Kubota makes significant donation

/in , /by

Kubota makes significant donation: Leading construction machinery manufacturer Kubota is donating €200,000 to the flood-stricken Rhineland-Palatinate region in western Germany.

The area was subject to devastating flashfloods in July, after unprecedented levels of rainfall caused the Rhine to burst its banks. The flooding claimed more than 100 lives and causes millions of Euros worth of damage to towns and cities throughout the state.

Kubota makes significant donation

Kubota makes significant donation

Kubota employs more than 600 people in the region via its facility in the town of Zweibrücken, with company president Mikio Taguchi compelled to action after seeing images of the flooding online.

Having witnessed the impact of natural disasters in his home country of Japan, Taguchi spearheaded the donation of €200,000 to the region’s state treasury, saying: “Because I am a neighbour, I have to help.”

The donation will go towards those impacted by the flooding, with clear-up and rebuilding efforts currently underway throughout the region.

For the latest industry news visit turfmatters.co.uk/news

Get all of the big headlines, pictures, opinions and videos on stories that matter to you.

Follow us on Twitter and Instagram for fun, fresh and engaging content.

You can also find us on Facebook for more of your must-see news, features, videos and pictures from Turf Matters

BIGGA and ICL launch Continue to Learn Scholarship

/in , /by

BIGGA and ICL launch Continue to Learn Scholarship: With the return of in-person learning at Continue to Learn in January 2022, the British & International Golf Greenkeepers Association (BIGGA) and plant nutrition specialists ICL have launched applications for their influential education scholarship.

The ICL Continue to Learn Scholarship invites five BIGGA members to Harrogate, North Yorkshire, each January to participate in BIGGA’s world-leading education programme, in addition to three nights’ accommodation, a visit to the BIGGA Turf Management Exhibition (BTME) and networking opportunities with fellow greenkeepers and the sponsor.

BIGGA and ICL launch Continue to Learn Scholarship

BIGGA and ICL launch Continue to Learn Scholarship

The scholarship is now in its sixth year, with 2021 scholars participating online as BIGGA’s education programme shifted to a virtual platform due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Applications for this year’s scholarship are being encouraged from CPD Active BIGGA members at any stage of their careers. Applications close at 5pm on Tuesday 31 August 2021. The selected scholars will then be announced in BIGGA’s monthly journal, Greenkeeper International.

2021 Scholar Laura Sayer-Hall of Ardfin Golf Club on the Isle of Jura said: “I think it’s important at the early stages of your career to attend as many educational events as possible so as to build knowledge quickly and have this tie in with the practical work you’re doing on course. I’d highly recommend applying to anyone who is wanting to develop their greenkeeping career.”

Sami Strutt is BIGGA’s Head of Learning and Development. She said: “For BIGGA members serious about their education and progressing in their career, this scholarship provides a fantastic opportunity to develop both personal and professional skills. To date, ICL has supported 25 BIGGA members through this scholarship and we are immensely grateful for their continued support and investment in the greenkeeping industry.“

Ed Carter, UK Sales and Development Manager at ICL said: “We are delighted to be sponsoring the ICL scholarship scheme again in 2022, which will be the sixth year we have been involved. Taking a step back, that means 25 greenkeepers have benefitted from a total of 375 hours of education and 75 nights’ accommodation at BTME, which is amazing. As always, it’s brilliant to be able to support a scheme that allows greenkeepers to have the Harrogate experience, who otherwise may not have been able to make it.”

To apply, visit: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/ICLC2L2022

For more information about becoming CPD Active, visit: https://www.bigga.org.uk/education/continuing-professional-development.html

For the latest industry news visit turfmatters.co.uk/news

Get all of the big headlines, pictures, opinions and videos on stories that matter to you.

Follow us on Twitter and Instagram for fun, fresh and engaging content.

You can also find us on Facebook for more of your must-see news, features, videos and pictures from Turf Matters

Toro’s game-changing versatility

/in , /by

Toro’s game-changing versatility: For the ultimate versatility, Toro’s Sidewinder technology seen in the Reelmaster 3100-D and Groundsmaster 3500-D is game-changing.

Close strimming from a large ride-on mower is nifty innovation indeed and means areas that typically require two different machines can be maintained by one efficient mower. It’s no wonder these machines are so popular with greenkeepers and groundsmen across the industry.

Toro's game-changing versatility

Toro’s game-changing versatility

Toro first patented its Sidewinder technology in 2000 for cylinder mower applications, with a second patent following in 2002 to cover all mower applications. Its USP is without question, its ability to move all three cutting units 12 inches right or left from the centre position for a full 24 inches of travel, adjusting overhang on both sides to fit every need.

The Reelmaster 3100-D is the only cylinder mower with Sidewinder technology, which when paired with its powerful 21.5hp Kubota diesel engine and one-click dial Dual Precision Adjustment cutting units guarantees an unparalleled quality and consistency of cut.

It means you can get under and around trees and other hard-to-reach places and bring precise control to delicate jobs such as trimming around sand traps, water features, tee boxes and greens edges on the golf course.

It also means that more junior members of staff can perform expert edging, trimming neatly and closely around sensitive areas while keeping the mower’s wheels a safe distance away. This is especially handy around bunkers where you want a close cut and want to keep the tyres back from the edges at the same time.

Groundsmen will be particularly interested in how the cutting units on this machine can be repositioned and the tyre tracking varied to prevent rutting and turf compaction in areas where the same patterns are mowed.

The Groundsmaster 3500-D meanwhile is a piece of equipment able to transform an easy maintenance rotary mower into a versatile and safe rotary mower with the aid of Toro’s side-shifting Sidewinder system – perfect for any sports venue maintenance team with tricky to reach areas.

The 173 cm width-cut allows you to move generous swaths, yet its compact size and Sidewinder also allow you to make tight manoeuvres in tight areas. With a 24.8 Kubota diesel engine and 3-wheel drive hydrostatic series/parallel closed-loop transmission, the Groundsmaster 3500-D helps maintain large green spaces with longer cutting cycles.

Choosing a ride-on mower with Sidewinder technology cuts down on the number of machines required to carry a wide range of tasks, which will not only save time and money but also increase productivity and efficiency. It is multifunctional machinery at its finest.

To talk to someone about how Toro’s Sidewinder technology can benefit you, call Reesink Turfcare, the sole Toro distributor in the UK for golf and sports fields equipment and irrigation products, on 01480 226800.

For the latest industry news visit turfmatters.co.uk/news

Get all of the big headlines, pictures, opinions and videos on stories that matter to you.

Follow us on Twitter and Instagram for fun, fresh and engaging content.

You can also find us on Facebook for more of your must-see news, features, videos and pictures from Turf Matters

A first from Ariens

/in , /by

A first from Ariens: Ariens has introduced the APEX 48 RD rear discharge, petrol zero-turn mower, designed specifically for the European and UK markets. Manufacturing the APEX 48 RD with rear discharge deck shows the company’s firm commitment to their European presence, says Ariens. They will build the new model in their Oxfordshire factory.   

A rear discharge zero-turn offers the professional operator significant benefits, especially for council, local authority and amenity work. There is less risk of objects being ejected from the side and hitting pedestrians or causing damage to cars and property, which may incur compensation. The operator can also trim on either side of the deck without the need to change direction in order to avoid discharging grass cuttings on the road, pavement or flower beds. Containing the clippings behind the wheels and dropping them in the zero-turn’s path saves time and cleaning up.

A first from Ariens

A first from Ariens

The APEX 48 RD boasts the same class-leading specifications as Ariens APEX 48, but with the 122cm (48”) rear discharge deck which is fully fabricated, 10-gauge, and offers superior airflow with exceptional cutting performance. The deck lift system is foot-operated, and a spring-assisted lift allows you to adjust effortlessly between 15 cutting positions. The industry-leading solid and fully welded frame supports the overall design and an optional ROPS (Rollover Protection System) can be fitted to order. Large tyres, 55.9cm (22”) rear and 33cm (13”) front, provide solid traction and a comfortable ride. All-day comfort is also emphasised with the high-back plush seat and padded armrests. Power comes from a Kawasaki FR691 V-Twin engine and a self-adjusting belt drive minimises wear and tear with little to no maintenance required.

The APEX 48 RD comes with a 4-year or 500 hours warranty and a range of other optional accessories is available. For further information on the APEX 48 RD, contact your dealer or visit ariens-uk.com

For the latest industry news visit turfmatters.co.uk/news

Get all of the big headlines, pictures, opinions and videos on stories that matter to you.

Follow us on Twitter and Instagram for fun, fresh and engaging content.

You can also find us on Facebook for more of your must-see news, features, videos and pictures from Turf Matters

Ventrac exposure at The Game Fair

/in , /by

Ventrac exposure at The Game Fair: Rupert Price and the team from Price Turfcare had a superb response to their first visit as exhibitors at The Game Fair, held at Ragley Hall in Warwickshire at the end of July.

With almost 120,000 visitors across the three-day event, the exposure for the Ventrac brand was outstanding. It was the busiest ever opening day in The Game Fairs 62-year history, with a three-day total of 119,378 people enjoying the return of the festival of the Great British countryside.

Ventrac exposure at The Game Fair

Ventrac exposure at The Game Fair

Commenting a couple of days after the show, Rupert Price said,

“This was our first time as exhibitors at The Game Fair and it was an incredible experience. Visitors to this event are a prime section of the target audience for our Ventrac all-terrain compact tractor together with its range of attachments and there was huge interest. We marketed it as the Estate Manager’s Swiss Army Knife and it certainly drew a lot of attention.

“I think it helped that we had moving demonstrations on our stand, which enabled visitors to get a glimpse of what the machine can do. We had ramps at 20 and 30 degrees to demonstrate its unique climbing ability and also had a bit of fun when we balanced a football in the airflow of one of the leaf blower attachments, which tended to stop people in their tracks. This is a family-friendly event and it was great to see so many young children besotted with machinery, especially tractors. We had hundreds of photos taken with them sitting on our static display and we exhausted our supply of ‘Venny Ventrac’ colouring books midway through the second day.

“At this type of event you don’t expect to sell large price-ticket equipment such as ours, but it does provide the opportunity for exposure and to talk to prospective purchasers. I have to say that we have come away with some superb leads and it’s going to take quite some time to follow them up, but that’s a nice problem to have. We’ll definitely return next year.”

The Ventrac all-terrain compactor has over 30 different attachments that can be front-mounted to provide an extremely versatile machine for a wide range of estate management applications. With a choice of eight mowing decks, it can maintain grassed areas ranging from fine turf to thick brush. Other attachments include aerators, aera-vators, brushes, blowers, overseeders, rotovators, buckets and grabs, stump grinders, trenchers and snow removal accessories. In its eight-wheel configuration it can operate on slopes of 30 degrees – the only ride-on machine in the UK certificated for such steep gradients.

For the latest industry news visit turfmatters.co.uk/news

Get all of the big headlines, pictures, opinions and videos on stories that matter to you.

Follow us on Twitter and Instagram for fun, fresh and engaging content.

You can also find us on Facebook for more of your must-see news, features, videos and pictures from Turf Matters