Sherriff success at Milford GC

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Sherriff success at Milford GC: A carefully-planned turf nutrition and treatment programme utilising three key Sherriff Amenity products has produced a sustained rise in the health, condition and playing standard of greens at the Milford Golf Club in Surrey.

The programme is being implemented by course manager Tom Smith who joined the club a year ago and set out to make some immediate improvements.

Sherriff success at Milford GC

“There is historic data which points to a high level of sulphur and a low cation exchange capacity so I began by looking at various methods and purposes which would improve the situation. I felt it was important to get consistency through the old and the new greens and essential to improve root development. After all, if you get your foundations right then you can build a house.”

As Tom says, the Club has recently built four new greens on land recently acquired by Milford Golf Club’s owners Crown Golf. Milford is one of 22 golf clubs in Crown Golf’s portfolio and was opened in 1993.  The course was designed by the famous Peter Allis and Clive Clark duo and was built on the land of the famous Secrets orchard in west Surrey, seven miles from the city of Guildford.

Tom, who started his career as a car mechanic, moved into greenkeeping in 2011 at Wickham Park – which is also under the Crown Golf umbrella. With a newly found passion Tom set about completing his Level 2 and Level 3 qualifications and just last year was deemed the perfect man to take the reins at Milford.

Indeed, Tom immediately got to work and after facing somewhat of a baptism of fire in which he embarked on annual renovations in his first week, his attentions quickly turned to improving the root development on the greens.

Comprising of Sherriff Amenity’s Rootmass Plus, Rapid Root and SeaVolution seaweed, the three complementary products used within the programme are being applied at various times throughout the season.

“I apply the Rapid Root once a month at 15kg/ha and try to fit it in with my feeding and this goes down from May until October. I’ve been using the Rootmass and the SeaVolution all the way through the winter to increase the density of the root.

“The beauty of the Seavolution is that I can use it both with my wetting agent and also with my Rapid Root mix. The plant absolutely loves it and even in hot conditions the seaweed always stays wet. In fact it is probably the most natural product out there. The roots are like babies and if we look after them and use more natural products then the turf is going to be fine – it is going to look after itself.

“Since using these products I’ve definitely noticed more root development. From the top of the profile right the way down we are seeing strong roots. The plants ability to uptake and retain nutrients has improved and they hold a lot more moisture and stay greener longer.”

For further information, please contact Sherriff Amenity on 01638 721 888 or visit www.sherriffamenity.com

For more news and insightful views, you can follow Sherriff Amenity on Twitter @SherriffAmenity.

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Campey’s new AllTrec Tool Carrier

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Campey’s new AllTrec Tool Carrier: Campey Turf Care Systems has launched the 100% electric AllTrec Tool Carrier to the UK market, with zero CO2-emissions during operation and low noise output.

Being environmentally responsible is an important cause of many companies and councils. Using the AllTrec allows essential maintenance to be completed with zero emissions, helping to improve green spaces without damaging the wider environment.

Campey's new AllTrec Tool Carrier

The machine has been designed by Dutch manufacturer, WeedControl B.V., to be the perfect solution for zero-emissions mowing. With its sharp turning capabilities, it is agile enough to work in small enclosed spaces while also having been designed to work on large areas with a long-lasting battery to match its versatility. The running time is entirely dependent on the circumstances, but when cutting with the four-blade 180cm deck, the battery will typically last for 6-8 hours and 7-9 hours using the three-blade 130cm deck. Both decks feature rear ejection and allow height of cut adjustments from 30mm-110mm.

It can also be used with a number of other attachments including the weed controller, weed brush, and hedge cutter.

The electrically driven hedge cutter can be fully operated using a joystick, making it easy to operate for a day of work, while the LPG tanks used for the E-Variator Weed Burner can be mounted to the back of the AllTrec, with a connection for the automatic tank heater to prevent them from freezing. Weeds can also be tackled using the Weedbrush, which can be hydraulically adjusted to any angle, and used for a full day without any worry of batteries running out.

Campey's new AllTrec Tool Carrier

A large-action radius and highly efficient attachments combined with low operation and maintenance costs makes the AllTrec perfect for use in urban environments, sports complexes, holiday resorts and parks by contractors, local authorities and landscapers.

All batteries come with a three-year warranty and have a lifetime of + – 2500 charge discharge cycles. The 48VDC battery uses LifePO4 technology with a capacity of 20kwh or an optional 30kwh, with onboard charging taking 4-8 hours.

For more information on making your mowing and other maintenance operations 100% electric and emissions free, contact Campey at info@campeyturfcare.com.

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New Bobcat M-Series at Agritechnica

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New Bobcat M-Series at Agritechnica: Bobcat, the leading manufacturer of compact equipment, is presenting its new M-Series Stage V compliant skid-steer loaders to the general public for the first time at Agritechnica 2019.

Also on show at Agritechnica (Hanover, Germany – Stand D04, Hall 6) are several highlights from Bobcat’s wide range of telescopic loaders, mini-excavators, compact track loaders and agricultural attachments.

New Bobcat M-Series at Agritechnica

World fair premiere: M-Series skid-steer loaders with more power, same compact size and new design

The redesigned M-Series S450, S510 and S530 models will receive their official premiere at a world fair, having been introduced to a select group of customers at the Bobcat Demo Days in Dobříš in the Czech Republic in October this year. Equipped with a specially developed Stage V compliant Bobcat engine, the new skid-steer loaders offer greater power, enhanced comfort and optimised maintenance. Cleverly designed, they maintain the compact dimensions of this legendary series. As effortlessly as ever, they can manoeuvre in the smallest spaces, and transport is easy thanks to their low weight. The new models, commercially available from January 2020, will also be the first Bobcat machines for the European market to carry the company’s new branding design.

Popular options, such as air-conditioning, the deluxe instrument panel and high-flow auxiliary hydraulics now come as standard with the 500 series models. Thanks to an additional 37% of torque and faster recovery from overload compared to previous models, the operator obtains the same power at lower engine speeds, reduced noise levels and lower fuel consumption. In addition, the diesel particulate filter, included as standard, makes it possible to work in areas with strict emission standards.

As well as the new M-Series skid-steer loaders, Bobcat’s T590 compact track loader is being shown in an increasingly popular configuration for forestry applications. And the introduction of Bobcat’s Quad-track skid-steer loader concept is another highlight at this year’s Agritechnica. The bolt-on/bolt-off quad-tracks allow machines to be adapted even more flexibly to different environments and applications. At this point, Quad-track is still a concept in the evaluation phase. Several powerful demonstrations will provide Agritechnica visitors with insights into product development along with machine and concept evaluation at Bobcat.

Bobcat telescopic loaders

Popular in many industries, the Bobcat TL30.70 and TL43.80HF telescopic loaders are being exhibited on the Agritechnica stand. The company’s range of telehandlers now encompasses 15 different rigid frame machines with lifting capacities between 2.6 and 4.3 tonne and lifting heights from 6 to 18 m.

The TL30.70 compact telescopic loader offers a maximum lifting capacity of 3 tonne and a maximum lifting height of almost 7 metres – the perfect choice for many applications in construction and agriculture. A compact and economic alternative to larger 7-metre models, the TL30.70 excels above all in small work areas where outstanding manoeuvrability is a priority.

The TL43.80HF, despite its compact dimensions, provides an impressive lifting capacity of 4.3 tonne and a maximum lifting height of almost 8 m. With a selection of three different ‘AGRI’ packages, the TL43.80HF is available in several formats for the agricultural market. Earlier this year, it was also introduced in a ‘Waste Expert’ version, designed specifically for use in the harsh conditions of the waste and recycling industry.

Bobcat mini-excavators and the market’s largest attachment range

From its successful range of mini-excavators, Bobcat is demonstrating the E20z model. This 2-tonne model comes with Zero House Swing (ZHS) functionality, offering free 320 degree rotation and enabling work near buildings without compromising on comfort or performance. In addition to a great breakout force, this high-performance excavator provides excellent hydraulics performance, high operating comfort and easy maintenance access.

With a choice of over 100 types of attachment, each individual Bobcat machine becomes a versatile all-rounder for many tasks in agriculture, horticulture, landscaping, building and road construction as well as the recycling industry.

For more information about Bobcat and Bobcat products, visit www.bobcat.com
Information about the Doosan Group is available on https://www.doosan.com/en

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Plea for help after vandal attack

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Plea for help after vandal attack: Volunteers from a city football club have appealed for help after vandals struck.

As reported by the Evening Express on Friday, officials at Kincorth AFC were left shocked after intruders damaged their pitch at Kincorth Field.

Vandals got onto the land and covered it in tyre tracks and burnt-out debris.

Some of the damage has been cleaned up but a scorch mark remains almost a week on.

Now the club’s chairman, Kris Harris, is urging anyone with the expertise to help restore the pitch to its former glory to get in touch.

Mr Harris said: “We need some help please. As you know the pitch was vandalised last week and there is a scorch mark on the edge of the box.

“Our co-manager Andrew Ewan is really not happy about it and we need to get someone professional to have a look.

“We would be grateful if you can point us in the right direction.

“What we’re hoping to do is cut this scorch mark out and replace it with a part from behind the goals, but again this is something we need advice on.”

The club is celebrating its 35th anniversary this year and it is one of the most successful teams in the history of the Aberdeen Amateur Football Association.

Mr Harris added: “The culprits of this damage have little awareness of the wider impact this has on the community.”

Contact the club via facebook.com/kincorthafc/ if you can help.

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DLF Seeds for Exeter Chiefs

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DLF Seeds for Exeter Chiefs: A change in career is a daunting prospect, but it can often be made easier with training and support from new industry peers.

For Max Sandford, a joiner by trade, he is swiftly learning ‘all things turf’ after taking over as Head Groundsman at Exeter Chiefs Rugby Club 18 months ago. One of those trusted contacts is Ian Barnett of DLF Seeds who has supported Max with the Johnsons J Premier Pitch, in use across the club’s stadium and training facilities.

DLF Seeds for Exeter Chiefs

“The world of grass seed was very new to me” Max explains, when he accepted the top job in early 2018. “Ian, our regional DLF Technical Manager, together with my local distributor have spent a lot of time going back to basics, looking at cultivars and mixture qualities which has given me a much better understanding. The support has been invaluable and has certainly given me enough of an insight to see that the Johnsons mixtures are doing a fantastic job!”

A combination of J Premier Pitch and the ProNitro coated version, J Nitro Premier Pitch, have been used across the site for the last seven years. “We carry out a full renovation on both pitches each year after the final game and overseed roughly every six to eight weeks, depending on the time of year and pitch usage.”

“I am very impressed with the germination, the density of coverage and the strong colour we achieve year on year. The wear tolerance is a major factor for rugby, especially in the scrummaging areas, but the J Premier Pitch holds firm which is testament to the strength of the rooting.” On the back of Ian’s advice, Max is looking forward to trying Johnsons J 4Turf mixture for the first time this winter, to deliver deeper rooting and rapid establishment even under low soil temperatures.

Max concludes, “I enjoy reading about what other groundsmen are using and when I see Johnson’s mixtures used at leading facilities around the country, I feel confident that I’m sourcing the best products I can for the club. Ultimately, I’ve found if you ask the right people the right questions, you will get the right answers!”

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