North Berwick takes care with Toro

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North Berwick takes care with Toro: With the order of a full fleet of Toro equipment including three key all-electric mowers, North Berwick Golf Club in East Lothian, Scotland, didn’t have to choose between caring more for its putter than its puffins: now it can do both.

Near the largest puffin colony on the east coast of Britain, North Berwick Golf Club has environmental and noise pollution factors to consider highly in its machinery choices.

North Berwick takes care with Toro

North Berwick takes care with Toro

Course manager Darren MacLaughlan, who has been using and recommending the brand for the best part of 20 years, explains: “North Berwick has been a GEO certified course since 2015 and is located on some of the finest links terrain in the world. With that comes a responsibility to the site ensuring we are operating in the most sustainable manner possible.

“We are recognised as the 13th oldest golf club in the world and only at St Andrews has golf been played continuously over the same stretch of land. While it is important to preserve our rich history, we had to move forward with machinery and this has started with the introduction of both hybrid and electric technology.”

Toro has led the way in the turfcare electric machinery revolution and Darren opted for two Greensmaster eTriFlex 3370 riding greensmowers and a Greensmaster eFlex 1021 pedestrian mower.

“There are multiple reasons we opted for electric technology,” says Darren. “Our firm commitment to lower emissions in line with our GEO status and the quietness of their operation, which allows us to start work early in the morning without disturbing neighbours. Then there’s the reduction in fuel costs, which, with fuel prices as they are, is a huge consideration.

“And while we did not factor this in before the purchase, these machines have actually helped the mental health and wellbeing of our staff. Mowing the greens in the morning, without the old ear defenders, listening to the waves gently roll in from the beach and the birds fly over the bass rock is an experience no other course in the world can offer.”

Also included in the deal from distributor Reesink Scotland were two Greensmaster TriFlex Hybrid 3420, three Reelmaster 3555 lightweight fairway mowers, a Groundsmaster 3500 rotary deck mower, a Multi Pro 5800 turf sprayer and a Pro Force debris blower.

Darren continues: “We’ve received four of the thirteen machines ordered fleet due to the supply chain issues worldwide and we’re sure that when the rest of the kit arrives, we will be even better placed to produce classic links conditions.”

The branch is also providing additional support kit for The Women’s Open final qualifying event held in August at North Berwick. Darren says: “With Neil Mackenzie on the road, the support from Rab Wilson and his aftersales team and Richard Green directing operations, we have always had full confidence in Reesink.”

He concludes: “We pride ourselves in thinking out the box here at North Berwick. As a result, we have seen the course go from strength to strength in the past two years and we are proud to have Toro as a part of our firm commitment to continual improvement.

“Regularly ranked in the world’s top 50 and the UK top 10, we have high expectations to meet for our customers. That means having the best machinery and technology available on the market, and that’s undoubtedly Toro.”

To talk to someone about Toro technology and how the Toro range could suit your course, call 01480 226800.

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GGM Group get on their bikes

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GGM Group get on their bikes: A Lancashire business has demonstrated that it will always go the extra mile for charity, as the team at Groundscare specialist the GGM Group have committed to a year of activity to support the North West Air Ambulance.

The activity kicks off with a company-wide sponsored cycle, with staff getting on their bikes and riding between their two depots in Haydock and Colne along the Leeds-Liverpool canal on Friday 12th August.

GGM Group get on their bikes

GGM Group get on their bikes

Over 20 team members, from across all departments, will take on the 95km route, finishing off with a well-deserved team bbq to celebrate.

The business, which operates across the North West and Yorkshire, is following in the footsteps of last year’s highly successful charitable efforts, where the organisation raised over £10,000 for charities across the North West, and is keen to build on this success and keep the momentum running.

Managing Director Chris Gibson explain more:

“Every year we aim to carry out a number of physical challenges to raise funds for our company charity and it’s a huge highlight in our calendar. We’ve previously completed the Yorkshire Three Peaks and in 2020 we didn’t let lockdown dampen our spirits, carrying out a charity walk and cycle ride in socially distanced stints. We’re very much looking forward to this year’s event and it’s great so many team members want to get involved.”

The event will raise money for the organisations chosen company charity of the year, the North West Air Ambulance, to help raise much needed funds during these difficult times.  Since the charity launched in 1999, it operates 365 days a year and they have responded to over 24,500 missions across the Northwest and must raise over £9.5m each year to remain operational.

The GGM Group consists of two businesses across two depots. PSD Groundscare is the national distributor of specialist landscaping equipment including award winning innovative manufacturers Eliet and Koppl. GGM Groundscare is a specialist supplier of tractors and high-quality professional land-based equipment for commercial and domestic use. Servicing the North West and Yorkshire, it supplies a range of products from leading franchises including Kubota, Baroness and Amazone.

Chris Gibson concluded:

“I am hugely proud of what our staff have committed to do and it is teamwork in the truest sense. Not everyone regularly cycles, yet they have committed to taking part in this challenge for our charity. As a family business, it’s fantastic for us all to come together.

“It’s a key part of our ethos at The GGM Group to give something back to the local community and North West Air Ambulance provide an essential service. Amazingly they receive no government or NHS funding so every penny we raise for the charity makes such a lifesaving difference.”

To support the team and make a donation visit the Justgiving page: https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/the-ggm-group

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Greenkeepers selected to join Wentworth team

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Greenkeepers selected to join Wentworth team: Members of the British & International Golf Greenkeepers Association (BIGGA) will gain an unrivalled behind-the-scenes look at preparations for the BMW PGA Championship this September after being selected to join the Wentworth Club’s greenkeeping team for the duration of the event.

Supplementing Wentworth Club’s inhouse greenkeeping team will be 24 volunteers from across the greenkeeping association. The volunteer BIGGA members will fully integrate with the Wentworth greenkeeping team and take on important maintenance tasks to help prepare the course for play each day.

Greenkeepers selected to join Wentworth team

Greenkeepers selected to join Wentworth team

Wentworth Club Courses and Grounds Manager Daniel Clarke said: “We value our relationship with BIGGA highly and given every member of the Wentworth greenkeeping team is a part of the association and has access to the training and education it offers, we know how committed and capable these volunteers will be as we prepare the West Course for the DP World Tour’s flagship event. Over the years the BMW PGA Volunteer Support Team has evolved from being a helping hand to now being an instrumental part of the in-house greenkeeping team and I’m excited to welcome them all to Wentworth Club in September.”

The BMW PGA Volunteer Support Team is just one of a number of exclusive and career-defining initiatives made available to members of BIGGA, the UK’s only dedicated membership association for golf greenkeepers. Head to www.bigga.org.uk for more information.

The BIGGA members who have been invited to join the Wentworth team as volunteers for the duration of the BMW PGA Championship are:

  • Wayne Aris, Langley Park GC
  • Callum Atkinson, Prestbury GC
  • Tom Barnett, Drayton Park GC
  • Euan Bogle, Lanark GC
  • David Bruce, The Gleneagles Hotel
  • Martin Coe, China Fleet CC
  • Luke Fitzpatrick, The Buckinghamshire GC
  • Calum Forsyth, Carrbridge GC
  • Jack Hall, Lutterworth GC
  • James Hook, The Bristol GC
  • Greg Jones, JCB G&CC
  • Ryan Lindsay, East Sussex National GC
  • Daniel Long-Greatorex, JCB G&CC
  • Thibault Marcazzan, Le Touquet
  • Charlie Munn-Cocks, Camberley Heath GC
  • Stanley Murphy, Ealing GC
  • Scott Patrick, Prestwick St Cuthbert GC
  • Daniel Rigby, Chigwell GC
  • Andrew Sellars, The Grove
  • Matthew Shaul, Ashby Decoy GC
  • Tom Silcock, Prestbury GC
  • Ben Sixsmith, Ganton GC
  • Philip Slater, West Herts GC

Ross Traill, Kilmarnock (Barassie) GC

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Kubota Launch colouring challenge

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Kubota Launch colouring challenge: Leading mini-excavator manufacturer, Kubota, has launched a colouring challenge in time for the summer holidays. Artists across the country are being asked to colour in one of Kubota’s digger pictures to help celebrate being 25 years at number one market share in the mini excavator market for the UK & R.O.I.

As a reward, entrants who submit their efforts will receive an official Kubota branded colouring book and pencil set, to help them get even more creative over the summer holidays. The activity is running from July 27th until early September, giving plenty of time for Kubota fans and budding artists to get colourful!

Kubota Launch colouring challenge

Kubota Launch colouring challenge

The entry image is free to download via the Kubota website: kubota-eu.com and once completed, challengers are being asked to snap a picture of their masterpiece and send it to kuk_g.marketing@kubota.com alongside their name, age and a delivery address to claim their rewards.

“We’re looking to include everyone in our 25 year celebrations and that is why we have launched the colouring challenge for all the Kubota brand ambassadors out there, young and old, to have some fun over the summer holidays,” says Rob White, Divisional Manager, Construction, Kubota U.K. “Hopefully it can be a family activity or just something to help someone pass the time, who knows, we may even inspire the next Picasso!”

For more information or to download the colouring challenge image, visit: kubota-eu.com

* Submitted pictures of the finished colouring image must contain the image only and no entrants.
** All entries sent to kuk_g.marketing@kubota.com automatically agree for their first name, age and colouring image sent to be shared on Kubota U.K’s social media channels.
*** Delivery address information will NOT be shared elsewhere and ONLY used for the purpose of sending the Kubota colouring book and pencils to entrants.
**** Limited stocks of rewards apply and will be distributed on a first come first served basis.
***** Limited to 1 colouring book & pencil set per image entered, with a maximum of 4 entries per address.

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Vermorel knapsacks put grounds team in comfort zone

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Vermorel knapsacks put grounds team in comfort zone: Head groundsman Jason O’Keele and his six-strong Epsom College team are all dab hands with knapsack sprayers.

“Everyone has their PA6 certificate so they can use them whenever we need to weed and feed,” says Jason.

 

Vermorel knapsacks put grounds team in comfort zone

Vermorel knapsacks put grounds team in comfort zone

The team manage an 85-acre estate, 12 hectares devoted to sport, including five cricket squares, 12 turf pitches, two synthetics and plenty of planted-up borders lining college staff and pupil accommodation at the 1,200-head co-educational independent school, so there’s plenty of opportunity for them to hone their spray skills.

Part of Commercial Groundscare Services’ team of professionals who tend school sports facilities throughout Surrey, the Epsom College contingent are based permanently on site.

“Being here full time means we can really take pride in looking after what are fantastic facilities,” Jason says. And as pupil numbers rise under the  College’s expansion programme, so does the sporting calendar.

“We can have as many as 10 cricket fixtures here on a Saturday for example,” he adds, “while local and league football clubs also train here.”

That all means the pressure’s on to deliver perfectly manicured grounds that reflect the prestige and prowess of the College academically and across a sporting spectrum that includes, football, rugby, hockey, tennis and athletics.

“I like to give team members different jobs to tackle as that creates more interest for them, rather than doing the same thing all the time,” explains Jason, whose allegiance to Hozelock Exel knapsack brands dates back some years.

“Our Cooper Pegler professional sprayer has always run without any trouble but I wanted a couple more knapsacks so that we could speed up the efficiency of our spraying programme,” he says.

“I trialled the 16l capacity Pro Comfort 2000 sprayer in the Berthoud Vermorel range, liked it, and have just bought another one. What impressed me were the chest and back strap supports. Ergonomically designed, they make spraying comfortable, and that’s important if you are out there for a day non stop.

“Also helpful is the zip bag of spare nozzles and accessories and the extendable lance, which lets us reach into corners and the back of borders.”

Jason keeps the weed and feed programmes separate, using each Vermorel knapsack for discrete duties. “In spring and summer we’re out every fortnight for a couple of days, applying liquid iron across the ornamental lawns with one of the knapsacks while using a mix of systemic herbicide and liquid nitrogen with the other.

“Growth retardant applied to banks reduces the need for strimming, and we can use it in the same knapsack as that for feed.”

Winter sees the team applying moss and algae treatment liquid monthly to the two synthetic pitches. “They thrive over the colder weather so we need to tackle growth regularly as playing surfaces can become slippery.”

Jason knows the value of regular maintenance in keeping knapsacks primed. “We run pre-start checks before every outing and in the two years since I bought the first Vermorel knapsack, I haven’t replaced anything.

“They are certainly robust and the piston and pump operation really works well, delivering a consistent, continuous spray.”

Variety is the spice of life they say and Jason puts theory into practice. “Everybody takes turns in spraying as they are all trained up to use knapsacks, complete with white suits, wellies and appropriate PPE kit.

“It helps keep everyone engaged, which means we have the best chance of delivering the finest results across the grounds.”

Each of the three premium grade knapsacks – Vermorel 1800, Pro Comfort 2000 and top-range 3000 Electric – come with ergonomically contoured, sturdy backframe as standard.

Safety harnesses provide rising levels of support progressing through the line – from padded shoulder straps on the `1800`, to padded shoulder, waist and chest strapping on the `2000` and fully specified `3000`.

All Vermorel knapsacks are easy to use and dismantle for servicing and repair.  They are also suitable for applying sanitisers and disinfectants and are available with a host of spares and accessories such as spray shields, seal and nozzle kits and multi-nozzle spray booms to give operators even greater flexibility.

www.cooper-pegler.com

www.berthoud.fr/en/

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