New bunkers to greet Korn Ferry players

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New bunkers to greet Korn Ferry players: Opened in 2000, the course at the Country Club at Wakefield Plantation, in Raleigh, NC, has hosted the Korn Ferry Tour throughout its life – when this year’s REX Hospital Open is played at the course, between June 2-5, it will be the twenty-second time that Wakefield Plantation has played host to the Tour.

But, as course superintendent Todd Lawrence explains, the players will see a very different course this year from last.

New bunkers to greet Korn Ferry players

New bunkers to greet Korn Ferry players

“The course has high flashed bunker faces, and every time we received a significant rain, they would wash out,” he says. “Over the years, the bunkers had gotten so contaminated and it got to a point where they would hold water so we would have to pump them out. We would have 15-20 bunkers holding water after a three quarter inch rain.”

When Wakefield Plantation was built, at the turn of the century, bunker liner technology was in its infancy. “There was a polymer sprayed to a half inch on the faces originally, but it didn’t really hold the sand up, and in time it broke down,” Lawrence explains. “In 2006-7, we did an in-house project to install a fabric liner, and that helped for a while, but over time it started to fail. We knew the bunkers needed to be rebuilt completely.”

Wakefield is run by management company McConnell Golf. “Given the projects going on elsewhere in the company, we obviously had to plan very carefully as to when we could do the work, and for a while we had this year in mind,” says Lawrence. “But that came to a head after last year’s tournament. We had over an inch of rain in two consecutive nights. Bunkers were washed out completely to the bottom both days and it took every person available to get them pushed up and ready for play – and even after play started we had some bunkers that were still holding water. The decision to rebuild was finalised quickly after the tournament!”

Lawrence and his colleagues from McConnell carefully evaluated the liner products on the market before settling on Capillary Bunkers. “The company had already used the product on a number of other project, and it was working really well,” he says. “I like the fact that the concrete is a homogenous two inch layer. Other products seemed to depend much more on the contractor to get the consistency and depth of the product right. With Capillary Bunkers, I knew that as long as it came out of the truck properly mixed, it would give me that solid two inch layer.”

Wakefield is normally open year round. The course closed the front nine in December 2021 to begin the renovation, and then moved on to the back nine in early February. “We have four holes yet to finish and expect to be done in the next three weeks,” says Lawrence. “So far, the product has done everything we expected it to. We had rain last night and this morning the bunkers looked just as they did before the rain. Our members love it!”

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The most destructive garden bugs

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The most destructive garden bugs: Green fingered homeowners falling victim to destructive garden bugs are being given advice on how to keep them away.

The team of outdoor experts at GardenBuildingsDirect.co.uk have provided some cheap and easy solutions on how to tackle these bugs.

The most destructive garden bugs

The most destructive garden bugs

As the sun starts to come out, Brits are making the most of their outdoor space and making them look as beautiful as possible.

Unfortunately, the likes of moths, slugs and snails also come out in the sun and can do a lot of damage to gardens.

A spokesperson for GardenBuildingsDirect.co.uk said: “It is inevitable that garden bugs will cause a bit of disruption, whether you’re out relaxing, planting your own veg or growing your own garden.

“This guide is full of some of the most destructive garden bugs and the top tips to help keep these at bay, so the outdoors can be stress-free.”

Slugs and Snails

Slugs and snails are some of the most common yet destructive garden pests. Not only do they leave a sticky trail behind them, but they also love to munch through leaves and vegetables. This can be particularly problematic on vegetable patches if you are growing plants like lettuce and cabbage.

Salt has always been a fool proof way of killing slugs and snails, but if you want to stop them in their tracks, copper tape acts as a great deterrent, giving them electric shocks.

Caterpillars

Caterpillars love to nibble their way through fruits, vegetables, and plants. They are also detrimental to some flowers too, with the buds and seeds often all destroyed.

One of the most natural and inexpensive ways to rid your plants of these pesky bugs, is to spray them with hot soapy water. This can then be poured into a spray bottle and used as many times as necessary.

Moths

This type of garden bug can be especially damaging in the summer months. They love cotton and wool fibres so homeowners need to be aware that leaving outdoor cushions and furniture in the garden could be targeted by moths.

An easy solution for deterring them is to use herbal sprays in the areas you want to protect. Herbs like lavender and rosemary are not loved by these bugs, and they also smell nice too.

May Bugs

Usually seen around May-time (up until July), which is how it earned its name, May Bugs can cause considerable damage to gardens. In their early years they live under the soil and feed off the roots of plants and flowers.

As there are not a lot of homemade options available to keep these bugs away, the best option is to use an insect killer.

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STIHL GB remembers Eva Mayr-Stihl

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STIHL GB remembers Eva Mayr-Stihl: Eva Mayr-Stihl, a businesswoman, philanthropist and dedicated entrepreneur passed away on the 9th April 2022. Mayr-Stihl was instrumental in the success of STIHL and spent 33 years guiding the family-owned business as a member of its senior management team.

Throughout her many years of service on the Advisory Board and the Supervisory Board, she kept close watch over the strategic direction of the company. Mayr-Stihl joined her father’s company in 1960, and with her educational background in business administration and linguistics, she took on responsibility for advertising and market research at the family-owned enterprise.

STIHL GB remembers Eva Mayr-Stihl

STIHL GB remembers Eva Mayr-Stihl

Her expertise and drive to assume a leading role at the company quickly bore fruit when she and her three siblings were made limited partners in 1961. Two years later, her father gave her the power to represent the firm and enter into transactions on its behalf. After her father’s death in 1973, Mayr-Stihl became Deputy Chairwoman of the Board of Management, placing her in charge of finance and controlling starting in 1975.

With a keen sense of responsibility toward society and a sustainable world, the second mainstay in Mayr-Stihl’s life was her work as a philanthropist. In 1986, she and her husband Robert Mayr established the Andreas Stihl Foundation, a nonprofit organisation that would be renamed the Eva Mayr-Stihl Foundation in 2004.

The foundation was set up to finance projects in the fields of animal welfare, education, science, research, the arts, and culture. Today, the institution supports a variety of programs, including an endowed professorship for forest genetics at the University of Freiburg and a research group on recyclable material cycles.

On 11th November 2009, Mayr-Stihl received the Konrad Adenauer Foundation’s Social Market Economy Award at St. Paul’s church in Frankfurt am Main. In 2011, she received the 1st Class Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany and became the first woman to receive the key to the city of Waiblingen. In 2019, Mayr-Stihl was named an Honorary Senator of the University of Freiburg.

The people of STIHL and their families are deeply saddened by the death of Mayr-Stihl.

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STIHL expands cordless brushcutter range

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STIHL expands cordless brushcutter range: STIHL has extended its range of cordless brushcutters with the launch of the RGA 140, the first tool in the STIHL AP System dedicated for use with the STIHL RG cutting head, enabling maintenance workers, landscapers and groundskeepers to cut weeds and grass with ease in sensitive areas.

Taking inspiration from the popular FSA 135 brushcutter and RG gearbox, the new RGA 140 features oscillating disc blades with low rotational energy, enabling low-spin mowing on hard surfaces and around fragile obstacles such as cars or greenhouses. Not only does this reduce the risk of flicking stones but, due to its low spin mowing and tailored RPM, the new brushcutter also reduces the safety distances to 3m from objects and 5m from people, making the tool ideal for use in built-up areas.

STIHL expands cordless brushcutter range

STIHL expands cordless brushcutter range

The RGA 140 also boasts a 230mm cutting diameter and ergonomic controls. Featuring a quiet EC motor with three-speed settings and a clear LED display, users can continuously regulate the speed in order to work as efficiently as possible. In addition, the new brushcutter utilises a bike handle for well-balanced operation, offering comfortable use for professionals, particularly over long periods of time.

Part of the AP System, the RGA 140 is compatible with STIHL’s Smart Connector 2 A and features a mounting point on the tool housing, facilitating effective and timely maintenance, as well as increased productivity and reduced downtime. This model provides professionals with a long service life thanks to its sturdy motor housing, mesh air filter, and robust gearbox. Working time with the recommended AP 300 S battery is up to 100 minutes.

For more information on STIHL’s extensive range of brushcutters, please visit www.stihl.co.uk.

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BGL commits to sustainability with renewed GEO Certifications

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BGL commits to sustainability with renewed GEO Certifications: Burhill Group Limited (BGL) is proud to announce that its entire portfolio of golf clubs has been successfully reaccredited as GEO Certified®.

This news highlights the group’s continued commitment to environmental progression and solidifies its place as the only major multi-course operator to have GEO Certified status across all sites. Each club will hold the renewed certification for the next five years.

BGL commits to sustainability with renewed GEO Certifications

BGL commits to sustainability with renewed GEO Certifications

The GEO certification encompasses environmental success in the areas of golf facility operations, golf development and renovation, and golf tournaments. This status demonstrates a commitment to continuous improvement around nature, resources, climate, and the community.

The announcement comes following the recent recertification of Wycombe Heights Golf Centre in Buckinghamshire, Aldwickbury Park Golf Club in Hertfordshire, and The Shropshire Golf Centre in Shropshire. Sustainability projects undertaken both on and off the course have contributed to the recognitions, including the planting of trees, water retention and recycling, tracking of carbon footprints, use of ultra-efficient LED lighting, and a reduction in the use of cling film and takeaway cups, among others.

Commenting on the achievement, BGL CEO Colin Mayes, said: “Sustainability is more important than ever, so we are continually striving to operate our clubs in the most environmentally sensitive ways possible. For our entire golf portfolio to have been reaccredited with GEO certified status is a testament to the fantastic work ethic and vision of team members at BGL.

“Each club has developed bespoke maintenance programmes designed to incorporate more sustainable and efficient practices, while simultaneously continuing to make improvements to the courses and club facilities that are enjoyed by our members and visitors every day.”

BGL Golf is one of the largest owners and operators of golf courses and facilities in the UK. The company currently operates 22 golf courses at 10 venues across the country, each providing a different style and character while offering a high-quality, friendly, and professional service.

Kelli Jerome, Executive Director, GEO Foundation For Sustainable Golf, added: “BGL’s commitment to sustainability is unwavering, and testament to their progressive nature as a group. They are the first multi-course operator to have all their facilities GEO Certified and all of them have continued to renew and track their progress year-on-year. They have also been setting new ambitious targets and engaging people across the organisation. This leadership shows they are taking the sustainable golf responsibility and opportunity seriously, and GEO Foundation has been very pleased to support, recognise, and share their commitment and results over nearly 10 years.”

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