New generation of John Deere apprentices graduate

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New generation of John Deere apprentices graduate: More than fifty apprentices have graduated from John Deere’s renowned Ag Tech, Turf Tech, and Parts Tech programmes, joining dealerships across the UK and Ireland as qualified technicians and parts specialists.

The graduates, trained in partnership with ProVQ at the John Deere Apprentice Training Centre in Upper Saxondale, Nottinghamshire, were recognised at a special ceremony celebrating their achievement and the ongoing success of one of the longest-running manufacturer apprenticeship schemes in the industry.

New generation of John Deere apprentices graduate

New generation of John Deere apprentices graduate

Jacob Ellwood from the Thomas Sherriff dealership was named Technician Apprentice of the Year for 2025, while Alex Hind from Farol won the Parts Apprentice of the Year award. Both received trophies and iPads to mark their success.

Now in its fourth decade, John Deere’s apprenticeship scheme continues to evolve to meet the changing needs of modern machinery dealerships. The programme equips students with a mix of technical, diagnostic, and digital skills, alongside customer service and communication training.

“Our apprenticeships continue to play a vital role in developing the next generation of talent for our dealer network,” said John Deere Training Centre Manager Allan Cochran. “The industry is moving fast, with connected machines, advanced diagnostics, and precision technology becoming standard, so it’s essential that our apprentices leave fully prepared for those challenges. Seeing them graduate and take their next steps with our dealers is hugely rewarding.”

Apprentices on the Ag Tech and Turf Tech courses work towards the Land-Based Service Engineering Technician Level 3 qualification, while those on the Parts Tech route complete a Level 3 parts diploma.

The expanded Parts Tech programme, introduced last year, now includes greater emphasis on technical knowledge and customer interaction in response to the growing importance of John Deere’s aftermarket and service support.

An apprenticeship programme is also available to those working in the construction industry with the John Deere-owned Wirtgen Group.

Since its inception in 1992, the John Deere apprenticeship programme has supported well in excess of 1,200 young people to find skilled roles across the company’s worldwide dealership network. Recruitment for the next intake is now underway, offering school and college leavers the opportunity to build long-term careers in the agricultural and turf machinery industries.

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Royal Dornoch and its total Toro solution

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Royal Dornoch and its total Toro solution: In the highlands of Scotland Royal Dornoch is celebrating the handover of a £1.5 million Toro irrigation system for the Struie Course and the arrival of a fleet of all-electric ride-on Toro Greensmaster mowers and Workman utility vehicles.

Termed a ‘Toro Total Solutions’ customer when both Toro irrigation and machinery are selected for the complete care of the course, Royal Dornoch has been a loyal Toro customer of both for decades.

Royal Dornoch and its total Toro solution

Royal Dornoch and its total Toro solution

Replacing the irrigation on the Struie Course with a future-proof solution had been in discussion for many years. The club had acquired 50 acres of land with plans to build additional holes, including a new par‑3, and needed an irrigation infrastructure capable of supporting an expanded layout.

For this purpose, the club specified Lynx Smart Control System, Infinity 35 Multi Trajectory sprinklers, Infinity 55 Dual and Multi Trajectory sprinklers and 590G sprinklers with Precision Rotating Nozzles for the 18-hole course.

Explaining the reasons behind this decision General Manager Neil Hampton says, “The new system provides a robust and flexible backbone for current maintenance and new turf in future course development. It will be much better on the sustainability front: we won’t be using more water; the system will allow us to target where water is needed and control application from mobile phones and laptops.”

With the system operational since the beginning of 2025, Course Manager Eoin Riddell can confirm: “It’s already saving our greenkeepers a huge amount of time and effort; it makes watering so efficient. The benefits are significant all round – it’s good ecologically, financially and from an agronomy perspective, too.”

Robert Jackson, Division Manager at Reesink Hydro-Scapes, says, “So many people came together to ensure the smooth installation for Royal Dornoch: Adrian Mortram Associates, the installation team from Ocmis, Simon Squires from Toro and us as distributor. It’s credit to all involved that the project was completed on time and on budget.”

Meanwhile, the continuing choice of Toro machinery is down to its reliability, consistency and quality, says Neil: “Toro performs all day, every day for us. It takes a lot of stress away knowing you do not have to worry about that aspect of the business.

“We’ve always been able to trust Toro. There’s reliability in terms of performance as well as Toro always being at the forefront of new machinery research and development. As the expectations of golfers continue to increase, we need to provide the best conditions for play, and we can do that with Toro.”

The most recent machinery delivery includes four of the Toro Greensmaster eTriFlex 3370 mowers and eight Workman GTX Lithium-ion utility vehicles.

Eoin says, “We first invested in the electric Greensmaster eTriFlex when it launched in 2020 and they’ve proved year after year to be able to do the job we require with the benefit of being the sustainable option. Same with the utility vehicles. These machines are now a staple in our fleet.

“As well as all the previous reasons stated, the back up from Reesink is a big factor in our continuing loyalty, as is the interest that Toro shows in how we use the equipment.”

Mike Turnbull, Reesink Scotland Branch Manager, concludes: “We’re in a privileged position to understand Royal Dornoch’s requirements having worked with them for so long, and it’s a continuing pleasure to be able to support them as they maintain the high standards and move forward with exciting projects that will benefit the club for years to come.”

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Team Sprayers Showcases Groundcare Range at SALTEX

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Team Sprayers Showcases Groundcare Range at SALTEX: British manufacturer Team Sprayers is set to exhibit its latest range of ground care sprayers at SALTEX, the UK’s leading turf management event. Visitors to the stand will be able to see the company’s pedestrian, tractor-mounted, and trailed sprayers, all designed to deliver precision, reliability, and operator comfort for professionals working in sports turf, golf, and amenity environments.

On display will be the Vixen Pro SP pedestrian sprayer, widely praised for its low ground pressure, manoeuvrability, and user-friendly electric drive system. Alongside it, Team will showcase their Cub, Club and Demount Pro models, offering solutions for organisations of every scale.

Team Sprayers Showcases Groundcare Range at SALTEX

Team Sprayers Showcases Groundcare Range at SALTEX

With over 30 years of British manufacturing expertise, Team Sprayers combines robust engineering with practical innovation, ensuring turf managers can work efficiently without compromising quality.

Find Team Sprayers at SALTEX on stand G052 to discover their full range.

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Championship-Quality Golf All Year Round

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Championship-Quality Golf All Year Round: West Lothian’s premier golf and leisure destination, Deer Park Golf & Country Club, is proving that championship golf doesn’t stop when the clocks go back. With a significant investment in winter course care and maintenance, Deer Park is offering golfers the chance to enjoy superb playing conditions 365 days a year, ensuring the course remains in peak form, whatever the weather.

The club’s recent programme of works includes extensive micro-coring, verti-draining, and topdressing of greens and pitching areas, along with re-shaped bunkers, tree maintenance and improved course drainage. These investments are part of a long-term commitment to enhance playability, presentation, and sustainability, creating a course that performs beautifully through all seasons.

Championship-Quality Golf All Year Round

Championship-Quality Golf All Year Round

With fewer crowds, crisp air, and the unique lighting of the winter months, Deer Park offers a distinctive playing experience that appeals to flexible workers, retired golfers, and visiting players alike. The prestigious clubhouse is open seven days a week and ready to welcome members and guests for pre- or post-round refreshments. Golfers can enjoy 18 holes on the championship course for just £25 until March 2026, providing superb value and an opportunity to enjoy the full greens experience and keep the game sharp all year round.

Iain Stoddard, PGA leading professional at Deer Park, said: “Thanks to significant investment and the team’s hard work, the course is in excellent condition. The putting greens are rolling beautifully and the fairways are firm and consistent, ideal for anyone that wants to keep their game strong over the winter months. It’s great to see so many golfers making the most of the fantastic value and year-round play available here at Deer Park.”

Mark Campbell, Head Greenkeeper at Deer Park, said: “This winter’s programme is all about elevating the course’s condition and playability. Our team is fully committed to ensuring Deer Park remains in perfect shape throughout the year, with much of the work already underway. We appreciate the continued support of our members and visitors, and look forward to delivering a course we can all continue to be proud of.”

With Christmas just around the corner, there’s never been a better time to give the gift of golf and Deer Park memberships, including junior, senior and full options, provide year-round access to championship-standard play with a welcoming club community and a host of leisure and dining facilities.

Advance booking advised, for more information please call 01506 446699 or visit www.deer-park.co.uk.

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Committee for Golf Club Salaries – Statement for 2026

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Committee for Golf Club Salaries – Statement for 2026: Following yesterday’s announcement on our social media channels, the CGCS is pleased to share the full details of its latest recommendations on remuneration for key roles in golf.

Whilst our sport continues to thrive it is clear that challenges remain in finding and retaining the right people to maintain this momentum. There are also pressures on employers to meet increased overheads in the same way that employees are facing a continued squeeze on household finances. The CGCS takes both of these factors into account when arriving at a recommendation.

Committee for Golf Club Salaries – Statement for 2026

Committee for Golf Club Salaries – Statement for 2026

Inflationary measures since the last recommendations were published have been almost the inverse of the previous twelve months. Whilst not quite reaching the highs of September 2023, inflation has risen steadily with some signs that we may have reached a plateau. At the same time Regular Pay inflation is currently at its lowest for 24 months.

The Committee believes that the issue of highly qualified and experienced staff being caught up in terms of salary by those enjoying the rise in the NLW still remains a significant problem.

With these factors in mind the Committee is recommending an overall wage increase of 4.8% from January 1st, 2026. Employers will continue to take an approach to remuneration decisions that reflects their own business environment and we hope that this recommendation is given commensurate consideration at this point.

Further to this our deliberations have considered the value of factors in addition to pay awards. A growing number of employers are looking at how they can reward and motivate employees through a package of measures that include private health insurance, a defined proportion of budget ringfenced for professional development and also demonstrating a commitment to a robust governance structure. These factors all contribute to giving employees the sense that the business in which they work is genuinely committed to staff well-being.

With this in mind the CGCS is also recommending employers consider adding a further 2% to the overall package of key staff from January 1st, 2026. We believe that this reflects the growing practice amongst employers of considering staff remuneration in this way and will have a positive impact on staff retention.

Should any employer wish to seek advice on these or any other issues relating to staff development please feel free to contact the GCMA or BIGGA who are well-placed to provide advice and support.

Head to the CGCS website for more information and to explore the salary calculators, guidelines and principles of good pay.

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