Wildflowers from DLF help wildlife to flourish

Wildflowers from DLF help wildlife to flourish

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Wildflowers from DLF help wildlife to flourish

Perched on the Northumberland coastline, Alnmouth Golf Club offers members a challenging mix of seaside and parkland play in a designated area of outstanding natural beauty. Head Greenkeeper Jim Storey has spent the last 27 years finessing that natural beauty, employing maintenance that supports both the long-term course management and local wildlife. For the last decade this work has included establishing wildflower areas and, more recently with the help of DLF Seeds, he says these have delivered both visual impact and ecological value.

Wildflowers from DLF help wildlife to flourish

Wildflowers from DLF help wildlife to flourish

“Creating habitats and supporting wildlife has been one of our major objectives for the last 10 years” says Jim, who heads up a greenkeeping team of seven. “Using our collective knowledge and experience, the team and I have thinned out the roughs and created new spaces to support insects, pollinators, small mammals and birds. Our wildflower areas have become a really important part of that.”

Jim has worked with various mixtures from DLF’s Pro Flora and Colour Boost ranges to establish five wildflower areas, most recently adding a burst of colour and broad variety of flowering species with the Carnival mix. “We’ve selected spaces where we can compliment the surrounding landscape and really add to the experience for the golfers, especially on a nice sunny day!”

Another of the recent projects sits close to the first tee, where wildflowers have been established among areas of fine fescue and yellow rattle – creating a vibrant focal point adjacent to newly planted fruit trees. “We’ve now got pollinators working between the flowers and the fruit trees which is exactly what we hoped to achieve” he adds.

It’s not just pollinators enjoying the new wildflower areas. Jim continues, “We’ve definitely seen an increased in the number and variety of animals we’re seeing since the introduction of the wildflower. We’ve got all sorts of insect, voles and field mice which means, in turn, we’re also seeing barn owls. It’s been really fantastic to see.”

“We’ve also enjoyed speaking with agronomists and fellow greenkeepers about the project, learning about different flowers and getting ideas together to discuss with our DLF Regional Technical Manager Ben Morgan.” He concludes, “Every year we’ll look to add another area if we see an opportunity, which is only going to help us get richer in biodiversity with every passing season.”

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Automated robotic technology at the heart of Belfry preparations

Automated robotic technology at the heart of Belfry preparations

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Automated robotic technology at the heart of Belfry preparations

Husqvarna technology is playing a crucial role in preparing The Belfry’s iconic Brabazon Course for the 2026 Husqvarna British Masters hosted by Sir Nick Faldo, as the venue builds towards the arrival of the DP World Tour’s leading players from 26–30 August.

Automated robotic technology at the heart of Belfry preparations

Automated robotic technology at the heart of Belfry preparations

In the build-up to the championship, seven Husqvarna CEORA robotic mowers are maintaining the fairways of the four-time Ryder Cup venue, working consistently across the course to help produce the exacting standards required for elite tournament golf.

During the tournament week, Husqvarna will expand its operation considerably. A fleet of 15 CEORA robotic mowers will cut the championship fairways overnight, supported by a dedicated Husqvarna team working from 8pm until 6am. The team will transport the mowers to their designated fairways, oversee the overnight operation and collect the machines at the end of each shift.

Husqvarna CEORA, Automower® 580L and RELOX technology will also be deployed on the driving range, while a Husqvarna 535 AWD EPOS is maintaining the short game area to ensure the rough is always at optimal height for practice. Every machine used during the championship will be cleaned and calibrated daily, with blades changed each day to maintain consistent cutting performance throughout the event. The Belfry’s greenkeeping team is also using a comprehensive fleet of Husqvarna battery-powered handheld equipment, including leaf blowers, grass trimmers and hedge trimmers throughout its preparations. The brand-new Husqvarna 570iBT battery backpack blower will play an important role with 10 units being used to clear tees, bunkers and general course detailing.

The installation brings together autonomous mowing and professional battery technology as part of a modern, integrated approach to golf course maintenance. While robotic mowers deliver frequent and consistent cutting across large areas of turf, the handheld equipment supports the detailed work undertaken by the greenkeeping team around course furniture, including trees, bunkers and other areas that require a more precise finish.

The deployment also reduces reliance on conventional fossil fuel-powered equipment and provides the team access to quieter machinery with no direct exhaust emissions during use. This can help work to continue around golfers and other course operations with less disruption.

For Husqvarna, the installation provides a powerful demonstration of the company’s technology in action at the tournament for which it is Title Partner. Rather than being limited to branding around the event, Husqvarna products are directly supporting both the advance preparation of the course and its presentation throughout championship week. The dedicated overnight operation will put Husqvarna technology and technical expertise at the heart of maintaining the surfaces on which the tournament will be decided.

Andrew Lees, Global Segment Manager for Professional Robotics at Husqvarna, said: “The Husqvarna British Masters gives us an outstanding platform, but the most important story is what our technology is delivering on the ground. Our products are not simply being displayed at The Belfry, they are working every day alongside an exceptional greenkeeping team to help prepare one of the world’s most famous tournament courses.

“Following the success of our operation at Royal Porthcawl during the 2025 AIG Women’s Open, we are proud to bring the same level of tournament support to a very different venue. Every machine will be cleaned and calibrated and its blades changed daily, helping The Belfry present The Brabazon to a global audience at the first Husqvarna British Masters.”

Designed for large-scale professional turf management, CEORA uses satellite-based EPOS navigation to operate systematically within virtual boundaries. This produces accuracy to just 1cm, meaning fairways perimeters are delivered with high definition and confidence that the integrity of the fairway shape is maintained. CEORA’s autonomous operation allows mowing schedules and designated work areas to be managed digitally, giving course teams the flexibility to adapt cutting programmes around weather, playing schedules and operational requirements.

In the build-up to the event, the seven CEORA units at The Belfry regularly maintain the fairways without the need for a driver, supporting consistent turf presentation while freeing members of the greenkeeping team to concentrate on agronomic and detail-focused tasks elsewhere on the course. During the championship itself, fairway mowing will become a managed overnight tournament-support operation. Fifteen CEORA units will be transported to and from the fairways and overseen by Husqvarna personnel, allowing the fairways to be maintained outside playing hours while giving the tournament team daily oversight of machine condition and performance.

Husqvarna became Title Partner of the British Masters through a multi-year agreement announced earlier this year. The company is also the Official Robotic Mowing Partner of the DP World Tour, building on a partnership that has already demonstrated autonomous mowing technology on some of golf’s most prominent stages.

At the 2025 AIG Women’s Open at Royal Porthcawl, 15 Husqvarna CEORA robotic mowers cut the championship’s playing surfaces, marking the first time Husqvarna robotic mowers had performed this role at a major golf championship in the United Kingdom.

Hosted by six-time Major champion and Husqvarna Brand Ambassador Sir Nick Faldo, the 2026 Husqvarna British Masters will begin with the celebrity pro-am on Wednesday 26 August, followed by four days of championship play from Thursday 27 to Sunday 30 August.

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Redexim Overseeder Helps Pollok Golf Course

Redexim Overseeder Helps Pollok Golf Course

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Redexim Overseeder Helps Pollok Golf Course

When Chris McGhee took over as Course Manager at Pollok Golf Club in January, one of the first things he identified was the need to improve the heavily worn areas around the course.

Redexim Overseeder Helps Pollok Golf Course

Redexim Overseeder Helps Pollok Golf Course

Founded in 1892 and situated on the south side of Glasgow, Pollok Golf Club is a traditional, tree-lined members’ course with design influences from both James Braid and Alister MacKenzie. While its rich history is part of its charm, it also presents modern-day maintenance challenges.

“Being designed so long ago, the spaces between greens and tees are quite small,” explains Chris. “On newer courses you might walk 20, 50 or even 100 yards to the next tee. Most of our tees are right beside the greens, so those areas get heavily worn, especially through the winter.”

With an active membership that continues to play throughout the colder months, alongside increased traffic from trolleys and ride-on buggies, maintaining grass cover in these high-traffic areas is a constant battle.

“It was one of the main reasons I wanted an overseeder,” he says. “I wanted something that would help bring these areas back quicker and improve the quality and density of the turf.”

That search led Chris to the Redexim Overseeder 3D 1575.

Having previously used Redexim equipment, including a Verti-Drain and a Redexim dimple seeder during his time working in Norway, Chris already had confidence in the brand.

“I’d worked with pretty much all of the disc seeders on the market,” he says. “For me, the Redexim offered the right balance of ease of use, practicality and price. We have a lot of trees and a lot of manoeuvring to do around the course, and I felt the 1575 was the best fit for our needs.”

Purchased in March this year, the Overseeder 3D 1575 has quickly become a regular part of Pollok’s maintenance programme.

Designed for use across a wide range of surface types, the machine features a seed delivery mechanism with single-point adjustment, while durable discs cut precise grooves into the soil before a rear roller closes the groove and covers the seed. The result is accurate seed placement, excellent seed-to-soil contact and consistently strong germination rates. An adjustable seed aperture accommodates a variety of seed types, which can be easily adjusted to accommodate a variety of different seeds.

At Pollok, the machine has been deployed extensively across tees, aprons, walk-off areas, grass pathways and other worn sections of the course.

“In all honesty, we’ve used it everywhere apart from the greens,” says Chris. “The walk-off areas and paths have probably been the biggest focus because they’re the areas that suffer most from wear, but we’ve used it across the course.”

The results have been immediate.

“It’s been a really good investment,” he says. “The strike rate has been brilliant. We’re mainly using ryegrass in these areas to improve wear tolerance and the germination has been excellent. You can see the lines very clearly and they establish quickly. There’s very little seed waste as well.”

Ease of operation has also been a major advantage.

“We’ve all used it,” says Chris. “Everyone in the team has had a go setting it up and adjusting the sowing rates. The instruction manual includes a table that makes calibration very straightforward.

“The hopper size is another big benefit. It holds around three full bags of seed, which means we’re not constantly stopping to refill or carrying bags around the course.”

The improvements haven’t gone unnoticed by club members either.

“The members have definitely commented on it,” he says. “They like seeing the seed lines because it gives them a visual indication of what’s being done and where the investment is going. We regularly share photos of the germination and recovery work through our WhatsApp updates, and people have been really positive about the results.”

Support from local dealer Hamilton Ross Group and Redexim also helped ensure a smooth introduction to the machine.

“Allen Whellans from Redexim came out with Paul Johnstone when it was delivered,” says Chris. “The training was excellent. It was thorough, easy to understand and focused on exactly what we needed to know. We were confident using it straight away. We always get great support from Hamilton Ross.”

After several months of use, Chris has no hesitation in recommending the Overseeder 3D 1575 to other turf professionals.

“The ease of use, the strike rate, the hopper capacity and the compact storage all stand out,” he says. “It’s very well built, very well made and it does exactly what it’s meant to do. That’s the most important thing.”

For more information, visit https://www.redexim.com/uk/

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GroundTech automation delivers new levels of efficiency

GroundTech automation delivers new levels of efficiency

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GroundTech automation delivers new levels of efficiency

Romford’s Whalebone Golf Club is discovering the many benefits of automous maintenance following the installation of a completely automated driving range system from GroundTech. Director Ed Blacker notes that the combination of ECHO robotics and the innovative Drop Pit wash return system has been pivotal to consistent presentation of the range and central to the venues wider growth and development.

GroundTech automation delivers new levels of efficiency

GroundTech automation delivers new levels of efficiency

Acquired by its current owners in September 2025, Whalebone Golf Club is currently undergoing an exciting period of investment, with the aim of creating an inclusive and welcoming environment for golfers of all ages and abilities. Central to achieving that ambition is maintaining a well-presented driving range and optimising the utilisation of the club’s greenkeepers.

“Our previous range set up presented a number of challenges” says Ed. “The entire range needed to be cleared before we could cut the grass, with the whole process taking valuable time away from the greenkeeping team’s daily responsibilities on the golf course.” After exploring available alternatives, Whalebone appointed robotic specialists GroundTech to install an ECHO RP1250 robotic ball picker, ECHO TM-1050 mower complete with deflection kit and the revolutionary Drop Pit wash return system – enabling ball collection and grass cutting to take place simultaneously and maintaining a constant supply of clean golf balls for the range.

A few short months after the installation, Ed says the set-up has transformed the upkeep of the busy range, which can see as many as 15,000 golf balls used in a single day. “We estimate we’re saving four or five hours of labour each day which can be redirected into more valuable work elsewhere around the site.”

The finish of the ECHO TM-1050 has also impressed. “We can cut in all conditions, maintaining presentation throughout the year which is vital for creating a good first impression. It makes a real difference to the customer experience hitting into an outfield that is well manicured and not covered in golf balls.”

Ed also praised the installation and support provided by the GroundTech team. “They offered a complete solution, from consultation and planning through to installation and full training. The team were efficient and friendly and, with minimal construction and groundworks needed, the whole project was completed very quickly, and we’re pleased with the outcome.”

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Meet Jim Croxton, Director on the Amenity Forum Board

Meet Jim Croxton, Director on the Amenity Forum Board

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Meet Jim Croxton, Director on the Amenity Forum Board

As part of the ongoing Meet the Board series, Jim Croxton, Director of the Amenity Forum and Chief Executive Officer of the British & International Golf Greenkeepers Association (BIGGA), shares his passion for professional recognition, education and helping to raise the profile of the amenity sector.

Meet Jim Croxton, Director on the Amenity Forum Board

Meet Jim Croxton, Director on the Amenity Forum Board

For more than 15 years, Jim has worked to champion the greenkeeping profession, supporting the education, development and recognition of those responsible for maintaining the UK’s more than 2,600 golf courses. Through BIGGA, he has helped promote continuous professional development, innovation and the sharing of best practice across the industry.

As environmental expectations continue to evolve and the management of green spaces comes under increasing scrutiny, Jim brings a strong commitment to professionalism, collaboration and evidence-based decision making to the Amenity Forum Board.

We spoke to Jim about the importance of professional standards, the future of green space management and why collaboration across the amenity sector has never been more important.

Q&A: Jim Croxton

What attracted you to the Amenity Forum and the opportunity to join its Board?

The Amenity sector is extremely complex, with many distinct subsectors within it – golf, local authority landscapes, sports turf, highways, public spaces etc. Whilst a much smaller sector than agriculture it is critically important to business, travel, leisure and recreation so it is vital that it has a strong representative body that can present a coherent message to regulators and stakeholders.

The opportunity to help ensure we collaborate effectively and are well represented is important to my part of the industry and to me. Coming from a committee-based organisation I felt I had something to offer.

Why are professional standards and education so important to the amenity sector?

Professional standards underpin everything we do. The decisions made by practitioners managing our green spaces have long-term implications for the environment, public expectations and the quality of the landscapes we all enjoy.

Education gives professionals the confidence to make informed decisions based on evidence rather than habit. It encourages continual improvement, supports responsible management and helps ensure that our industry is recognized for the expertise it brings.

Investing in training and continuous professional development is one of the best ways we can strengthen the future of the amenity sector and demonstrate to regulators the professionalism inherent in our approach to landscape management.

What are the biggest challenges facing golf course management today?

Golf courses are expected to deliver exceptional playing surfaces whilst responding to increasing golfer and environmental expectations, climate change and evolving regulation.

Greenkeepers are continually balancing turf quality, resource management, biodiversity, water use and financial pressures. Meeting all of those expectations requires highly skilled professionals who understand both the science and the practical realities of managing living landscapes.

How is the profession responding to changing environmental expectations?

The profession has embraced innovation and continuous improvement. Golf course managers have always adopted Integrated Pest Management practices but the options for this are increasing all the time as technology and understanding improve.

In recent years I’m delighted that golf clubs are seeing the importance of investing in staff development to enable them to make more informed management decisions.

Climate change is also bringing new challenges, particularly around water availability. Longer periods of dry weather mean that making the best use of water resources is becoming increasingly important. The industry is responding by improving irrigation practices, selecting more resilient turf species and taking a more strategic approach to water management, helping courses adapt while maintaining high standards.

There is also a growing recognition that golf courses provide valuable habitats for wildlife, support biodiversity and make an important contribution to environmental sustainability when managed responsibly.

What role does Integrated Pest Management play in the future of golf course management?

Integrated Pest Management is fundamental to turf management. It encourages practitioners to understand the causes of problems before deciding on the most appropriate course of action.

By combining prevention, monitoring, cultural practices and targeted interventions, IPM supports healthier turf, more resilient landscapes and responsible use of plant protection products. It is about making informed decisions rather than relying on any single solution.

Why is continuous professional development so important?

Knowledge never stands still. New research, changing regulations, evolving technologies and different environmental pressures mean that professionals need opportunities to keep learning throughout their careers.

Continuous professional development helps individuals build confidence, improve competence and share experience with colleagues across the sector. Ultimately, it benefits everyone who uses and enjoys our managed green spaces.

What do you hope to achieve as a Director of the Amenity Forum?

I would like to see the Amenity Forum continue to strengthen its position as the collective voice of the amenity sector.

By bringing organisations together, promoting professional competence and encouraging constructive dialogue with policymakers and regulators, the Forum can help ensure that future decisions are informed by practical experience and sound science.

Most importantly, I hope we continue to champion the professionalism of those working across the sector. Our industry is full of highly skilled people who care deeply about the environments they manage, and that expertise deserves to be recognised.

The Board of Directors comprises representatives from a broad range of organisations and disciplines, reflecting the diversity of the amenity sector. Further profiles of Board members will be published over the coming months.

For further information about the Amenity Forum, visit: www.amenityforum.co.uk

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