In-house bunker project

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In-house bunker project: Somerset Hills CC in New Jersey is close to finishing a bunker project involving the installation of the Capillary Bunkers lining system across the course, which was originally designed by legendary architect A. W. Tillinghast in 1918. 

“I started here in 2009 and the bunkers here were in bad shape then,” says course superintendent Ryan Tuxhorn. “We were looking at doing a bunker project then, and when we had a meeting with our architect, Brian Slawnik of Renaissance Golf Design, we discussed it and he told us he did not like the idea. He said that bunkers should be a finishing touch and it was more important to get mowing lines and playing surfaces right.”

In-house bunker project

In-house bunker project

Several years on, though, with Tuxhorn having the course mostly where he wanted it, the question of bunkers came up again. Although Somerset Hills’s bunkers, built fairly early in his career, are not the enormous, high-flashed traps often associated with Tillinghast, Tuxhorn knew he needed a liner, and also that, ideally, he wanted to do the work in-house.

That desire to fix the bunkers with his own crew led Tuxhorn to Capillary Bunkers. “Three years ago, we installed a few Capillary bunkers as a test, and in August 2019, we were more aggressive, opening up 16 smaller bunkers in advance of a visit by Brian, to check that we could install the liner in-house and complete the bunkers in timely fashion while still maintaining a golf course. And we found it was a comfortable process,” he says.

With Slawnik’s help, Tuxhorn divided his bunkers into three grades – going from one, which meant no work was needed to the outside at all and the only work was to the sub-grade including new drainage and installation of liner and move on to three, which meant a complete redo.

“By the end of next year we should be 95 per cent done,” he says. “At the moment we only have one green’s worth of bunkers to do and we have done some of the fairway bunkers too. The work is coming out great and the members are really happy with it. Last year, the workload was fine – we were pretty well staffed and my then Senior Assistant is a really good project manager. This year has been a little bit more difficult as he got a superintendent’s job and it has been really difficult to get staff. But I have been here a while and we’re pretty efficient with our practices. We have the golf course largely where we want it and it gives us some time to take on other projects. In August while we had college and high school help, we pushed pretty hard on it. It’s been a great project for us and I’m very proud of the results.”

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Case IH showcase sub-130 hp range at SALTEX

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Case IH showcase sub-130 hp range at SALTEX: Leading agricultural machinery manufacturer, Case IH, will be exhibiting at SALTEX 21 – the premier event for the sports, amenities and landscaping trades.

The brand, which has been producing agricultural machinery for more than 175 years, produces a range of tractors from 55hp to 692hp, with the 55hp to 130hp models perfectly suited to many applications in amenity use. All these models share the Case IH tradition of safety and operator comfort and can be specified with a range of implements including loaders, as well as tyres to match the demands of every application.

Case IH showcase sub-130 hp range at SALTEX

Case IH showcase sub-130 hp range at SALTEX

Case IH tractors are renowned for their reliability and are supported by a network of over 80 dealers across the UK and Ireland, providing a guarantee of personal and professional after-sales support.

Commenting, Anton Stander Case IH Key Accounts Manager, said:

“Case IH aims to be the preferred partner in bringing innovative products and market-leading solutions and services to customers around the world. Our tractors have proven performance and reliability, offering best-in-class total cost of ownership, and our range offers the right machine for every task, backed up by an extensive dealer network. A prime example is the Vestrum CVXDrive, which combines the compact dimensions of a manoeuvrable four-cylinder tractor with the premium cab comfort design of larger Case IH models. It is the first Case IH tractor in the 100hp class fitted with continuously-variable CVXDrive transmission.”

The Case IH range includes the following series of tractors suited to sports, amenity, snow clearing, municipal and landscaping use:

Farmall

The Farmall name is deeply rooted in the history of Case IH, with the first tractors to bear this name being produced back in 1923. Today’s Farmall tractors range from 55 to 117hp and share a design emphasis on manoeuvrability, compact dimensions, ease of operation and a high power-to-weight ratio. This means that whether you are working with mounted machinery, trailed equipment, transport duties or with a loader, there’s a Farmall to suit your needs.

Luxxum

With greater manoeuvrability, higher levels of comfort and better visibility than any tractor of this size Case IH has made, the Case IH Luxxum ensures greater productivity from both tractor and driver and comes in 3 models from 100 to 120hp.

Maxxum

The Maxxum series offers superior performance and fuel efficiency thanks to the use of Efficient Power technology. Available with a range of transmission options including a 16F/16R four-speed powershift, an award-winning ActiveDrive 8 24F/24R eight-speed powershift delivering class-leading fuel efficiency, or a CVXDrive for the ultimate stepless transmission.

Vestrum CVXDrive

This new series stands out from the crowd, combining the compact dimensions of a manoeuvrable four-cylinder tractor with the premium cab comfort design of larger Case IH models. The result is the first Case IH tractor in the 100 HP class with the continuously-variable CVXDrive transmission. It is available in 4 models from 100 to 130hp.

Case IH can be found on stand D032 and will be exhibiting machines from its popular Farmall range.

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White Horse Contractors turn to Koro® FTM®

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White Horse Contractors turn to Koro® FTM®: The Koro® FIELDTOPMAKER® with Campey UNIVERSE® rotor from Campey Turf Care Systems was the number one choice for White Horse Contractors Ltd for its unrivalled precision and excellent results on hybrid pitches.

White Horse, who became a member of The Slatter Group in 2019, partnered with GrassMaster at the end of 2020 to offer hybrid turf sports construction in England and Wales. This partnership and increased demand for renovations on hybrid and natural turf led the company to look for the best option on the market for fraise mowing, with the Koro® FTM® with Campey UNIVERSE® rotor providing everything they needed for all surfaces.

White Horse Contractors turn to Koro® FTM®

White Horse Contractors turn to Koro® FTM®

“We have had the machine since April, and we’ve carried out renovations throughout the spring and summer, and it’s performed very well,” White Horse Contractors Ltd Managing Director, David Smith, said.

“Our operators have loved using it because it’s very well built and reliable, but mainly it’s the precision of the machine that has impressed them. We know when we set it exactly what results we’ll get, and that is important for the customer and us. That precision is especially important when working on hybrid surfaces, so you don’t damage any of the fibres, and we know we can operate confidently with the Koro® FTM®.

“We’re installing more hybrid fields at the moment due to demand and our partnership with GrassMaster in the UK, but a big part of our service is the renovation contracts and programmes that follow. We want to ensure our customers get the best service and pitch possible, and a part of us being able to provide that is the service we get from Campey.

“We run a lot of other Campey equipment, and this is a continuation of our partnership with them. We get very good customer service from Ben Taylor, and with a machine like this that is used heavily during a specific time of year, the backup is crucial. We haven’t had any issues with it, but working with Campey before, we know that anything we need is sorted out quickly, and that’s why we chose and continue to choose to work with them.”

The patented Campey Universe® rotor (fitted with 10mm blades) achieves excellent surface hygiene on all pitch surfaces. It is particularly suited to hybrid pitches as it attains results without damaging the exposed synthetic/hybrid fibres. The whole annual renovation process, including dressing with 60/80 tons of sand, fertilising and overseeding, can be carried out in a few day’s instead of four to five.

With 3mm, 5mm or 10mm blades available for the Campey Universe rotor, any amount of the surface can be removed from 15% to 100%, and the entire surface can be removed up to a depth of 50mm. Micro adjusters offer unrivalled accuracy when setting the rotors, making the Koro® FTM® a precision fraise mower chosen by the world’s leading contractors, clubs and sports facilities.

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An offer not to be refused

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An offer not to be refused: Leading power tool manufacturer Makita UK is giving end users the chance to get their hands on a free DMR110 DAB+ Site Radio or MR002GZ01 XGT Bluetooth Radio when they purchase selected garden machines between 1st October and 31st December 2021.

Makita radios are fantastic for keeping you entertained on site or at home in the garden – and thanks to the company’s latest redemption offer end users have the chance to redeem a free DMR110 DAB+ site radio when they purchase from a chosen selection of 18V LXT and Twin 18V LXT garden machinery products. In addition, those who purchase any of the qualifying XGT 40VMax outdoor products can redeem the MR002GZ01 XGT Bluetooth Radio.

An offer not to be refused

An offer not to be refused

The DMR110 is compatible with Makita’s LXT, CXT and 7.2V Li-ion batteries, making it the ideal addition to any professional’s existing collection of Makita products. It features a two speaker stereo system for maximum output and has an easy to read digital tuner with an LCD display for ease of use. This model has also been designed to endure tough on-site conditions with elastomer bumpers to protect it against knocks and scuffs – and it is IP64 rated for being dust and shower proof.

Alternatively, the durable and easy to use MR002GZ01 Bluetooth Radio is compatible with Makita’s XGT, LXT, CXT batteries. Thanks to its Bluetooth capabilities, the MR002GZ01 can be easily connected to mobile devices within a 10m range – it even has a USB output port for charging devices on site. Impressively, the MR002GZ01 can run for up to 27.5 hours when powered by a 4.0Ah XGT 40VMax battery.

Kevin Brannigan, Marketing Manager at Makita said: “The DMR110 and MR002GZ01 are the perfect job site companions and we are delighted to be able to offer end-users the chance to add some entertainment to the working day. Thanks to the DMR110 and MR002GZ01’s clever design, professionals can use their existing XGT, LXT or CXT batteries to power the radios for convenience.”

Makita is running this promotion from 1st October 2021 until 31st December 2021. Anyone who purchases and registers a qualifying Makita garden machinery product from an authorised Makita dealer during this period can claim a free DMR110 or MR002GZ01 radio. Simply register the claim and proof of purchase within 28 days of purchase, via a dedicated microsite. On successful application, customers will receive their free gift after 30 days.

To find out more about Makita’s latest promotion, including the full list of qualifying products, how to claim and terms and conditions visit: https://makitauk.com/freeradio

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New divisional sales manager for Vitax Amenity

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New divisional sales manager for Vitax Amenity: Vitax Amenity has appointed a new divisional sales manager as it continues to drive forward plans to expand its presence in turf management and groundcare markets, both in the UK and internationally.

Greg O’Leary joins the team from Roechling Engineering Plastics where he has spent the past 10 years as sales manager responsible for leading the sports and leisure division.

New divisional sales manager for Vitax Amenity

New divisional sales manager for Vitax Amenity

Prior to joining Roechling, Greg has held several national sales manager and sales manager roles, including over 15 years’ experience working in global markets.

Managing a team of six, Greg will be responsible for working with existing UK clients whilst maintaining and growing Vitax Amenity’s international customer-base.

Carl Welsh, Vitax’s managing director and group CEO, says: “Greg has a thorough understanding of the markets we work within, the challenges the industry is experiencing post-Brexit and good ideas about where and how we can continue to grow our portfolio.

“It is an exciting time to join Vitax Amenity and Greg’s strong sales background speaks for itself. We are thrilled to have such an experienced manager join the team.”

Greg will work across all Vitax Amenity’s divisions including Supaturf and Thomas Elliot Fertilisers.

“After working in the same industry for most of my career, I have been looking for a new challenge and I am looking forward to working for a well-established company with its excellent reputation within the industry,” says Greg O’Leary, divisional sales manager at Vitax Amenity.

“Vitax are continually innovating and are well-known for producing a comprehensive range of products with a strong emphasis on quality and cost-effectiveness. I am delighted to be joining such a strong team and looking forward to the new challenges my role brings.”

In his spare time, Greg is a keen golfer and an avid supporter of Make a Wish Foundation, helping to raise funds for children with life-threatening or life-limiting conditions, as well as speaking on behalf of the charity at events.

To find out more about Vitax Amenity, visit: www.vitaxamenity.co.uk

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