MM seed first-class at Oxford University

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MM seed first-class at Oxford University: Jon Buddington, Grounds Manager at the world-famous Oxford University, has reported excellent results from using a range of Limagrain’s MM grass seed.

Oxford University – the world-leading centre of learning, teaching and research is the oldest university in the English-speaking world. Gifted men and women have studied or taught at the University throughout its great history. Among them are 28 British Prime Ministers, at least 30 international leaders and 55 Nobel Prize winners.

MM seed first-class at Oxford University

MM seed first-class at Oxford University

Academic success aside, the University has also produced 120 Olympic medal winners and is currently ranked among the top British universities for sport thanks to coaching and student commitment.

Oxford University Sport manages the University sports facilities at Iffley Road Sports Centre and the sports pitches within University Parks and on Marston Road. The man tasked with maintaining these wonderful facilities, which consists of 24 hectares of grass surfaces, is Jon Buddington, who has been the University’s Grounds Manager for two years.

As a frequent user of Limagrain seed throughout his 30-year career history, Jon was not surprised to see Limagrain’s MM50 seed performing well on a newly constructed cricket square upon the start of his tenure at the University.

“The new cricket square was overseeded with MM50 and because of the great results we continued to use it,” he said. “Now we overseed with MM50 at the end of the cricket season and put a bit on pre-season just before we start rolling.

“We find that we get incredible results by overseeding with MM50 in the early spring when the surface is still damp, just before we start any heavy maintenance. It has been a very good seed for us especially for cricket – the MM50 has very good wear tolerance and we hardly ever get any debris.”

As Jon says, MM50, a blend of fine-leaved ryegrasses, is ideal for cricket squares and outfields. This hard-wearing mix has rapid germination, very fine leaved appearance, high shoot density and is tolerant to very close mowing, along with high disease resistance. All these attributes together produce a fantastic sward that has great colour all year round. It is also widely praised for its rapid recovery.

In the early stages of his new position at Oxford, Jon’s attentions soon turned towards the winter pitches. After consultation with trusted supplier, MW Turfcare, he was advised to try Limagrain’s MM60 seed on the rugby and football pitches.

This 100% ryegrass formula is renowned for producing an excellent playing surface. It is perfect for renovation and divot repair, has a high disease resistance, fantastic aesthetic qualities and offers extremely fast germination – which is boosted by the inclusion of Headstart GOLD®.

“We renovate and overseed with MM60 at the end of the rugby and football seasons – which all depends on fixtures which can be often drawn out depending on the weather and internal college games. Generally, we tend to apply MM60 to these pitches at the end of May and we get very good germination. The initial colour, from the infant plant is great, and we have a strong colour all year round – it never looks drawn out or yellow and tired so I’m incredibly happy with it.”

MM seed first-class at Oxford University

MM seed first-class at Oxford University

In terms of applying MM seed, Jon admits to veering away from recommended rates.

“For me, it’s all about feel and visual,” he said. “We don’t go by religious sowing rates or anything like that. In my opinion it is about getting as much grass in there as you can especially when you are taking it out and raking it and preparing cricket pitches.”

One look at the University’s immaculate and stunning sports pitches will tell you that Jon certainly knows his craft – he has after all been in the turf industry since the age of 16. However, he still modestly reserved praise for Limagrain UK and MW Turfcare.

“They are both great companies to work with. I get a fantastic product from Limagrain and Mark (from MW Turfcare) is an exceptionally good supplier. He is very technically knowledgeable – there is not much that I have to run past him but when I do, he has all the answers.”

For further information, please contact Limagrain UK on 01472 371471 or visit the company’s website www.lgseeds.co.uk/mm – you can also follow the company on Twitter: @MM_Seed

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Reesink finance provides peace of mind

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Reesink finance provides peace of mind: Thanks to the flexibility of Toro’s UK distributor Reesink Turfcare’s finance options, Dean Wood Golf Club signed its second Toro fleet lease agreement despite being in the midst of the lockdown.

With golf clubs across the country temporarily closing their doors earlier this year, you’d be forgiven for thinking that investment in their courses would stop. But for Dean Wood Golf Club this wasn’t the case, as the club has invested in more Toro.

Reesink finance provides peace of mind

Reesink finance provides peace of mind

Chris Halkerd, who has been at the club for 24 years and course manager for 15, explains: “We’d come to the end of our first lease deal with Toro in March, just as the lockdown came into force. This threw the club into a state of uncertainty, but luckily with help from Reesink and Cheshire Turf Machinery, we were able to continue our investment in the club.”

With the range of flexible finance options that Reesink provides, the club was able to reduce costs while bringing in a fleet of brand new and upgraded machinery.

“The finance offering from Reesink couldn’t be matched by anyone else,” continues Chris. “And while we’d had other brands demonstrated, it was clear to us that Toro was the way to go. The course has steep gradients in places, and other brands just couldn’t get up there. It was this combination that sealed the deal.

“The board was in immediate agreement with the plan, but we put it to the members to vote as well. It was almost unanimous. Despite the uncertainty of the market, it was clear to everyone this deal presented the best opportunity to save money and greatly improve the course.”

The deal means the club now has the bulk of its payments scheduled for next year which Chris says has given the club “real peace of mind that the financial risk for this year has been reduced, without compromising on the service for our customers.”

And the excellence the club strives to provide has certainly been noticed. With the greenkeeping team posting on social media throughout lockdown showing them hard at work with their Toro machines, interest has boomed. The club has gained around 100 new members (and counting) in the last four weeks alone, with some even joining before the course had reopened.

But whether old or new members, they’ve all noticed the quality Toro has brought to the course, says Chris: “We’ve had so much feedback from members saying that the course looks exceptional. Thanks to the new and upgraded machines, I’ve even had someone say it’s never looked better in the 40 years they’d been coming to the club!”

“The new machines are fantastic,” continues Chris. “I’ve been particularly impressed by the Reelmaster 3575-D which has reduced our fairway cutting time by 45 minutes, and the Greensmaster TriFlex Hybrid 3420 is not only great for the environment, but it takes away any worries about hydraulic leaks as well as reducing noise. I actually had to check it was cutting when we first got it on the course – it was so quiet I didn’t believe it was turned on!

“The ProCore 648 aerator is another game changer, and we’ve got a new TYM 503 tractor which is a great workhorse. My thinking is that after five years we’ll purchase them both, as it’s clear they’ll provide huge benefits as permanent investments.”

So with the member count continuing to grow, and the course the best it’s ever been, it’s safe to say that Dean Wood Golf Club is a COVID-19 era success story.

“We are really lucky and grateful to be in the position we’re in now, but we wouldn’t have been able to do it without the forward thinking board and members we have here at the club. Not to mention the excellent support from both Cheshire Turf Machinery and Reesink who’ve been instrumental in navigating us through the best possible course of action during this time.”

To talk to someone about the finance options available and how the Toro range would suit your course, call 01480 226800.

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STRI Group appoints new directors

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STRI Group appoints new directors: Following a period of strong growth, STRI Group is delighted to announce the appointment of two new company directors to its board.

Head of consultancy, Richard Stuttard, and head of business development, Andrew Brooker have been promoted as STRI directors from 3 August 2020. Both will continue to manage their existing departments.

STRI Group appoints new directors

STRI Group appoints new directors

Richard will lead the Group’s interests in delivering design, build and project management services to major sports projects across the globe.

Andrew will be instrumental in ensuring STRI continues to grow globally, inside and outside the sports sector, through developing strategic acquisition and investment opportunities.

Commenting on the appointments, STRI chief executive officer, Mark Godfrey, said: “STRI has continued to grow as a business and it was the right time to expand our board. Richard and Andrew have been important senior figures at STRI for a number of years and are helping drive change and growth across new markets.”

Richard said: “It’s an exciting time for STRI. Our consultancy department has grown quickly in the last two years and we are now delivering a premium end-to-end service to new and existing clients. Our planning, design, construction and operation model is going from strength to strength and I look forward to continuing to support its growth.”

Andrew added: “STRI is expanding its operations locally and internationally, developing strategic relationships and commercial partnerships for customer and company benefit. STRI is committed to continuous expansion of our range of innovative and sustainable solutions so that our customers receive greatest value.”

For more information contact:
STRI’s marketing and communications team on +44 (0)1274 565131 or email info@strigroup.com

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Aquatrols’ and Redox exclusive agreement

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Aquatrols’ and Redox exclusive agreement: Following the announcement from Aquatrols HQ in the US earlier this year, the Exclusive Global Agreement now becomes a tangible reality as Aquatrols Europe prepares to make these proven turf products available to the UK market.

Aquatrols and Redox Turf announced a global exclusive strategic agreement in January 2020 which made Aquatrols the sole distributor of Redox’s premier turf products. This expands the Aquatrols offering, with a range of highly effective, differentiated nutritional products that are complementary to the existing wetting agent line.

Aquatrols’ and Redox exclusive agreement

Aquatrols’ and Redox exclusive agreement

Aquatrols and Redox Turf are bringing together two of the strongest brands in turf to enhance the resources focused on the Turf Rx line of products. While Aquatrols is now the exclusive distributor, the products that are currently somewhat unknown to the European market remain the same products that greenkeepers throughout the US have come to trust.

Redox CEO, Darin Moon, had this to say of the agreement, “Soil moisture management and soil nutrition are intrinsically linked, so joining forces with the most trusted brands in the wetting agent space is a move that seemed natural for our business.  We are eager to be able to offer turf customers easy access to our products through Aquatrols who will provide global support through their sales and technical team.”

Currently in his third year as Aquatrols President and CEO, Matthew Foster, says that this agreement is one that will strategically help Aquatrols continue to expand their presence in the global golf market.

 “This agreement gives us the ability to offer turf managers the nutritional components of a maintenance program from a trusted brand within the industry, in conjunction with our current water management products. By bringing our areas of expertise together, we will be able to better serve our customers in a way that is more holistic for their course.”

About Aquatrols

More than 60 years ago, Aquatrols introduced the world’s first commercially available soil wetting agent.  Since creating an entirely new product category to address water management challenges and opportunities, the company has remained a top innovator and producer of high-performance soil surfactants and related technologies. Their advanced product suite optimises soil-water-plant interactions in agricultural, professional turfgrass and horticultural industries in more than 40 countries. Headquartered in southern New Jersey, Aquatrols also has offices in the United Kingdom and conducts business on six continents.

About Redox Turf

Redox Turf is a specialty nutrient company that focuses on innovative plant growth technology that maximises efficiency, uptake & performance. Through proprietary bio-nutrient complexing, chelation, micro-encapsulation and a production process incorporating both chemistry and biotechnology, Redox offers solutions that are some of the most efficient in the industry.

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BIGGA BTME cancelled for 2021

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BIGGA cancelled for 2021: The turf industry’s premier annual gathering, the BIGGA Turf Management Exhibition (BTME), will not take place in January 2021 as anticipated, with an alternative ‘festival of turf’ planned for summer 2021.

The event’s organisers, the British & International Golf Greenkeepers Association, has cancelled the popular trade exhibition due to the ongoing uncertainty relating to the coronavirus pandemic, having prioritised the health and wellbeing of its members, exhibitors, staff and other attendees.

BIGGA cancelled for 2021

BIGGA cancelled for 2021

The decision was taken following consultation with members of the association and regular dialogue with representatives of the Harrogate Convention Centre and other major stakeholders. It was agreed the hosting of a gathering of turf professionals from across the globe would create an unacceptable risk of infection, potentially putting lives at risk.

BIGGA’s world-leading education programme, Continue to Learn, is held alongside BTME each year and will still take place during January 2021, albeit as an online event and with an altered timetable designed to reflect the new digital platform. A full programme of speakers will enable BIGGA members to access the world class education they have come to expect from the comfort of home or at their place of employment.

The announcement of an alternative event in summer 2021 will enable BIGGA to explore options for hosting the event outdoors, which current understanding of the infectious disease indicates will make for a safe event and will allow improved social distancing measures to be implemented. It is hoped that many of the exhibitors who had signed up for BTME 2021 will support this cost-effective event and BIGGA will be liaising with exhibitors over the coming weeks to discuss the opportunities it presents.

The Harrogate Convention Centre, home to BTME since its inauguration as the European Turf Management Exhibition (ETME) in 1989, has been utilised as an NHS Nightingale Hospital since the peak of the outbreak in April and BIGGA is incredibly proud to be associated with a venue that has been transformed to enable the treatment of COVID-19 patients, should the need arise.

However, the alteration of dates will require a new venue to be found and discussions are underway with potential event hosts. Details will be released in due course.

It is anticipated that BTME will return to the Harrogate Convention Centre in January 2022.

BIGGA Chief Executive Jim Croxton said: “The ongoing coronavirus pandemic has sent shockwaves across our industry and BIGGA members have worked admirably in difficult circumstances to enable the continuing success of the facilities they maintain. The work they are doing in a safe and socially-distanced manner is admirable and has undoubtedly led to an increased confidence in golf as a safe pastime during these uncertain times.

“With member health and wellbeing being BIGGA’s absolute priority, it was immediately clear that to invite thousands of turf professionals from across the globe to attend an exhibition during a season when there is anticipated to be an increased risk of disease transmission would be negligent and expose attendees to undue risk.

“BIGGA considers it important to host an annual event and BTME plays a vital role in the calendar year for the turf industry. BTME is an opportunity to come together to celebrate the achievements of the previous year, while building new contacts and looking forward to the future. We feel it is important to retain this community spirit where possible, especially considering the hardships we have all faced, and so we are exploring the possibility of hosting a safe and accessible alternative event in summer 2021. I’m excited about the possibilities presented by this and am confident our new ‘festival of turf’ will be as exciting and influential as ever.”

BIGGA Head of Member Development Sami Strutt is responsible for the organisation of Continue to Learn, working with members to develop an engaging and relevant education programme each year.

Sami said: “Although the association will have no physical presence in Harrogate during January, we will be hosting Continue to Learn as a digital event and I’m certain the spirit of Harrogate week will be as strong as ever before.

“We have engaged with BIGGA members through our annual Members’ Choice survey and are in the process of building an incredible series of online learning that will enable BIGGA members to continue their professional development, wherever in the world they may be.”

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