Blog Elements - Turf Matters

Half Sized Blog Element (Single Author Style)

Half Sized Blog Element (Multi Author Style)

INFINICUT® combo lands at Durham

June 7, 2022/in News, Press Release/by Louise Challiss

INFINICUT® combo lands at Durham: They say ‘all good things come to those who wait’, and for the team at Durham County Cricket Club, they’ve waited almost five years for their very own INFINICUT® and UltraGroomer™ set-up! The combination has been on the mind of Head Groundsman Vic Demain since 2017, so when funding became […]

Agrovista’s roadshow has feel-good factor

June 7, 2022/in News, Press Release/by Lucy Nicholls

Agrovista’s roadshow has feel-good factor: The recent Agrovista Amenity Academy Roadshow, held at the stunning East Sussex National Golf Club, saw over 70 attendees soak up a memorable day of knowledge, networking, and wellbeing. Greenkeepers and groundspersons ranging from course managers to apprentices, made their way to the East Sussex countryside to enhance their education […]

INFINICUT® combo lands at Durham

June 7, 2022/in News, Press Release/by Louise Challiss

Agrovista’s roadshow has feel-good factor

June 7, 2022/in News, Press Release/by Lucy Nicholls

Full Sized Blog Element (Big Preview Pic)

INFINICUT® combo lands at Durham

June 7, 2022/in News, Press Release/by Louise Challiss

INFINICUT® combo lands at Durham: They say ‘all good things come to those who wait’, and for the team at Durham County Cricket Club, they’ve waited almost five years for their very own INFINICUT^® and UltraGroomer™ set-up!

The combination has been on the mind of Head Groundsman Vic Demain since 2017, so when funding became available, the INFINICUT^® was top of the shopping list. Following delivery in March, the INFINICUT^® has been living up to expectations – swiftly tackling the invasion of annual meadow grass on the club’s practice facilities.

INFINICUT® combo lands at Durham

In charge of preparing surfaces for T20, County and International Cricket, Vic keeps his eyes and ears close to the ground when it comes to new solutions to the key maintenance tasks. “We had the opportunity to use the INFINICUT^® complete with UltraGroomer™ for a couple of weeks back in 2017 and were hugely impressed by it, but unfortunately until this year the funding hasn’t been available” Vic explains. Over the COVID period, four units were hired by the ECB to help with preparations for those fixtures taking place behind closed doors, with one of these now finding a new home with Vic and his team of five.

“Having been sold on the UltraGroomer™ from all those years ago, we jumped at the chance to purchase one, together with a 22” INFINICUT^® FL. It was delivered just as we began to see the grass thicken up and the annual meadow grass coming through which is where this machine comes into its own.” Featuring over 80 tungsten carbide tipped blades, the UltraGroomer™ from the TMSystem™ range improves the plants immediate environment by removing Poa ingress, lateral growth and organic matter to enhance the movement of oxygen, moisture and nutrients.

“While the Poa keeps growing and seed heads are showing we’ve been conducting fortnightly runs with the UltraGroomer™ and it’s done a fantastic job. We will also be looking to use it for thinning out the sward as part of our main pitch preparations.”

The INFINICUT^® also becomes Vic’s first battery powered machine, something that will be in use even more frequently when he receives his new SMARTCut™ cutting reel. “We’re excited for the INFINICUT^® to become a dual-purpose machine, with it lining up to be used to cut the main square and practice areas.” Vic adds, “Through the summer we are often hosting meetings and weddings and the last thing they want in the background is noisy mowers! Where we would previously be told to turn them off, with the INFINICUT^® we’ll be able to cut the grass without disturbing the guests.”

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.

Agrovista’s roadshow has feel-good factor

June 7, 2022/in News, Press Release/by Lucy Nicholls

Agrovista’s roadshow has feel-good factor: The recent Agrovista Amenity Academy Roadshow, held at the stunning East Sussex National Golf Club, saw over 70 attendees soak up a memorable day of knowledge, networking, and wellbeing.

Greenkeepers and groundspersons ranging from course managers to apprentices, made their way to the East Sussex countryside to enhance their education on a variety of topics tailor-made for those working in the turf management sector.

Agrovista’s roadshow has feel-good factor

Delegates were welcomed with breakfast rolls and breath-taking views across the finishing holes on both the East and West courses, before organiser and Amenity Specialist Andrew Norman introduced the day.

“Today we are focussing on wellbeing in turf, and it is relevant for absolutely everybody,” he said.

Without further ado, Danny Negus, Grounds Manager at Devonshire Park, took to the stage to discuss mental health.

“I thought it was received very well considering it is a very delicate and personal subject,” said Danny. “It gave me an opportunity to highlight some of the data that I collated last year which enabled me to emphasise the seriousness of wellbeing and mental health in this industry. We all need to realise there is not a stigma attached to this and we must look at moving forward in a positive way.”

After Danny’s presentation, the attendees were divided into three smaller groups to diversify the experience of the technical seminars which were to follow.

Alan Pierce from Aquatrols Europe was on hand to discuss the innovative plant technology behind the leading Redox range of nutritional products.

“Hopefully I have been able to provide some education around the Redox range but also to help them understand that while these tools aren’t a solution to some of the stresses they may be under, they can certainly help free up some head space to enable them to think about some of the bigger issues they might be facing,” he said.

Neil Pullen from Compo Expert offered his expertise on the different forms of slow-release fertilisers and explained in detail everything from how they are manufactured to how they are packaged.

Agrovista’s Karl Parry offered a glimpse into the online Agrovista Amenity Academy; introduced the latest trial data on BASF’s Attraxor plant growth regulator and also highlighted the benefits of PrecisionPro – an attachment for a granular spreader to make sure products are applied evenly and accurately. Delegates also had the opportunity to put PrecisionPro to the test once the seminar had concluded and it is safe to say that there was certainly some competition on display.

In between the seminars, lunch was served in the award winning two rosette restaurant, and the day concluded with drinks from the Ryder Bar & Terrace.

As the delegates continued to network and reflect, it was apparent that there was a certain feel-good factor associated with the day.

“As an apprentice I feel that there has been a lot of knowledge to gain and it has been really interesting,” said Anna Rose Smethurst from Holtye Golf Club. “It was good to find out more about the Agrovista Amenity Academy because it has been really helpful for my college work and for all the products I use. I’m taking a lot away with me.”

Josh Negus from Devonshire Park was another apprentice who benefited from attending: “The whole day has been a great wealth of information and the discussion on fertilisers was super informative,” he said.

Dean Franks from West Sussex Golf Club also found the day informative: “The PrecisionPro talk was a good eye-opener because calibration in terms of being the spray technician is really going to be helpful in my job role. I’ve learnt a lot about new products, and I’ve got some brochures to take away which I will be sure to revise.”

Networking was a key aspect of the day for Cuckfield Golf Centre’s Head Greenkeeper, Josh Clarke: “It has been great to meet other greenkeepers and chat about the industry and bounce ideas off one another. Networking is so important in this industry, but we rarely get together and speak.

“The online Agrovista Academy has been brilliant for us,” added Josh. “I’m always telling my team to use it so they can find out more about the products they are applying.”

Scott Litchfield, Course Manager at East Sussex National, was delighted to welcome so many peers to his place of work.

“We were very proud to host the day,” he said. “The majority of my team attended, and they thoroughly enjoyed themselves. Danny Negus’ seminar was absolutely superb. Mental health in this industry needs to be made more aware of – the more we talk about it the easier it becomes.”

Danny’s wellbeing seminar also struck a chord with Michael Sparke, Deputy Course Manager at Kings Hill Golf Club: “When you are out mowing on your own you can get lost in your own head. As we evolve as a society and anxiety and depression becomes more apparent, it is something that needs to be acknowledged more and improved upon.

“Finding out that so many of us are experiencing the same problems makes you realise you are not alone, and that we are all in this together.”

You can view a highlights video from the day by visiting https://youtu.be/oQ-LI46D7MY

For more information about Agrovista UK, visit www.agrovista.co.uk/amenity

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)

INFINICUT® combo lands at Durham

Agrovista’s roadshow has feel-good factor

INFINICUT® combo lands at Durham

Agrovista’s roadshow has feel-good factor

Full Sized Blog Element (Big Preview Pic)

INFINICUT® combo lands at Durham

INFINICUT® combo lands at Durham: They say ‘all good things come to those who wait’, and for the team at Durham County Cricket Club, they’ve waited almost five years for their very own INFINICUT^® and UltraGroomer™ set-up!

Agrovista’s roadshow has feel-good factor

Agrovista’s roadshow has feel-good factor: The recent Agrovista Amenity Academy Roadshow, held at the stunning East Sussex National Golf Club, saw over 70 attendees soak up a memorable day of knowledge, networking, and wellbeing.

RESOURCES

CONTACT

CONNECT