Water Garden wins second KAR UK award

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Water Garden wins second KAR UK award: For the second successive year, Water Garden UK has won the KAR UK Top Sales Award after its impressive distribution of Kasco Marine products.

Water Garden UK, a leading supplier of high-quality water gardening products, now has its name engraved on the trophy for both 2019 and 2020 after yet again excelling in the sales of Kasco marine products.

Water Garden wins second KAR UK award

Water Garden wins second KAR UK award

The family-run business based in Portsmouth, Hampshire, successfully market and sell the established brand of Kasco products which includes lake aeration equipment and decorative fountain technology – all of which are supplied to them by KAR UK.

As importers of the Kasco brand, KAR UK has seen a huge increase, year-on-year, in the demand for the products. It is a side of the business which is rapidly growing, with KAR UK recently awarded Kasco’s European Distributor of the Year 2020 which follows the 2019 Top Sales Growth Award.

Commenting on the award, Roger Lupton, Regional Sales Manager for KAR UK, said: “This award is another phenomenal achievement for Water Garden UK who continue to go above and beyond in actively promoting the Kasco brand.

“From all at KAR UK we would like to say a huge congratulations to the whole team. We have been working very closely with Water Garden UK for several years now and it has been a pleasure. I look forward to continued success with them in the future.”

For more information, please visit www.karuk.com

You can also follow KAR UK on Twitter @KARUK_LTD for much more news, reviews and insightful views

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Suståne supports switch to finer fescues

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Suståne supports switch to finer fescues: Boasting panoramic views over the sea and the South Downs National Park, Brighton & Hove is the oldest golf club in Sussex – its nine hill-top holes situated near the picturesque Devil’s Dyke.

Its location leaves the course exposed to the elements and has posed challenges for Course Manager Jason Sarna and his assistant Kevin Paynter as they work to reinstate some of the site’s downland and links qualities. The success of the project, Jason says, is largely down to improvements with the soil, and that’s thanks to products from Suståne.

Suståne supports switch to finer fescues

Suståne supports switch to finer fescues

After working in various roles at the Maddens Resort in North Minnesota, Jason moved to the UK in 2000 and has been Course Manager at Brighton & Hove since 2007. “When I joined, the greens were predominately meadow grass and this was something I started working on straight away, to introduce more tolerant and sustainable species. I first spoke to Russell Riley eight years ago and began incorporating some Suståne products into my feeding programme and the benefits we saw to the finer grasses were instant.”

“I’m a big believer in feeding the soil, not the plant and working to create the environment which favours the species you want to encourage.” Jason’s greens programme revolves around regular granular feeds – 6-2-4 Turf Revival® as a kick-starter in the spring and following any renovation work, Suståne 5-2-4 applied every six to eight weeks in the main season and Bolster 4-4-4+3Fe as he reaches the more dormant winter months. This is then supplemented with Bolster™ Liquid Biostimulant, applied at 5L per 0.5 hectares every two to three weeks through the main growing season.

“As we’ve transitioned almost solely over to Suståne, we’ve noted deeper rooting, improved plant health and reduced disease pressure – having only applied three fungicides in the last five years.” Jason adds, “We conducted some renovation work in August this year, overseeding with a pure fescue blend for the first time. We applied Bolster™ 4-4-4 and within a week we had germination. Being able to create the conditions to favour fescues will complement the links characteristics and will help with the workload we have to manage as a small team.”

In addition to delivering results on the ground, Jason has also been impressed with the honest and transparent approach he’s had from the Suståne technical team. “With our conditions, we have to be careful about inputs and if I ask a technical question about a product, they have the answer (and more!) to hand. It’s the whole package.”

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Dunblane New replaces the old

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Dunblane New replaces the old: Dunblane New Golf Club’s course is located in the centre of the cathedral city of Dunblane in one of the most picturesque areas of Perthshire. The course’s elevated position provides beautiful panoramic views over the Forth Valley, the Campsie Fells and beyond, including Stirling Castle, the Southern Highlands and the peaks of Ben Lomond and Ben Ledi.

The ‘New’ name came about because until 1922 golf was played on a small nine-hole course adjoining the River Allan on what is now a public park. History states that play started on the new course in April 1923, after a horse, cart and harness with a roller box and two mowers were bought and Mr J C Ross was appointed as greenkeeper at £3 10s a week.

Dunblane New replaces the old

Dunblane New replaces the old

Almost 100 years on, course manager Wes Saunders has taken delivery of 11 new machines from local dealer Double A, the club’s first John Deere fleet deal, as part of an ongoing landscaping and maintenance programme designed to continue the enduring quality and appeal of the course to members and visitors.

The latest fleet comprises two 2750E triplex and three 220E walk-behind hybrid electric greens mowers, two 7700A PrecisionCut fairway mowers, 9009A and 7400A utility TerrainCut rotary mowers, plus a Tru-Turf RB70 greens roller and a Campey Turf Care Air2g2 air injection machine.

These were bought using a tailored John Deere Financial agreement with six-year PowerGard Protection plans for full maintenance and servicing, allowing the club to have a fixed machinery budget with no extra costs. This is the first part of a replacement programme that Wes and Double A’s golf key accounts manager John Bateson are working through together, with tractors and utility vehicles being looked at this year to complete the fleet.

Originally hailing from Sydney, Australia where he did his greenkeeping apprenticeship at Elanora Country Club north of the city, Wes Saunders has 27 years’ experience working on golf courses across the world. After leaving his home country, he spent several years in the US and Canada before joining Dunblane New Golf Club six years ago as course manager.

“I first put a proposal to the club two years ago to update the equipment fleet, but the timing wasn’t quite right for the finance so the idea was postponed for a year,” says Wes. “The board then agreed what we could spend on a monthly basis and we held a competitive tender with the main manufacturers, bringing in various machines for demonstrations and assessment by the greenkeeping team.

“We made the decision based on whether the kit was fit for purpose, our likes and dislikes, serviceability and previous history with the suppliers. We chose John Deere, not just on price – although that was a prime consideration – but also on the key aspects of quality and reliability of the equipment and, most importantly, the strong relationship with the Double A dealership and their parts and service backup. The terms from John Deere Financial were also very flexible, which enabled us to get what we needed to meet the club’s budget.

“All the machines were in place by the end of April this year, and everything’s working out a treat now. We use the 2750E hybrid electric triplex mowers to cut the greens for most of the year, and the 220E walk-behinds for special tournaments when we need a little more refinement in the finish, then these are used on the greens throughout the winter.

“The new A Model mower technology is also proving particularly useful – even though we’re still experimenting a little with its capabilities, the use of the programmable TechControl system to achieve the desired results consistently across the course is proving to be a game-changer.

“Overall I am very pleased with the performance of the new machines. We have quickly seen improvements to the course as well as labour savings with the extra control provided by the new mowers’ advanced technology features.”

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S&C partner with PRO Padel Courts

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S&C partner with PRO Padel Courts: Renowned sports construction specialist S&C Slatter is partnering with PRO Padel Courts to serve up first-class facilities for the fast-growing sport in England and Wales

The unique partnership combines the sports construction expertise of S&C Slatter with the innovation and craftsmanship of PRO Padel Courts, providing schools, universities, and clubs with a high-quality padel solution designed and manufactured specifically for Britain’s climate.

S&C partner with PRO Padel Courts

S&C partner with PRO Padel Courts

Leading experts in sports facility planning, design, construction and maintenance, S&C Slatter work at all levels of the education, sports, and leisure sectors, with clients including Charterhouse School, the AELTC and Royal Holloway University.

Jason Douglass, S&C Slatter Group Director, commented:

“With a commitment to work with the very best manufacturing partners in our industry, we are delighted to be partnering with PRO Padel Courts for padel court construction in England and Wales. We strive for constant innovation in both traditional and emerging sports, such as padel. We’re thrilled to be able to offer clients a one-stop solution for their padel needs, from initial design to planning, finance, construction and maintenance.”

PRO Padel Courts are the UK’s premier padel court producer, working with clients such as The Roehampton Club and The Bourne Club. Offering the only courts on the market designed and manufactured in the UK, for use in the UK, PRO Padel courts are specifically built to withstand British weather, utilising specialist weather-proofing and British steel and glass for superior performance, durability, and safety.

Paul Regan, Founder, PRO Padel Courts, commented:

“We are excited to be partnering with S&C Slatter, who have a first-class reputation built around the quality of their work over many years. We have many shared values and both parties pride themselves on delivering the best quality products and services to their clients. It is also imperative that our high quality padel court structures are placed on expertly constructed groundworks – and we know we can guarantee this with S&C Slatter.”

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Celtic Manor Resort hosts prestigious awards

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Celtic Manor Resort hosts prestigious awards: A greenkeeper from Rudding Park Golf Club was celebrating for the second Toro Student Greenkeeper of the Year competition in a row as Matthew Milligan secured the prestigious award at grand finals hosted at the Celtic Manor Resort.

Myerscough College student Matthew, 26, is First Assistant at Rudding Park, the same venue that Jason Norwood was employed at when he won the Toro Student Greenkeeper of the Year Award in 2019.

Celtic Manor Resort hosts prestigious awards

Celtic Manor Resort hosts prestigious awards

Joining Matthew in celebrating at the event was Rhian Barton, 22, of The Wisley Golf Club, who became the first woman to win the Toro Young Student Greenkeeper of the Award since its inception in 2016.

This year the finals were hosted for the first time in the championship surroundings of the Celtic Manor Resort, host of the 2010 Ryder Cup. Director of Golf Courses and Estate Management Jim McKenzie MBE welcomed the finalists to the venue with a walk around the Twenty Ten course. Jim then spoke to the finalists about that experience and offered sage advice on how to develop their careers.

With the awards split into two separate categories once again, candidates for the Toro Young Student of the Year Award, who must be aged 21 and under when nominated, undertook an exam and then a hole walk with the awards judges, intended to test the finalists’ knowledge in a real world setting. The finalists in the Toro Student Greenkeeper of the Year main category also completed an exam but in addition were judged via a grass and seed identification challenge, by answering an essay question and by delivering an individual presentation about their careers so far.

The Toro Student Greenkeeper of the Year Awards were introduced in 1989, with an additional ‘Young’ category introduced in 2016. The awards did not take place in 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic, but the reintroduction in 2021 enabled David Cole to participate one final time ahead of his retirement as managing director of Reesink Turfcare in spring 2022.

David said: “We knew this year’s award was going to be special. Being back after last year’s lockdown absence with a fantastic calibre of finalists in the grand setting of Celtic Manor Resort, plus a course walk around the Twenty Ten Ryder Cup course and after-dinner speech, both by Jim McKenzie MBE, made it one to remember before we’d even conducted the finals.

“All the finalists showed how much promise there is and how much there is to celebrate in the next generation of greenkeepers. So, it is a huge achievement for the winners, Matt for the main award and Rhian for the young award, to have triumphed. I know both will make sure they maximise the opportunities presented by their educational, international prizes.

“However, the event was bittersweet for me as it is my last. I am leaving Reesink this spring, but to see two such worthwhile winners and especially to see Rhian, our first ever female young finalist let alone winner, makes it the perfect one to finish on.”

BIGGA Head of Learning and Development Sami Strutt said: “I’m delighted to be able to present these awards to Matthew and Rhian at the culmination of this year’s Toro Student Greenkeeper of the Year Awards. The competition began in March with a record-breaking number of nominations and concluded over the past two days with 12 outstanding finalists who all deserve to be applauded for their knowledge, passion and dedication to the greenkeeping profession.

“The Celtic Manor Resort provided a breathtaking venue for this year’s finals and we continue to be incredibly grateful to Toro and Reesink Turfcare for providing this career-defining opportunity for our most ambitious and talented student members.”

Winners of the main award receive a Toro Scholarship that includes a turf management study course at the University of Massachusetts, a trip to the Golf Industry Show and a visit to the Toro factory. Should coronavirus restrictions prevent this, an alternative prize of equal standing will be organised.

The Toro Young Student Greenkeeper of the Year winner receives a two-week work placement at Vidauban Golf Club in France, plus a trip to Continue to Learn at BTME.

Prizes are also given to the winners’ endorsers and the runners-up in each category, with Craig Woodman of Broadstone Golf Club and Will Pallister of Cleckheaton & District Golf Club coming second in their respective categories. For Craig it was the second time he had finished as runner-up at the awards, having also done so in the Toro Young Student Greenkeeper of the Year category in 2017.

The Toro Student Greenkeeper of the Year Awards will return for 2022, with nominations opening in March next year.

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