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Progressive Surbiton chooses Kubota

August 3, 2022/in News, Press Release/by Jane Carley

Progressive Surbiton chooses Kubota: At Surbiton Golf Club in Surrey, the majority of the 650 active playing members are competitive golfers, striving to improve their game and thus setting the bar high for course manager Andrew Kerr. Being equipped to maintain and further develop course standards is key, requiring top quality, reliable equipment. This year […]

John Deere announces online careers event

August 3, 2022/in News, Press Release/by Martin Ward

John Deere announces online careers event: John Deere is calling on former and soon-to-be ex-servicemen and women to consider joining its dealership network as Qualified Technicians. With many transferrable skills, those with experience of military machines will be perfectly placed for a new career working with some of the world’s most advanced agricultural and turfcare […]

Progressive Surbiton chooses Kubota

August 3, 2022/in News, Press Release/by Jane Carley

John Deere announces online careers event

August 3, 2022/in News, Press Release/by Martin Ward

Full Sized Blog Element (Big Preview Pic)

Progressive Surbiton chooses Kubota

August 3, 2022/in News, Press Release/by Jane Carley

Progressive Surbiton chooses Kubota: At Surbiton Golf Club in Surrey, the majority of the 650 active playing members are competitive golfers, striving to improve their game and thus setting the bar high for course manager Andrew Kerr. Being equipped to maintain and further develop course standards is key, requiring top quality, reliable equipment.

This year Andrew has added a new Kubota B1241 compact and M5-112 utility tractor to the armoury, and they are proving to fit the brief well.

Progressive Surbiton chooses Kubota

“We’re aiming to be as progressive as the members are and provide facilities so they can continually advance their game,” he explains. “‘The club decided to extend its practice facilities by adding a 100yd short game covered area and a 940sqm putting green with three different types of bunker including a ‘Royal St George’s’ type bunker for members who also like to play on links courses.”

The green is designed in the same way as the rest of the course, on two levels, with run offs, so members can practice and them transfer the skills to their round.

Andrew is working on a five-year plan of improvements on the course, with projects for 2022 including developing a members-only driving range, improved playing surface presentation and ecological enhancements. Rainwater harvesting and new water storage for irrigation are further environment-focused developments.

Much of the construction work, from the putting green extension to irrigation upgrades, is tackled in-house and the 115hp M5-112 is a key tool in the armoury, Andrew explains.

“For example we needed to move 3000 tonnes of material, and with a two tonne trailer this would have meant hundreds of trips. So using my agricultural background I took a different approach, purchasing the Kubota tractor and an eight tonne dump trailer on large wheels with balloon tyres, which sit outside the tractor wheels and minimise damage. We’ve got a high capacity digger, so matching the tractor and trailer to it increases efficiency.”

The course has a high percentage of heavy soils and predominantly push up greens, and a programme of cultural practices has been introduced including aeration and sanding. Greens have responded well to sandbanding, so the focus has now moved to fairways, tees and roughs.

“There’s a lot of pressure on the course with the high footfall and competitive golfers,” he comments.

The original purpose of buying the 24hp Kubota B1241 was to carry a ball collector for the new driving range, explains Andrew. “Many ranges use other solutions for ball collectors, but they can put a lot of strain on a vehicle, whereas the metal chassis of a tractor is built for it.”

The B1241 is fitted with Kubota’s new mid-ROPS option, which gives a lower overall height when folded down in height-restricted situations and importantly, frees up the rear of the tractor to attach the ball cage.

“The frame simply clamps to the back of the tractor and is easy to put on and remove. The mid-ROPS was an attractive feature for this.”

“However, we keep finding new uses for the B1241 – it’s a bit of a dogsbody! The Kubota has a very light footprint, yet it’s four-wheel drive. We like the manual transmission for its versatility, and the hydraulic spools to operate implements.”

He comments that while club has traditionally used a Charterhouse Speed Brush on a larger compact after topdressing, a trial of the Kubota with a Sisis Flexbrush proved that it could be more efficient.

‘We put a light dusting of sand on the greens every two weeks and follow it with three or four passes of the brush. It has made a significant improvement to the levels and playability.”

A home-built harrow is fitted for general grooming of the fairways and roughs and to brush in sand on the fairways.

“We also looking at using the tractor with a flail, and at fitting pallet forks to the three-point linkage.”

Andrew comments that the Kubotas are driven by all the members of the greenkeeping team, with their straightforward dependability proving to be a plus with the busy workload.

“Kubota has a pedigree, so you know what you are getting. We’re confident that they will still be working well in 15 years – the M5 probably has more horsepower than we need, but that adds to its longevity. We’re not just purchasing for now, but for the future.”

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John Deere announces online careers event

August 3, 2022/in News, Press Release/by Martin Ward

John Deere announces online careers event: John Deere is calling on former and soon-to-be ex-servicemen and women to consider joining its dealership network as Qualified Technicians.

With many transferrable skills, those with experience of military machines will be perfectly placed for a new career working with some of the world’s most advanced agricultural and turfcare equipment.

John Deere announces online careers event

The machinery manufacturer has announced that it will hold a free online careers event on 1 September 2022, where attendees will hear from individuals who have transitioned from military service into the John Deere dealership network.

One speaker will be ex-serviceman William Foster who left the Army after 23 years’ service and completed multiple operational tours including Kosovo, Iraq, and Afghanistan.

Upon leaving, he was faced with the prospect of securing new employment – a task further complicated by the first Covid lockdown beginning just four days after he left the services.

Although he didn’t get the first job he originally applied for at John Deere, it did, however, make him more determined to pursue a career within the agricultural engineering sector and focus his attention on how to best achieve his goals.

“Not getting that job made me realise just how much I wanted to work with John Deere,” William says.

“I decided to own that dream, put a professional spin on it and see if I could turn it into my next full career.”

To gain experience, William volunteered his time at one of John Deere’s dealerships and secured a job at another, before finally landing his ultimate job as an Agricultural Engineer at Ben Burgess in Oakham, Rutland.

“The similarities between this role and my career in the Army are uncanny,” William says.

“I look at the depot as my Forward Operating Base, the surrounding areas as my Area of Responsibility and the Enemy as being breakdowns to deal with.

“If you can fix a tank, you can fix a tractor.”

The laissez-faire approach to leadership within the network is a breath of fresh air compared to the more autocratic one found in the Army. This was a welcome change for William, who first enlisted aged 17.

“One of the things I enjoy the most about my new role is that I can talk to my line managers and bosses like I talk to my former colleagues,” he explains.

“We have mutual respect, but the pomp and ceremony are no longer there.

“I also love that the iconic sense of humour so prevalent within the services is as alive and kicking in the workshop as it was on the tank park.”

John Deere is holding an online careers event for anyone who wants to find out more about the role of a Qualified Technician, working in either the turf or agricultural sector, on 1 September at 7pm.

The event is open to all who register for free on this link: https://JohnDeereCareers.eventbrite.co.uk.

“It’s an incredibly exciting time to work in the agricultural industry,” says John Deere Branch Training Manager Allan Cochran.

“The machinery we’re working with is mind-blowingly clever and John Deere agricultural and turf technicians learn about the most advanced, cutting-edge equipment available on the market.

“It’s a great, rewarding career that can take you anywhere in the world, working with an internationally recognised and respected brand.”

For the latest industry news visit turfmatters.co.uk/news

Get all of the big headlines, pictures, opinions and videos on stories that matter to you.

Follow us on Twitter and Instagram for fun, fresh and engaging content.

You can also find us on Facebook for more of your must-see news, features, videos and pictures from Turf Matters.

Half Sized Blog Element (Single Author Style)

Half Sized Blog Element (Multi Author Style)

Progressive Surbiton chooses Kubota

John Deere announces online careers event

Progressive Surbiton chooses Kubota

John Deere announces online careers event

Full Sized Blog Element (Big Preview Pic)

Progressive Surbiton chooses Kubota

John Deere announces online careers event

John Deere announces online careers event: John Deere is calling on former and soon-to-be ex-servicemen and women to consider joining its dealership network as Qualified Technicians.

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