shock, but I know how much preparation I’d done coming into the finals. I think you can always underestimate yourself, seeing those around you and how much experience they have and their passion for the industry, but I was absolutely delighted to win and I know in terms of the rewards that are available as part of the event and just networking has been a brilliant opportunity.”

Runner-up in that category was Ryan Fiander, deputy course manager at Lees Hall Golf Club in Sheffield. Ryan’s nomination was endorsed by Andy Kenworthy, his tutor at Myerscough College.

The winner of the Toro Young Student Greenkeeper of the Year Award was revealed to be Daniel Martin, first assistant greenkeeper at Farleigh Golf Club in Surrey. A keen mountain biker and climber, Daniel is a thrill seeker who has found a professional passion in the greenkeeping industry. Daniel’s nomination was endorsed by Wayne Syres, tutor at Hadlow College. In another awards first, Daniel’s grandparents were in the area and stopped by the awards ceremony, making it extra special that he came out on top in his category.

Daniel said: “It’s a really good recognition of all the work that you have put into your career and studying to gain the extra knowledge to differentiate yourself from everyone else, so I felt satisfaction in the recognition of that work. For me, if I’ve achieved something well then it’s satisfaction of a job well done and on to the next one.”

Runner-up in the Young category was Jake Rose, apprentice greenkeeper at Moortown Golf Club in Leeds. Daniel’s nomination was endorsed by his course manager, Steven Robinson.

You can watch extended interviews from Michael and Daniel on the BIGGA YouTube channel.

The nomination period for the 2024 Toro Student Greenkeeper of the Year Awards will begin at the BIGGA Turf Management Exhibition in January 2024.

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Reesink’s Reeown scheme

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Reesink’s Reeown scheme: Kilspindie Golf Club has its hands on a new used Reelmaster 3550-D as part of Reesink’s ReeOwn scheme that refurbishes and rehomes preloved Toro equipment.

When it came time for a new machine to cut the surrounds and small bankings on the tees and greens, head greenkeeper John Arbuckle, who has been at the club for 40 years now and has a team of four, decided that using Reesink’s ReeOwn scheme was the best course of action.

Reesink's Reeown scheme

Reesink’s Reeown scheme

John says: “We went with the ReeOwn scheme because of price. We were aware of the scheme and it made total sense to make use of it to get the best machine for the budget available. Reesink can be trusted to take care of the refurbishment, making sure that the machine was reliable and up for the job on our links course. The machine comes with a one year warranty too.”

The Reelmaster 3550-D in particular saves more than just its upfront cost, as it’s known to be both fuel efficient and economical to run.

Kilspindie Golf Club’s links course is hidden away amongst the nature reserve of Aberlady Bay, making the gentle tread of the Reelmaster 3550-D the ideal choice. It is 15-20 percent lighter than comparable models, providing the ideal combination of turf friendliness and productive performance.

John says: “The lightweight units is one of the key reasons we picked this particular machine. We bought it to complement the work we do with our Toro fairway mower. We’re cutting things a bit higher than we’d do with that, and since the 3550 has 5” cutting reels instead of rotary decks, it lets the growth recover more quickly.”

With a lightweight build, highly manoeuvrable three wheel drive, a generous 208cm cutting width, and a proven power unit, Toro has created a mower ideal for links and heathland courses complemented by a 7 mph mowing speed for fast and effective cutting.

John is no stranger to using Toro around the course, having worked with Toro equipment for over 20 years. “We’ve got a 3100 SideWinder, a greens triple and a Workman HDX,” he says. “Of course it always depends on the condition of the machine but it was great working with Reesink’s ReeOwn scheme and we’d definitely use it again when considering new machines.”

Discover more about how your course can benefit from the UK’s only used Toro professional turf machinery network by visiting reeown.co.uk or contact Reesink Scotland by calling 01480 226800 or by email at info@reesinkturfcare.co.uk.

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