MM – a grass seed that rocks!

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MM – a grass seed that rocks!: From the very first day that legendary guitarist KK Downing decided to establish a golf course, Astbury Hall Golf Club in Shropshire has only ever used MM grass seed.

Course Manager Sean Jarvis has long relied on the market leading MM grass seed, ever since working at Bournemouth’s Iford Golf Club and then to the Open Golf Centre in Leicester where he managed the establishment of a new 9-hole golf course. In 2004, Sean again turned to MM seed when he took on the role of Course Manager at Astbury Hall and oversaw the complete construction of the championship course.

MM – a grass seed that rocks!

MM – a grass seed that rocks!

“I’ve been using MM seed for 22 years and counting. It is still as good now as it was when I first started using it all those years ago,” he said.

Astbury Hall Estate was formerly owned by KK Downing, the lead guitarist for heavy metal band Judas Priest, who purchased the estate, just outside Bridgnorth in Shropshire in 1985. A keen golfer, KK bought the estate to establish a top-quality elite golf course. His design was largely influenced by his experiences of playing golf around the world.

For the construction of the Astbury course Sean used MM22 for all fairways, tees and roughs with the greens being sown with a mix of Creeping Bent, Browntop Bent and Fescue.

KK may not own the stately home anymore, but the course continues to go from strength to strength under the watchful eye of Sean – who persists to use products from the MM range.

“We now use MM50 100% Ryegrass for tees and fairways as we need more wear tolerance,” he said. “This is because the tees are quite small compared with the amount of golf we have, plus the Ryegrass varieties in the mix are very fine leaved so it gives a nice fine sward.

“The greens are oversown with MM9 – a 100% Browntop Bent plus Cobra Nova Creeping Bent. We tend to overseed the greens towards the end of the summer while there is still a reasonable soil temperature to get a good germination rate.

“Given that it can be quite cool here in Bridgnorth in the early spring, oversowing the greens in late summer gives me a window of opportunity when carrying out general greens renovation. Plus cutting heights are not at the lowest during this time which gives the seedling grass a better chance of surviving. Fairways and tees are divoted over the course of the summer as part of the general course maintenance.”

MM is one of the most respected brands in the UK sportsturf and amenity industries. With a proven track record of producing the best possible swards, the MM range of grass seed offers an unrivalled performance and appearance. There is a reason why Sean has been using the mixtures for so long – as he explains.

“The different MM mixtures and varieties have always worked for me at the three different courses I have managed,” he said. “All three had different challenges with the climate and growing conditions from the dry south coast through to the wet Shropshire countryside.

Germination speed, establishment and seed quality are just three strengths of the products I have come to rely on. Furthermore, the seaweed based Headstart Gold seed treatment helps with seedling establishment.

“I have experimented with other blends in the past but never found them to deliver in the way that MM mixtures do.”

Aside from the performance of MM mixtures, Sean was quick to praise the support he receives from Matt Gresty, MM & Designer Sales and Brand Manager for DLF UK.

“I have known Matt since the year 2000 when he got involved with the project at Iford Park and I started using the MM mixtures. Since then, I have used Matt’s advice and seed knowledge on the courses I have managed. A strong relationship with my suppliers who can give good technical advice that I can trust, has always been important to me.”

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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GMA launch Grounds Management Framework

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GMA launch Grounds Management Framework: The Grounds Management Association (GMA) has officially launched the Grounds Management Framework (GMF) at an event hosted at Lord’s Cricket Ground and attended by key industry personnel, including GMA members and representatives of the National-Governing Bodies.

To support the sporting industry in better understanding how to maintain natural turf sports surfaces to the best possible level, as well as presenting grounds management as a viable career path, the GMA has developed the GMF, a set of standards for natural turf sports surfaces.

GMA launch Grounds Management Framework

GMA launch Grounds Management Framework

With the quality of playing surfaces directly impacting the standard, and amount, of sport played on them, the GMF shines a spotlight on the importance of grounds management to sport. It does so in a way that is simple to understand for people outside of the industry, like club chairmen and directors.

Developed by the GMA and experienced Sports Consultant, Tim Nicholls, the GMF combines long-standing Performance Quality Standards with relevant skills and knowledge.

Backed by National-Governing Bodies, the easy-to-use framework will determine whether users are at a ‘basic’, ‘good’, ‘advanced’, ‘high’, or ‘elite’ level and will ensure that those responsible for pitches are aware of the characteristics, resources, skills and knowledge required for their playing surface, and how to progress to the next level.

The framework is already in use on the Football Foundation’s revolutionary web app, PitchPower, in addition to the GMA’s training programmes, where courses and qualifications have been aligned to the levels of the GMF.

Speaking about the framework, GMA CEO, Geoff Webb says:

“The Grounds Management Framework has been in development for a long time and has been a big focus for us as an organisation, so it’s great to finally see it launched officially.

“The grounds management industry already employs around 26,000 people, with over 37,000 part-time volunteers, but more are needed if we are to keep up with the demand for sport. We need 1000 people a year to join our sector to keep up with demand, but we know that, with improved surfaces, almost 2 million more children will benefit.

“Our work is focused on getting the best for the industry and highlighting the hard work, knowledge and skill that goes into making sport possible – this framework will make it clearer for people inside and outside of the industry, from club chairman to stadium managers, to understand what it takes to prepare playing surfaces at all levels and will better support matching training and experience to quality of playing surfaces.”

Playing a key role in the development of the framework, Sports Consultant, Tim Nicholls says:

“The Grounds Management Framework has taken a lot of work and time to get it to where it is today. Although it’s just been launched, it’s already playing an essential role in innovative new strategies to improve our pitches, through programmes like PitchPower – I’m looking forward to seeing where it takes our industry, and its place in sport, over the coming years.”

The Grounds Management Framework is free-to-use and is targeted at grounds staff, grounds managers, club committees, and senior management at all levels including community clubs, local authorities, education, and professional sports clubs.

For more information and resources about the Grounds Management Framework, please visit: https://thegma.org.uk/GMF

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Toro Invests in Landscape Contractor Business

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Toro Invests in Landscape Contractor Business: Following the launch of Toro’s Revolution Series Z Master and Grandstand  commercial mowers which feature the company’s proprietary Hypercell battery technology, Toro U.K. Limited is pleased to announce leadership changes to focus on growing its position in the Landscape Contractor Business.

Ben Kirkby, who joined the company in August 2021 as a Territory Manager for Northern England and Scotland to focus on the Toro and Hayter residential ranges, will be increasing his responsibilities to support growth of the Toro Landscape Contractor Business. He will also help support the Siteworks ranges of Forestry and Construction equipment.

Toro Invests in Landscape Contractor Business

Toro Invests in Landscape Contractor Business

Matt Coleman, UK Sales Manager for the Toro Landscape Contractor and Sitework ranges, will continue to oversee the portfolio and dealer network, and will utilise Ben to support demand from dealers and end users.

“I have spent the last 2 ½ years establishing and growing our professional dealer network and building awareness with customers so it will be great to have Ben helping support this important segment,” said Coleman, Sales Manager, Landscaper Contractor & Siteworks equipment – Toro U.K. Limited. “I look forward to utilising Ben’s sales and demo experience, from his time selling commercial machinery and building his knowledge of the Toro Landscape Contractor range.”

Ben who has recently taken delivery of a new Ford Ranger Wildtrak and will soon take delivery of a trailer, will be fully setup to support the Toro Dealer network in Northern England & Scotland and their customers.

“I am really excited to be taking on this new challenge,” said Kirkby. “It has been great to build relationships with the Toro dealers in my area and I look forward to supporting their needs with the Toro Landscape Contractor and Siteworks ranges, especially with the new industry-leading Revolution Series battery products.”

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Bowls Greenkeeper of the Year Announced

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Bowls Greenkeeper of the Year Announced: Graham Instone of Dunnington Bowls Club, York, has been crowned as the Bowls England Greenkeeper of the Year.

In the hotly-contested Greenkeeper of the Year category – sponsored by Dennis and SISIS – Graham took the honours, largely for his innovative roadshows, sharing his knowledge with local clubs.

Bowls Greenkeeper of the Year Announced

Bowls Greenkeeper of the Year Announced

He has been a member of his beloved Dunnington for over 40 years and has been looking after the green for the past 15 years. Graham, 80, and his right-hand man ‘Big’ Jim, 88, have a consistently busy schedule of fixtures and work hard throughout the year to keep the green in a superb condition. In fact, the impressive green has become the talk of the Yorkshire bowls community and it is for this reason that Graham decided to undertake a series of roadshows.

Graham visited various bowls clubs throughout Yorkshire to help other volunteer greenkeepers raise the standards of their greens. Following the roadshows, Graham continues to offer advice to most of the bowls clubs he visited.

The Greenkeeper of the Year Award received over 120 entries and Graham was one of five shortlisted finalists. Joined by family and friends, including ‘Big’ Jim, at the award ceremony, it was a moment that Graham will never forget.

“My name was called out; my picture went up on the screen and I was shell shocked. I can’t really put into words how I feel if I’m being honest. I normally get very emotional, so everyone was worried that I would get on stage to collect the award and cry. Fortunately, I kept it together!”

“It is the achievement of a lifetime, but this award just isn’t for me as an individual. It is for my team, for the club, and for my family.”

Award sponsors Dennis and SISIS have long supported the sport of bowls and are committed to educating greenkeepers and raising the standards of bowling greens. For over 20 years, they have been organising and hosting educational maintenance seminars throughout the country which are designed to ultimately help club greenkeepers and volunteers maintain their bowling greens.

Further information about the range of maintenance products available can be found by visiting www.dennisuk.com / www.sisis.com.

For more news, reviews and insightful views, you can follow Dennis on Twitter @DennisMowers and SISIS @SISISMachinery. You can like the Facebook page – www.facebook.com/DennisMowersUK and www.facebook.com/SISISMachinery. You can also view the latest Dennis and SISIS videos by visiting www.youtube.com/DennisMowers and www.youtube.com/SISISMachinery.

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New Overtake spring clean for turf weeds

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New Overtake spring clean for turf weeds: The new herbicide, Overtake, from Syngenta gives the chance to clean out broad-leaved weeds in turf this spring.

Now available for golf course, sports turf management and amenity areas in the UK, the unique combination of two herbicide actives gives consistently reliable results in more variable spring conditions, against a wide spectrum of problematic weeds.

New Overtake spring clean for turf weeds

New Overtake spring clean for turf weeds

Furthermore, Syngenta application trials have shown optimum results with treatment at a water volume of just 200 l/ha, giving significant savings in time and reduced interruption in play, compared to herbicide treatments typically applied at 400 l/ha or more.

Syngenta Technical Manager, Sean Loakes, reported Overtake has shown outstanding turf safety in more than 70 trials across nine countries. Trials at STRI recorded no adverse phytotoxic effects across 19 cultivars of all key cool-season turf grass species, even at more than double recommended application rate.

“Weeds compete with turf plants for light, moisture and nutrients. Removing weed competition early in the season ensures more of the inputs you put on are better utilised for turf growth – creating stronger more resilient turf and better playing conditions,” advocated Sean.

Overtake targets most of the problematic broad-leaved weeds in turf grass. Early treatment in the spring enables vigorous turf recovery to fill gaps and minimise risk of weed reinvasion.

“In addition to greater reliability in a wider range of temperatures and conditions, the two different modes of action in Overtake reduces the risk of weed resistance developing,” he added. Overtake is a Syngenta optimised formulation to target broad-leaved weeds.

To get the best from Overtake, Sean advised application in spring when weeds are actively growing and the leaves are dry. Treatment should be made at a rate of 2.0 l/ha, applied in 200 l/ha water volume, using XC025 or XC04 nozzles to better target the leaf area and minimise risk of drift. Turf should ideally be left for three days after application before mowing.

Overtake is approved for use in the UK on amenity grassland, managed amenity turf and lawns.

Syngenta Turf Business Manager, Daniel Lightfoot, added: “Overtake is the first of several exciting new turf products from Syngenta that are planned to launch this year, including new fungicide, insecticide and biocontrol options.

“The commitment to R&D investment in turf is crucial to give us a full range of options for a truly Integrated Turf Management approach and support for greenkeepers and sports turf managers.

“Customers will be pleased that Overtake also qualifies for Turf Rewards, where purchases gain points that can be redeemed for turf management tools and services.”

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