Trump International trust Consolidate Products

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Trump International trust Consolidate Products: Maintaining world-class playing conditions on a rugged coastal Links course is no easy task. At Trump International, Scotland, Course Manager Eddie Irvine and his team face the relentless challenge of keeping their renowned course pristine year-round, all while preparing for the grand opening of the New Course in the Summer
of 2025.

The new New Course joins the existing 18-hole Old Course, which stretches along the dramatic Aberdeenshire coastline. With breathtaking views of the North Sea on nearly every hole, the course demands playing surfaces that match its striking scenery. For over 12 years, Head Greenkeeper of the Old Course Eddie Irvine and his team of 14 have been committed to delivering exceptional Links conditions while preserving the course’s natural beauty.

Trump International trust Consolidate Products

Trump International trust Consolidate Products

Achieving the perfect balance of firmness, speed, and healthy colour is a constant challenge in Links golf. Eddie first explored Consolidate products through the Scottish distributor GroGreen Ltd, working closely with Kenny Liddell to trial Consolidate Links to see how well the product could penetrate the plant during cooler temperatures, which is a vital factor in Scotland’s climate.

“The initial trial was a success,” Eddie explains. “We saw immediate improvements in colour and turf health using Consolidate Links, and from there, we expanded to using Consolidate Plus+ and Fairway. We’ve now integrated them into our annual agronomy programme across the entire Old Course and our grow-in plan for the New Course.

“Getting that colour and the surfaces to still be firm and fast is a great achievement. We were looking for the colour to be right. Obviously, we’re a Links course, but we still want to maintain the healthy colour on the surfaces, and that’s why we spoke with Kenny and trialled Consolidate.

“Our overall experience with GroGreen and Consolidate made using their products on the New Course an easy decision. Construction of the new course started in May last year, and we’ve been using Consolidate products on it since the end of 2024.”

At Trump International, Scotland, the entire course needs to be immaculate all year round, including the walkways. For Eddie, one of the key strengths of working with Consolidate products is the ability to have custom mixes.

To keep their extensive network of ultra-fine rye walkways pristine all year round, Consolidate formulated a bespoke mixture which could help elevate quality despite the harsh conditions and high foot traffic.

“The guys from Consolidate came up with a bespoke mix for our walkways to help us maintain them to the highest standards and keep their colour and the plant growth,” Eddie explains.

“We are impressed with how it’s worked and the speed at which they can provide us with the product. Generally, we’re able to receive new products within a couple of days, and that’s really important for us.”

Head Greenkeeper for the New Course Luke Ebersold and his team plan to continue to use Consolidate’s range of products to uphold their high standards and work to provide what Trump International, Scotland, claims will be ‘the greatest 36 holes in golf’.

Optimising Turf Health with Consolidate at Highwoods Golf Club

With a career spanning 20 years, Jamie Melham, Head Greenkeeper at one of the finest in Sussex, Highwoods Golf Club, brings his experience and collaboration with specialist for Consolidate Turf, Rob Welford, to enhance the health and aesthetics of the golf course. He is keen to understand the science behind turf health and to implement the means to maintain it. e is the fact that the club.

Jamie began his greenkeeping journey two decades ago, accruing experience at Dale Hill Golf Club and Lamberhurst Golf Club before joining Highwoods Golf Club, where he has been for over eight years leading a team of six greens staff. His role involves not just maintaining the course but also continuously experimenting with and refining turf management practices.

Jamie’s partnership with Rob Welford from Consolidate Turf www.consolidateturf.com started 3 years ago and has been instrumental in transforming the nutrient management approach at Highwoods. Rob’s expertise and responsiveness have provided Jamie with confidence and reliable support, and the use of consolidate products played a big part in the presentation of the course, when the club celebrated its centenary year in 2024.

One specific challenge Jamie faced was the inconsistency in fertilizer prill size from a different supplier. Initially, Rob assessed the golf course’s overall plant health, leading to the transition from granular to liquid fertilizers for more consistent results, using Consolidate Plus to kickstart the greens early in the season. This approach has proven successful for three consecutive seasons.

Jamie explains “I began by applying Consolidate products to the approach areas and soon extended their use to the greens. I am now on a full annual package of Consolidate liquids, including seaweed, potassium, magnesium, and other nutrients, which are customised yearly to meet the specific needs for growth, colour and overall turf health.”

“Like all our customers we have a bespoke programme for Jamie,” explains Rob “The use of the Consolidate nitrogen source gives the turf an efficient food source to make the building blocks of proteins and amino acids to deliver healthy results on the greens without any of the associated drawbacks of conventional nitrogen sources. The liquids provide the control needed to deliver the correct dosage. We do leaf analysis to check the plant is receiving everything it needs. This is coupled with a programme for approaches and fairways, tailored for his individual needs and requirements in these different areas.

For the approaches, Jamie maintains a treatment schedule of every three weeks, a practice he also applies during the winter to prevent disease. “The results speak for themselves” said Jamie “With consistent progress across every area treated. Improvements in colour, grass strength and wearability, less disease and faster recovery.” This has led to expanding these practices to the fairways, using Consolidate products across all key areas of the course and making ongoing adjustments based on Rob’s recommendations.

In addition to using Consolidate products, Jamie incorporates feedback from the Sports Turf Research Institute (STRI) into his maintenance program. STRI provides annual soil analysis, which Jamie, and Rob review to adjust the nutrient program, as necessary. This collaboration ensures that the turf management practices are continuously optimized based on scientific data.

The structured and scientifically backed approach to turf management, combined with Rob’s products and STRI’s analysis, provides reassurance to the club’s board, allowing Jamie to focus on maintaining his own ambitious standards.

For further information visit www.consolidateturf.com

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Kubota reliability keeps contractors Djuke on course

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Kubota reliability keeps contractors Djuke on course: The milestone of the ‘1000th installation’ of Hydrowick greens drainage is on the horizon for specialist sports turf contractors Djuke, and ensuring they get there is a trio of tractors from Kubota.

Djuke Managing Director Cameron McMillan is no stranger to Kubota reliability having been loyal to the brand for over 30 years, with his latest purchase of an M5-112 and L2-522 from Lister Wilder providing the dependable power to tackle every task and every terrain with ease.

Kubota reliability keeps contractors Djuke on course

Kubota reliability keeps contractors Djuke on course

Starting at the world-renowned Sunningdale Golf Club, Cameron went on to continue his course management career at Queenwood Golf Club before establishing Djuke in 2013. The contractors have gone on to become the UK’s leading specialists in Hydrowick Drainage – a patented ‘wick’ system providing the fast and effective drainage of golf greens. With more intense and prolonged periods of rainfall, Cameron explains that demand is ever-increasing meaning that reliability is pivotal to keeping the whole contracting schedule on track.

“Together with new clubs, a lot of our work is repeat custom who find that the wettest green on the course becomes the driest with Hydrowick and want to replicate that site-wide” he explains. “Our schedule is tight so we have no margin for error, and certainly no time for machinery breakdowns!”

“Kubota, for me, has always been super reliable, comfortable and capable of everything you need from a tractor.” That confidence was reaffirmed with the recent addition of the M5-112 and L2-522 in December 2024. The two new machines joined their existing L2-501, which continues to deliver exceptional performance after more than 2,500 hours of service. “Every job and every green is different so we now have machines to suit all terrain and all ground types – lightweight tractors with good pulling power for the greens, together with our new M5-112 with greater lift capacity for operating bigger equipment on fairways and sports surfaces.”

“One feature the team really like is the creeper gearbox, giving complete control over the operation of some of our bespoke and precision-based implements” he adds. “In addition the heated and air-conditioned cabs are a popular choice, keeping us comfortable in all conditions.”

With routine maintenance simple enough to conduct in-house, further servicing and support is delivered by Lister Wilder, whom Cameron has also worked alongside for more than three decades. “Everything with Lister’s is reliable and professional. You know they understand the machines inside and out which provides added peace of mind with every purchase.”

“Kubota’s brilliant build quality combined with the regular maintenance means that in over 10 years of business, we’ve never missed a job and that’s something we’re incredibly proud of.”

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New look Wiedenmann Terra Spike GXi6 in UK

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New look Wiedenmann Terra Spike GXi6 in UK: One of the first Wiedenmann Terra Spike GXi6s, liveried in Wiedenmann’s new vibrant orange colour and silver logo, has gone to Hilton Park Golf Club, Milngavie, Glasgow.

Stuart Neil, Courses Manager of the 36-hole site, is in the enviable position of already owning a Wiedenmann Terra Spike GXi8 HD, so is in a perfect position to compare.

New look Wiedenmann Terra Spike GXi6 in UK

New look Wiedenmann Terra Spike GXi6 in UK

“The new machine does look sharp and smart. It’s a stronger orange. The logo is more modern; I like it! Having two GXis for us is about efficiency; it lets us double up on aeration when we get necessary weather windows. It will be great to get our 36 greens done in virtually half the time.”

Choosing the 1.4 m wide Terra Spike was a relatively easy decision for Stuart, who has served the club for 39 years.

“The GXi 8 is a fabulous machine, always neat and precise; it leaves a very clean finish, even with our undulations. There is negligible disturbance. Across both our 18-hole courses there are a few tight spots that the GXi8 can reach but needs to manoeuvre to access. The GXi6 at 1.4 m wide is that bit smaller so can just nip in with fewer tractor movements.

“I am particularly looking forward to the solid three-part rear roller which is a real benefit. It’s got a good weight and helps leave a quality job.”

Aeration and coring at the James Braid-designed moorland courses will take place throughout the year as and when conditions allow.

“There are certain greens that seal up quicker than others which warrant a little more attention,” continued Stuart. “I’ve never had issues aerating during the playing season but obviously we would only ever use the finer tines, certainly nothing more than 12 mm.

“For various reasons we’ve had to shorten some of our planned maintenance periods; for instance, at the end of June we have only one week, instead of two, so there is pressure on the team to get tasks completed quicker. Having the new machine eases some of the burden.

“I believe in always having our GXi 8 ‘ready to go’. If it’s finished a task and the tines are worn, we are fortunate enough to be able to re-order spares at once, fit them on and be primed and ready for the next time. We will do the same with the GXi 6.”

Scottish Wiedenmann dealer, Fairways GM at Inchinnan, supplied the aerator with Area Manager, Stuart Cameron, himself an ex-greenkeeper at Hilton Park, providing sales support, alongside Wiedenmann UK’s lead demonstrator, Andy Kerr.

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GMA Connect heads to Durham

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GMA Connect heads to Durham: Following the successful launch of GMA Connect in Bristol last month, the Grounds Management Association’s new regional event series continues in the North East on Wednesday 18 June at Durham County Cricket Club.

Designed to bring the grounds industry together in key regions across the country, GMA Connect is a hands-on, one-day event offering a unique mix of expert seminars and live demonstrations from leading manufacturers.

GMA Connect heads to Durham

GMA Connect heads to Durham

Some of the industry’s top brands will be on show in Durham, including headline sponsor Cramer, ISEKI UK & Ireland, Campey Turf Care Systems, Fleet Line Markers, GKB Machines, Abundigro, The Aquatrols Company, AriensCo, Redexim, and Dennis & SISIS.

Throughout the day, attendees will have the opportunity to see the latest machinery and solutions from the likes of Cramer, who will present a full battery-powered range, including robot mowers, a zero-turn model and all-terrain pedestrian mowers. ISEKI and GKB Machines will jointly demonstrate a compact tractor fitted with a Combi Tool and Deep Tine Aerator, whilst Campey Turf Care will demonstrate their UniRake and display smaller machines pitch side, including the Vredo Turf Buddy and Electric Sarel Roller.

Line marking solutions will be available from Fleet and, new to Durham, Dennis & SISIS will bring the FT mower and Auto Rotorake Mk5, whilst Ariens will display zero-turn and high-grass mulching mowers.

Redexim, The Aquatrols Company and Abundigro and will all be on hand to share practical advice and showcase turf maintenance essentials.

A packed seminar programme features weather expert Mark Hunt’s ‘Turf Management in the Current Climate’, a popular practical soil session led by Alex Vickers, and guidance on using a Playing Surface Assessment to upgrade your facility from the GMA’s Ian Mather-Brewster and Chris Hunter.

The day will close with a panel discussion on climate change at top sporting venues, featuring Vic Demain (Head Groundsman, Durham CCC), Alex Vickers (Turf Consultant), Aaron Tong (Head Groundsman, Hull City MKM Stadium) and James Wright (Senior Maintenance Manager, University of Leeds).

Sarah Hunter, Head of Events at the GMA, said: “Bristol was a huge success for everyone involved, and we’re now really excited to bring GMA Connect to Durham. This event series has been designed to serve the needs of the industry, giving grounds staff at every level access to expert advice and practical solutions within their region.”

Jordan Watson, Area Sales Manager for Cramer UK, said: “We want to support events like GMA Connect because it’s a great networking opportunity and it’s a great way to show the industry everything that we do and the technology that Cramer UK can offer to help them in the future.”

Tickets are free for GMA members, while non-members can attend for £15. Membership provides additional value, including exclusive resources, discounted training, access to the Member Assistance Programme and more.

For more information or to register, visit thegma.org.uk/events.

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Toro for rig and furrow fairways at Forfar

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Toro for rig and furrow fairways at Forfar: Rig and furrow fairways bring as much of a challenge to the greenkeeping team as they do the players. With raised ridges and sunken furrows, it takes a lightweight, manoeuvrable mower to deliver the best results and for Forfar Golf Club in Scotland, Toro is the one to beat.

Remaining from the time when the ground was used to cultivate flax, a mower that will bring the best results on rig and furrow fairways is one that’s well-balanced, has a low centre of gravity, turf-friendly tyres, and the ability to maintain cutting consistency in tough conditions.

Toro for rig and furrow fairways at Forfar

Toro for rig and furrow fairways at Forfar

For Keith Law, Head Greenkeeper at Forfar Golf Club, the Toro Reelmaster 3575-D ticks all the boxes.

“It can certainly be a challenge maintaining rig and furrow fairways if you don’t have the right equipment,” says Keith. “You’ve got to be careful not to run the risk of the grass looking burnt out on the ridges and green in the furrows if the mowers can’t maintain the height of cut or leaves clippings behind.

“The Toro Reelmaster set up with a rear roller brush on the back and groomer on the front, hugs the ground, picks up the grass in the dips and avoids scalping on the top. The brush also disperses the clippings perfectly and the groomer lifts the grass before cutting. It’s perfect on undulations – and on our bunkers, where it doesn’t leave a mark – and as the lightest fairway mower out there it minimises soil compression.”

The purchase of the Reelmaster 3575-D is the start of the club replacing much of its fleet says Keith. “We’re a totally Toro club and it’s testament to the brand that we’re still running and getting great results from machines that are well in their double digits. But now’s the time to focus on the new technology the brand offers.

“We’re a wooded heathland club and as such have had a tough time since Storm Arwen.  We’ve lost around 1500 trees, so time outside of general course maintenance has been spent dealing with that.

“It’s going to be great for everyone to focus on new machinery. Our members have already noticed and commented on the tighter finish on the fairways since we got the Reelmaster, it’s brought a links feel to our heathland course, which is appreciated, so it’s going to be exciting to hear the feedback from more new machines.”

The new machine was delivered by distributor Reesink Scotland, the Scottish service branch of Reesink Turfcare based in Livingston, which serves some of the UK’s most prestigious golf clubs, major sporting venues, councils, local authorities and landscapers.

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