New Golf and Entertainment site opens

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New Golf and Entertainment site opens: Think you’re a BigShot? This autumn AMS Robotics had the pleasure of installing four Belrobotics BallPickers into London’s newest and biggest place to eat, drink, play and party.

Enjoy interactive games with virtual targets that get everyone involved and give all skill levels a fair chance to win. Big Shots features superior digital ball tracking technology, meaning intense competition with addictive games and up to the second scoring. BigShots provide all the stats like ball speed, club speed, ball spin rate, launch angle and more, as well as the opportunity to record swing and game stats to give to your instructor. The first BigShots in the UK is based at Northwick Park, Harrow.

New Golf and Entertainment site opens

New Golf and Entertainment site opens

AMS Robotics has supplied BogShots with four Belrobotics Ball Pickers and two AMS Robotics wash and return systems. The Belrobotics ball pickers automate the collecting of range balls on driving ranges. Ball Picker reduces the need for man and machine to manually collect the balls. In turn, staff can be relieved from this task, allowing them to find more time for the other aspects of their job. The Ball picker robot offers many benefits for driving ranges and facilities such as Big Shots. To name a few; they are electric, so fully carbon neutral, easily managed from a smartphone app and with their continuous operation they keep the range’s ball supply available.

For the ultimate golfing experience BigShots have also installed bespoke TrueStrike practice mats. With a gel based hitting section, they replicate the feel of real turf allowing you to hit down and through the shot. These mats are used worldwide by professionals, giving you every chance to improve your game.

“These robots are the future, our customers love them, they are a huge talking point. BigShots is a new level of golfing and entertainment. It’s an exciting and modern way for both amateurs and professionals to enjoy the sport and the AMS Robotics automated ball management solution collects, washes and returns the balls quickly and efficiently so we can keep the bays full at all hours.

On top of this, the robots are carbon neutral and will help us reach our environmental goals. BigShots is expanding, we are opening several sites throughout the UK and we will be bringing AMS along with us on the way. Exciting times ahead.” John Sweeney, Owner Big Shots UK BigShots have astro on their range, but for ranges with real turf, AMS ball pall pickers can be paired with AMS mowers to form a completely automated range solution. Call 01462 676 222 or email interested@amsrobotics.co.uk for a demo

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SALTEX 2021 a success for Ariens

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SALTEX 2021 a success for Ariens: AriensCo, an industry leader in outdoor power equipment, couldn’t be happier with its participation at this year’s SALTEX. Not only did it showcase its professional petrol and battery powered zero-turn mowers, it also connected with thousands of landscaping professionals and hosted an exclusive Lawn Care Legends booth takeover.

During the two-day event, Ariens met thousands of turf professionals, landscapers and local authority representatives and showed exactly how its fully commercial, heavy-duty line-up can support them at every stage of lawn care. From young, fledgling entrepreneurs to established businesses, Ariens was able to identify their needs and find the right mower and tools to get the job done.

SALTEX 2021 a success for Ariens

SALTEX 2021 a success for Ariens

Products on display included its upgraded ZENITH, an industry leading, fully commercial zero-turn with enhanced operator comfort options and rear discharge deck. Excitingly, the battery-operated ZENITH E was also on show, along with a concept stand-on mower, ARROW.

Additionally, Ariens’ also exhibited its powerful and precise APEX zero-turn as well as its IKON XD zero-turn, loaded with commercial-style features. Meeting the needs of its UK and European customer base, the APEX and ZENITH models now come with rear discharge deck options, while all Ariens petrol powered zero-turns are manufactured at its factory in Oxfordshire.

In an Ariens first, its stand was also taken over by the Lawn Care Legends, a community of aspiring and professional landscapers. More than 80 Legends came to see and hear about the star of the show, the ZENITH E and the rest of the Ariens line-up and left giving positive feedback.

Brad Stiles, Sales and Marketing Director, EMEAA said, “This year’s Saltex was hugely successful for us. Not only did we get to hear from some of the industry’s finest and get taken over by the famous Lawn Care Legends but reaction to our heavy duty, commercial line-up was truly fantastic. Our low noise, low emission ZENITH E was also a smash hit, so we know it’ll be driving change for years to come.”

To find out more about Ariens’ commercial line-up of battery and petrol powered zero-turn mowers visit ariens.eu. If you’d like to join the growing network of Ariens dealers, email: mwilson@ariensco.com

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Efficiency at Newbury & Crookham GC

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Efficiency at Newbury & Crookham GC: Newbury & Crookham Golf Club have purchased a Ventrac 4500 all-terrain compact tractor and two mowing decks, which course manager Chris Ball says will make the greenkeeping department at the 148-year-old club even more efficient.

Purchased from local dealer, T H White, the package included a Contour mowing deck and a Tough Cut deck, which will enable the greenkeeping team to work smarter and safely when maintaining the woodland margins and steep banks on 6,000-yard course.

Efficiency at Newbury & Crookham GC

Efficiency at Newbury & Crookham GC

“My team have done an exceptional job during the pandemic crisis and it is only right that we should ensure they work in complete safety, not just in these exceptional circumstances, but at all times. These two decks in conjunction with the eight-wheel tractor unit guarantee that when working on tee banks or around the reservoir, they can do so in complete safety. As a small team of just six, it’s important that we work smarter; now we can cut areas mechanically using just one person, where we previously used numerous team members with brushcutters, saving many greenkeeping hours that can now be utilised elsewhere on the course.

“The Tough Cut deck will help us both ecologically and aesthetically, keeping the woodland floor open and encouraging more spring bulbs to flourish. We want to see carpets of bluebells in subsequent years. Also, with the Contour deck we’ll be able to maintain steeper areas on the course making the presentation even more appealing for members and visitors. We’ve only had the equipment since mid-May, but already it has proved its worth; it’s a simple, clever design, does the job and is easy to maintain.”

Chris Ball joined Woking Golf Club as an apprentice in 1994 and knew immediately that this was to be his chosen career. In 1998 he moved on to Guildford Golf Club and four years later joined Walton Heath, working under two renowned industry figures in Clive Osgood and Ian McMillan. In 2002 he joined Bearwood Lakes, where he was appointed head greenkeeper, reporting to the course manager. He has been course manager at Newbury and Crookham since 2014.

Newbury & Crookham is one of the oldest clubs in England, established in 1873. The 18-hole, par 69 golf course measures just under 6000 yards and is set amongst beautiful mature woodland. Situated on the south side of Newbury, between Greenham Common and the racecourse, the current course dates back to 1923, when the Newbury and District Club was founded. Crookham Golf Club was founded in 1873 on Greenham Common, but after it was requisitioned in 1940 by the MOD, the members were given temporary membership by their neighbours, which eventually became permanent and the club adopting its current name.

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J Premier Pitch delivers resilience

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J Premier Pitch delivers resilience: While they’ve been using J Premier Pitch at the Lamex Stadium for the last three years, the grounds team at Stevenage Football Club cite this season as the best they’ve ever had in terms of plant strength and surface performance.

After germinating in just five days earlier this year, Head Groundsman James Fennessy also notes the fantastic resilience demonstrated by the Johnsons Sports Seed mixture, which has meant they’ve seen no disease on the stadium pitch this year.

J Premier Pitch delivers resilience

J Premier Pitch delivers resilience

Overseeing a team of five, across the stadium, training ground and an academy site, James began using Johnsons J Premier Pitch after seeing the results at other clubs. “Every stadium environment is different and, because of that, you can never be sure how a seed is going to take. Our corners are open, meaning the pitch is exposed to the elements and we have some areas that don’t get any sunlight during the day so it’s about finding a seed that suits the setting – J Premier Pitch has performed fantastically!”

“We had a seven-week window to complete our renovation this year and started by putting 20 bags of Premier Pitch down at the end of June. We couldn’t believe it when we started to see germination within just five days, which then gave us the maximum time to get the pitch ready for play.”

The combination of highly rated perennial ryegrass cultivars in J Premier Pitch not only deliver rapid establishment, but exceptional wear tolerance, disease resistance and a camera-friendly finish – something that James also praised. “The plant is extremely well rooted and gives us great colour year-round which has been ideal for presentation. In addition, the sward is incredibly dense which means we don’t think we’ll need to do any pre-winter overseeding this year – reducing both workload and cost.”

Seed from across the DLF portfolio, specifically the Masterline range, is used at the training ground and academy site where James again comments on the importance of resilience. “The demands on the surfaces here are actually far greater than at the stadium so it’s absolutely crucial the seed we put in the ground is going to be hard wearing. This year they are good and strong, still performing well as we head towards winter.”

“All of the seed we get from DLF is backed up with fantastic technical support from our Regional Technical Manager Craig Spooner, who keeps us up to speed with updates to formulations.” He concludes, “It’s always good to learn about the work going on behind the scenes, which keeps us reassured that what we’re putting in the ground is always being improved to perform at its very best.”

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PRO 34R perfect for the Pilgrims

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PRO 34R perfect for the Pilgrims: The head groundsman at Boston United FC, claims that the Dennis PRO 34R provides a quality of cut that he has never seen before in a rotary pedestrian mower.

For 12 years Jim Portas worked as a volunteer groundsman for his beloved Boston United FC, aka the Pilgrims. In 2020, he was offered the position of head groundsman and it could not have come at a more exciting time.

PRO 34R perfect for the Pilgrims

PRO 34R perfect for the Pilgrims

A new 5,000 capacity stadium has now finished completion and signals new fortunes for the club that will give them a stadium that they can finally call home.

Since being constructed and seeded in the summer of 2020, Jim has been keeping a close eye on the pitch and the Dennis PRO 34R rotary mower has certainly helped him.

“We looked at a lot of rotary mowers and I heard nothing but good reports about the Dennis PRO 34R,” said Jim.

The Dennis PRO 34R is a 34” (860mm) rotary mower which has been designed to help groundsmen achieve an aesthetically pleasing appearance and desired playing surface. It is ideal for sports pitches and lawns producing the enviable ‘Dennis Stripes’ while a powerful vacuum flow collects debris quickly and efficiently.

The angle of the cutting deck and twin blades can be easily adjusted using a single ‘click adjuster’ ensuring the mower is suitable for changing conditions and meeting groundsmen’s requirements.

Unique features of the Dennis PRO 34R rotary mower include:

  • 5 forward and 1 reverse selection for speed of operation
  • 90 litre capacity grass box
  • Fully adjustable angle of deck for changing conditions
  • 2 section cast aluminium rear roller
  • Easy to use height of cut gauge
  • Single point height of cut adjustment for ease of operation
  • Optional front wheel or smooth/weile roller options
  • Front brush for standing grasses upright
  • Adjustable handlebars for operator comfort

“The main use for the PRO 34R is to clean the pitch after a game – the brush at the front will help to stand the grass up and it is fantastic at removing all the debris from the pitch.

“I have never seen a rotary mower that can cut like this – that is for sure. Furthermore, the grass box keeps the cuttings really compact which is beneficial.

“Being on my own, I need equipment that is going to be reliable and help me get the job done quickly and efficiently – the PRO 34R ticks all he boxes. I use it at a speed setting of 3-4 which is perfect for me. It is a sturdy well-built machine from a respectable and trustworthy manufacturer.”

The Dennis PRO 34R was purchased by Burdens Group for Boston United as part of a sponsorship agreement with the club at the new stadium.

For further information or a no obligation demonstration, please contact Dennis 01332 824 777 or visit www.dennisuk.com

For more news, reviews and insightful views, you can follow Dennis on Twitter or Instagram @DennisMowers and like the company’s Facebook page – www.facebook.com/DennisMowersUK You can also view the latest Dennis videos by visiting www.youtube.com/DennisMowers

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