UltraGroomer™ cassettes satisfy need for speed

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UltraGroomer™ cassettes satisfy need for speed: Recording in the region of 4000 rounds played every month, Southport’s Hillside Golf Club is a very busy course!

Tasked with balancing the expectations of the players with the sustainability of the Course is Links Manager Chris Ball – who is now conducting weekly passes with a set of UltraGroomer™ cassettes from the TMSystem™ to satisfy the golfers ‘need for speed’ without reducing heights of cut.

UltraGroomer™ cassettes satisfy need for speed

UltraGroomer™ cassettes satisfy need for speed

Chris has been in charge of the 18-hole links venue since his return to the club in 2018 and together with his greenkeeping team of eight has to manage not only the challenges of their exposed coastal location, but the demand for pace on the greens. “While simply lowering heights of cut may work for some clubs, because of factors such as the wind, this is not sustainable for us without detriment to the overall health and condition of the plant” Chris explains.

“Our previous verti-cut setup was no longer fit for purpose, so we spoke to our local dealer Turner Groundscare who introduced us to the UltraGroomer™ cassette.”  One of 12 maintenance cassettes from the TMSystem™, the UltraGroomer™ features over 80 1.3mm tungsten tipped blades, spaced 5mm apart, to remove Poa, lateral growth and organic matter – enhancing the downward movement of oxygen, nutrients and moisture and making it more difficult for disease pathogens to take hold.

“We trialled the cassette, fitted in the pedestrian INFINICUT® unit, on a couple of greens and it did a fantastic job of removing the coarser leaves without disturbing the finer species we’re trying to encourage, and without leaving lines in the ground. Although we hadn’t seen them operating on a triple, we were all impressed straight away and promptly purchased a set for our JD 2500 triple.”

Through the main growing season, the Hillside team are running the UltraGroomers™ over the greens once a week to remove any lateral growth, refine and reduce ingress of unwanted species and stand the plant upright – all without causing undue stress. “Having proudly hosted some pro events in recent years, and by being in regular contact with bodies such as the R&A, we know what pace we’re ideally trying to achieve and the best methods to attain that. We are delighted to be maintaining ours, with relative ease, using the UltraGroomer™ cassettes and are very pleased with the results we’re seeing so far.”

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Wiedenmann dealers introduce STrac 700

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Wiedenmann dealers introduce STrac 700: Occasionally an ingeniously simple machine comes along which becomes instantly indispensable. Welcome the Maredo STrac 700, a pedestrian power unit which supports four different groundcare operations – scarifying, aeration, seeding and fraise mowing with more to come.

The ‘access-all-areas’ STrac 700 is light, fast and versatile. Suddenly, even on difficult undulations, there is scope to provide uniformity of care and presentation across a whole site. It can be used on all turf surfaces from bowling greens to full size pitches and for challenging areas like the collars of a golf course, or, where a tractor is too heavy.

Wiedenmann dealers introduce STrac 700

Wiedenmann dealers introduce STrac 700

Brought to you via your local Wiedenmann UK dealer, the STrac 700 has easy controls on the guiding handle and a set of inter-changeable heads. A very short turning radius means the rear wheels can adopt  a variety of operating positions, while the tools connect effortlessly, cassette style.

Maredo offers four tool types each purchased separately with working widths of 65 cm:

  • The ST200 Flex-Verticutter scarifies to 25 mm using carbide tipped blades with tool free adjustment. The blades counter rotate against the direction of travel so material is lifted tidily out the way rather than dragged into the slits.
  • To relieve compaction down to 60 mm in stressed turf, the ST210 Vibe-Spike Aerator allows for expert following of undulations or making curves as required. Unlike conventional spike aerators, the spike tools vibrate to crack the soil, punching holes to let air and nutrients through.
  • The ST170 FlexFrase-Mower targets problem areas by stripping off the top layer of turf to a maximum depth of 20 mm, leaving a perfectly flat and smooth surface ready to overseed. It is also ideal for removing bumps and undulations on goal mouths, tee boxes and gardens.
  • Finally, the ST418 VibeDisc-Seeder head uses unique technology to plant the seed right where it should be and protect it against all kinds of outside influences. This is a slit seeder which can dose seed from 0 to -15 mm at as low as 2 g/m ² to 15 g / m². The seed box contains up to 6 kg of seed with disc seeder slit spacings at 42 mm. Coming soon is a new dimple seeder head which will create a pattern of dimples where the seeds will be placed.

Rob Hogarth, former Course Manager of Remedy Oak, the England top 100 club in Dorset, and now Regional Sales Manager of Fairways GM, has demonstrated the STrac units extensively since they arrived in the UK.

He said: “The STrac 700 is revolutionary.  When I think back on worrying about transitions and worn collars, I would have traded my left arm for the scarifier and seeder cartridges. The YouTube videos of the STrac in action don’t do it justice.

“The wheel positions are insanely good. Literally, you put the rear wheels where they do their best work, so put them beside the pull along handle, at the back or a combination.  It just means you guide and pivot the STrac into virtually any position, so up close to edges, on changing levels, really, anywhere… Right now, clubs across the country are in the middle of renovations. The beauty of the STrac set up to fraise mow, is how it goes around sprinkler heads.  I don’t think I’ve seen a neater job.

“In the US, these are painted orange as a Wiedenmann machine, while over here they still have the Maredo label.  You just need to go through your Wiedenmann UK dealer to see them.

“Maredo has really thought these out. Hydrostatic front wheel drive and 9 Hp mean they are manoeuvrable and fast. Whatever head you choose is mechanically PTO driven and hydraulically lifted.  They go forward at a decent walking speed of 6 km/hr and 4 km/hr if you go backwards. The factory has more heads for more operations in development. The versatile size and carbide blades make the STrac 700 unlike anything else.”

www.maredo-bv.com  Twitter  @GroundProUK  @WiedenmannUk @Maredo

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Reesink ‘tee up’ success

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Reesink ‘tee up’ success: Reesink Turfcare’s ReeAssure Maintenance Scheme has provided a number of invaluable benefits for Falkirk Golf Club in Scotland, which had its fingers burnt by a previous service provider.

Dougie Melville, course manager at Falkirk Golf Club, comments: “We had been let down by our previous provider, having been subjected to fluctuating bills and travel charges for call outs. In 2016 we chose not to renew our lease and called in Reesink, who provided a full-blown assessment of our fleet.

Reesink 'tee up' success

Reesink ‘tee up’ success

“They meticulously went through what each machine needed, when, and how much it would cost. We took this to the committee who signed it off and since then we’ve had faultless service from Reesink.

“From giving machines their winter overhaul to replacing parts, repairing breakdowns and sharpening units, it’s all taken care of under one cost – hassle free!”

As a club with 27 holes to maintain (an 18-hole and 9-hole Antonine Course) and some challenging wet weather to negotiate, there’s no time for any of the club’s nine machines to go down. They all play a very necessary role in maintaining the grounds, particularly as the Antonine course is on the site of an old Roman fort and the Carron River used to run through the area.

“It actually saves us money,” adds Dougie. “In properly understanding our site and the conditions our grounds team are faced with, Reesink knows how to get the best performance out of our mowers and vehicles. We schedule two in-season services for every machine and as a result they don’t require much upkeep or many new parts, which has actually lowered our costs.”

Five years on Falkirk Golf Club remains on Reesink’s Gold plan which covers a wide spectrum of maintenance and upkeep options, with services, new parts and labour all included. Silver and Bronze packages are also available, providing a robust level of cover for all budgets.

It’s not just the financial and maintenance aspects of the plan which suit Falkirk Golf Course so well, as Dougie continues: “We have a brilliant relationship with Rab at Reesink’s Livingston branch. If he can’t deal with it straight away, I know I’ll have someone on site the very next day. The mechanics are all very knowledgeable and efficient. I can’t fault anyone in the team!”

Rab Wilson, from Reesink in Livingston, Scotland, comments: “We are often called out to help organisations who have had their fingers burnt elsewhere and, as a business that focuses on quality, Reesink offers the reassurance that goes with having a comprehensive maintenance plan. It makes a difference to customers like Dougie who want to focus on perfecting the pristine standards of the club.

Call 01480 226800 or go online at reesinkturfcare.co.uk to find out more.

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Agrigem partners up with county FA’s

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Agrigem partners up with county FA’s: Agrigem have announced several new partnership agreements with County Football Associations, which enable affiliated clubs to access special prices on a wide range of grass pitch‐related products.

Whether clubs are creating a brand‐new pitch, improving their current playing surface or trying to increase the number of games they can play each week, Agrigem’s unique understanding of both professional and grassroots pitches ensures that all affiliated clubs receive fantastic service and support in developing, improving and maintaining their pitches.

Agrigem partners up with county FA's

Agrigem partners up with county FA’s

In addition to the highest level of technical advice and customer service, affiliated clubs receive a discount on all products such as fertilisers, grass seed, selective weed control, top dressing and line marking paint.

Agrigem’s Sales Manager, Martin Ford, who is a grassroots volunteer himself said; “We are thrilled that we have been able to partner with so many Regional FA’s. In addition to Lincolnshire, we also now work with Amateur FA, Northumberland, North Riding & most recently West Riding. Our “Putting the Grass Into Grassroots” initiative has been extremely successful and engaging with volunteers has reaped rewards for so many clubs already. Adam Grantham joined us last year as Technical Consultant for Sports Turf, and his vast knowledge from his experience as Grounds Manager at Reading FC has been invaluable to so many – myself included!”

Adam writes a monthly blog on a range of seasonal topics which is shared to affiliated clubs, and in addition to being available for practical help and support the team attend monthly forums and events wherever possible.

Martin continued “Having the right product at an affordable price is one thing, but having access to one of the country’s top grounds people really shows our commitment to grassroots sport, not just the professional game.”

Lincolnshire FA were the first partnership on board and immediately saw an impact, even during the pandemic. The two parties are now forging ahead with even more innovation in their offering.

Adam Thurston, Football Development Manager, Lincolnshire FA: “Agrigem have been in partnership with Lincolnshire FA for over a year now. We have worked together on many aspects of improving natural turf pitches in partnership with our clubs, not only through technical advice and supply of materials, but on areas that will really innovate how our clubs can access information and the right products for what they need.

Martin, Adam and the team really understand the issues and processes that grassroots clubs face and do their upmost to make things work as smoothly and quickly as possible for the volunteers who are giving their valuable time to improve their local pitches.”Since The Lincolnshire FA joined, Agrigem have also welcomed the Amateur Football Association, Northumberland, North Riding and West Riding Football Associations with ongoing discussions with several more associations.

To take advantage of this offer or discuss how Agrigem can support the development, improvement or maintenance of your grass pitches, please contact Martin Ford at martin.ford@agrigem.co.uk

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A tougher machine for tougher jobs

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A tougher machine for tougher jobs: The Toro Company, a global leader in turf and landscape equipment, has revealed a heavy-duty and battery powered addition to its domestic line of lawnmowers. The Toro 60V HD Proline further reinforces Toro’s move to more environmentally friendly products, while still providing a powerful and reliable machine.

The HD Proline features a 6mm thick cast aluminium deck and is designed to withstand the demands from professional gardeners and landscapers – but still remains simple and easy to use for the everyday gardener. The HD Proline is the ideal choice for those with slightly larger areas of land, where a standard consumer lawnmower would not be suitable, and a ride on would be too large an investment – the HD Proline fits perfectly in this gap.

A tougher machine for tougher jobs

A tougher machine for tougher jobs

The Recycler technology is designed to lift, suspend and recut grass clippings into a fine mulch, and redistribution across the lawn contributes towards a much healthier turf. The design of the deck also works to reduce the chance of blockages and will more efficiently collect grass. While being designed to withstand the extremes of commercial mowing, the HD Proline is extremely lightweight for its purpose, allowing for extended daily use.

The HD Proline uses a heavy duty 60V lithium-ion battery to optimise its runtime and output. The battery is also interchangeable with the Flex-Force range of garden machinery, to allow for maximum flexibility and easy power to get the job done. The range includes a leaf blower, hedge trimmer, chainsaw and string trimmer – all of which may be required in an area with more land. The Flex-Force range also includes more domestic Recycler lawnmowers.

For more information please visit: https://www.pros.toro.com/equipment/powered-by-battery-fueled-by-toro-new-60v-hd-proline-53cm/

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