Custom cars driving a modern approach

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Custom cars driving a modern approach: The Astbury Golf Club has taken delivery of a new fleet of tailored vehicles, as it extends its partnership with Club Car, the world’s largest manufacturer of small-wheel electric vehicles.

The dozen electric Tempo cars, each fitted with a long-lasting Lithium battery, have been designed to fit with The Astbury’s approach to host the modern golfer.

Custom cars driving a modern approach

Custom cars driving a modern approach

With several accessories fitted, including dual mobile phone charging points, the vehicles are a mix of industry-leading durability and premium comfort.

The Astbury Golf Club has now partnered with Club Car for more than eight years.

Daniel Hodson, of Hodson Consultants, who has been working with The Astbury Golf Club since October 2019, said: “These new vehicles match our ethos at The Astbury – people should be playing golf to enjoy themselves.

“To push golf into the 21st Century has meant allowing people to be on their phones and these vehicles will enable them to have their devices charged all day. We are embracing the needs of modern-day life.”

The Astbury Golf Club reopened in May 2021 under new owners Faro Captial, who are investing in converting the venue into a luxury golf and lodge resort. Since then, it has welcomed 200 members and hosted 100 corporate and society events.

The development of 300 new lodges is taking place at the site and the club leased a six-seater Club Car Utility vehicle to chauffeur clients around the venue.

The course itself offers a challenge for golfers of all abilities; the Par 71 6,500-yard course has immaculate putting surfaces with subtle undulations that will test the skills of even the very best putter.

Tom Storrar, who joined The Astbury Golf Club as Director of Golf in March 2021, said: “It’s a business partnership that we have with Club Car, not just a service to customer one. Club Car vehicles are a robust product that spend their time on the course and the Lithium battery provides a long charge, which is especially beneficial.”

He also added: “The support we have received from Club Car cannot be faulted, while the after sales care and service process is unmatched.”

Club Car supplies many of the world’s leading golf destinations with its wide range of vehicles, and is an official supplier to the European Tour, the Professional Golfers’ Association (PGA) and St Andrews Links Trust.

For more information on Club Car click here.

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Harrod Sport’s certified goal

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Harrod Sport’s certified goal: FIFA has teamed up with Harrod Sport, a leading equipment manufacturer, to create the world’s first FIFA Quality certified goal.  

After being approached by FIFA to take part in a leading-edge programme to improve the standard of football goals globally, Harrod Sport has been hard at work developing FIFA Quality certified football goals in time for this year’s World Cup, starting in November.

FIFA partners with Harrod Sport

FIFA partners with Harrod Sport

What do the FIFA Quality approved packages include? 

Due to Harrod Sport’s wealth of experience supplying football equipment for major events, including last summer’s EURO 2020 tournament, its products required just a handful of design amends to meet FIFA’s strict criteria. This meant FIFA was able to approve two packages, with more to follow.

Package 1

4G Stadium Pro Goal

Square Stadium Box Net – 1.8m

4G Stadium Pro Bottom Hinged Net Support

4G Aluminium Hinged Net Support

4G Stadium Pro F/Hang Net Supports – 4 Pole

Package 2

4G Stadium Goal

Hex Stadium Box Net – 1.8m

4G Steel Bottom Hinged Net Support

Stadium Pro F/Hang Net Supports – 4 Pole

Clubs and stadiums can either purchase the FIFA Quality certified packages or the individual items required to upgrade their existing goals.

What are the key features? 

The goals in the FIFA Quality approved packages use a pioneering ‘pro precision system’, allowing their height to be accurately adjusted by up to 100mm whilst in situ. This will greatly aid grounds professionals who must ensure that goals are set correctly for every match – essential at the top level.

Reinforcements have been made to several other parts of the goals for superior strength and improved aesthetics. New locks and storage features have also been developed, making these the most advanced football goals on the market.

What was it like working with FIFA? 

Throughout the development stage, Harrod Sport’s main task was working through FIFA’s policies and standards for quality, humanity and fair treatment of all stakeholders: a process they passed with flying colours.

Commenting on Harrod Sport’s partnership with FIFA, Kevin Utton, Director of Sports Sales and Marketing for Harrod Sport, said: “We have always had a close working relationship with international governing bodies, including FIFA. Once we heard they were launching a FIFA Quality Programme for Football Goals, we knew we wanted to be a part of it, having already supplied many of the world’s most prestigious clubs and competitions.”

Utton added: “Having our products used at major events and now also rubber-stamped as FIFA Quality approved means a great deal to our staff, customers and everyone associated with Harrod Sport - it’s a proud moment for us all.”

FIFA were never in doubt that Harrod Sport could deliver its vision to create a new global standard for football goals.

Alan Ferguson, Senior Pitch Management Manager for FIFA, said: “Having been in the football world for many years, I know quality and service when I see it, and that is exactly why I have had the pleasure of working with Harrod Sport for many years. I am very familiar with their goals and have had the privilege of seeing them on my travels all over the world.”

Ferguson added: “Now in my role as Senior Pitch Management Manager at FIFA, I know if Harrod Sport is supplying product for a tournament, it will be to the highest possible standard. I am delighted they are now working in partnership with FIFA and have their products FIFA Quality approved.”

To learn more about how Harrod Sport is working with FIFA to raise the standard of football equipment for current and future generations, visit: https://www.harrodsport.com/advice-and-guides/harrod-sport-introduces-the-worlds-first-fifa-quality-certified-goal

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Syngenta appoints Sean Loakes

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Syngenta appoints Sean Loakes: Sean Loakes has been appointed as Syngenta Professional Solutions Technical Manager for the UK and Ireland.

Sean expands the existing Syngenta technical and business team, to offer further specialist trials expertise and developing new integrated solutions for turf, landscape, ornamentals production and pest control.

Syngenta appoints Sean Loakes

Syngenta appoints Sean Loakes

Sean’s role is dedicated to customers in UK and Ireland, and will also support the continued work of Glenn Kirby, who now has the extended responsibility as Technical Manager for Turf & Landscape across Europe, Africa and the Middle East.

A qualified biologist, Sean has had a career in environmental science and research through practical field trials and laboratory studies, primarily focused on pesticide efficacy and best practice.

“With the increasing importance of biopesticides within integrated management programmes, there’s an exciting opportunity to develop new strategies to meet the evolving challenges for customers,” he said. “Syngenta has an exciting pipeline of R&D products and services.  I look forward to working with customers, researchers and the industry to develop new solutions.”

Welcoming Sean to the company, Daniel Lightfoot, Syngenta Business Manager for North West Europe, said: “Syngenta is committed to developing its unrivalled technical solutions. Sean’s science and research background brings further experience and innovation to support customers with new products and achieving the best possible results.”

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The Seeds of Success

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The Seeds of Success: MM Sports Seed, one of the most respected brands in the UK amenity industry, recently brought together their distributors for their MM distributor conference held at Hotel du Vin Wimbledon, followed by a tour of the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club.

The conference provided the opportunity for distributors to interact with each other for the first time in two years following the COVID pandemic and give an insight in the recent acquisition of the MM and Designer brands by DLF Seeds.

The Seeds of Success

The Seeds of Success

The conference was the ideal opportunity to give distributors an insight into the Inkberrow factory upgrade and demo site at DLF’s UK headquarters, a breeding and portfolio update detailing the exciting new cultivars that are planned for the MM mixtures, the current market supply conditions, and future marketing of the brands as well as enhancing the communications channels within the MM Sports Seed network.

Neil Stubley, head of courts and horticulture at Wimbledon – The All England Lawn Tennis Club concluded day one of the conference with an entertaining update of the prestigious venue.

On day two, delegates were invited for an exclusive tour around the world’s oldest tennis venue to witness first hand the latest stadium developments and turf management practices.

The conference was hosted by Matt Gresty, sales and marketing manager for MM Sports Seed, who said: “Throughout the two days together we were able to discuss, the opportunities and issues that affect our businesses. It provided the perfect platform for an informed debate.

“The past two years have presented unique challenges to our industry. London was the ideal location for the event. A lot of preparation went into the conference to ensure we got the full benefit from our two days together and the feedback from the delegates was excellent; it’s been a very successful event.”

For further information, please contact MM Sports Seed on 01386 791102 or visit the company’s new website www.mm-seeds.co.uk. You can also follow the company on Twitter: @MM_Seed

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STIHL acquires stake in TinyMobileRobots

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STIHL acquires stake in TinyMobileRobots: In an official statement the two companies said that STIHL’s robotic lawn mowers share a strong technical kinship with the line marking robots produced by TinyMobileRobots, intended for use in sports fields and road construction.

The statement continued that during the last couple of years, STIHL Group has been following TinyMobileRobots closely as the company has grown 100 percent per year. Therefore, the corporate venture arm of the STIHL Group, STIHL Digital, has now acquired 23.8% of TinyMobileRobots, thus buying out the company’s former venture capital company Borean Innovation.

STIHL acquires stake in TinyMobileRobots

STIHL acquires stake in TinyMobileRobots

Jens Peder Kristensen, founder and CEO of TinyMobileRobots said, “We have been looking for a strong partner who can support our continued growth. Having STIHL as a partner is nothing short of a dream come true. Right from the outset, we will also benefit greatly from STIHL’s world-wide network of dealers. While maintaining our status as an independent company, we can draw on STIHL’s huge market experience to accelerate our growth further. To put it mildly, I’m very, very happy with this new development.”

Benjamin Junghans, director of STIHL Digital added, “We have been in close contact with TinyMobileRobots for more than two years, and steadily, we have become more and more impressed with their growth rates and performance. So as the chance to acquire nearly a quarter of the company arose, we were quick to strike a deal. We feel convinced that our future collective efforts will lead to an even greater share of TinyMobileRobots’ fast growing and innovation driven market.”

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