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Kubota puts power down gently

August 20, 2021/in News, Press Release/by Jane Carley

Kubota puts power down gently: A big Kubota tractor with a light tread has hit the ground running for sportsfield renovations in the north west. The Kubota M7152 is a new addition to the line up for national grounds maintenance contractor idverde’s St Helens depot this summer and has already made a big impression. “It’s […]

Life-changing award for Jason Norwood

August 20, 2021/in News, Press Release/by Rosie Duckworth

Life-changing award for Jason Norwood: Having the confidence to make a huge career move and the knowledge to back up key decisions in the job are two of the benefits Jason Norwood says winning the Toro Student Greenkeeper of the Year Award in 2019 have had. As Reesink Turfcare, award sponsor, and BIGGA announce the […]

Kubota puts power down gently

August 20, 2021/in News, Press Release/by Jane Carley

Life-changing award for Jason Norwood

August 20, 2021/in News, Press Release/by Rosie Duckworth

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Kubota puts power down gently

August 20, 2021/in News, Press Release/by Jane Carley

Kubota puts power down gently: A big Kubota tractor with a light tread has hit the ground running for sportsfield renovations in the north west.

The Kubota M7152 is a new addition to the line up for national grounds maintenance contractor idverde’s St Helens depot this summer and has already made a big impression.

Kubota puts power down gently

“It’s a bit bigger and more powerful than the tractor it replaced, but shod on Nokian turf tyres it doesn’t leave a mark,” says operator Ryan Stirling. “It’s proving very productive and will be capable of handling a wide range of sportsfield renovation implements including a sand spreader, vertidrain and overseeder.”

Powered by a 150hp Kubota four-cylinder engine, the M7152 benefits from Kubota’s KVT stepless transmission, and Ryan notes:

“It makes the tractor very easy to operate with renovation implements as I can use the A-B buttons to set maximum and minimum revs and then select the auto setting and cruise control. There’s a great touchscreen monitor which I’ve been able to get the hang of really quickly, and it also offers auto pto engagement which will be really useful with the vertidrain, as it automatically disengages and re-engages the pto when lifting and lowering the linkage at the end of a run.”

The impressive rear linkage lift capacity of 9,400kg makes working with larger implements such as the vertidrain a breeze and idverde has plans to get even more out of the tractor.

“We’ll use it for a lot of haulage too, and the cab’s very spacious, which along with the air suspension and KVT transmission makes it really good to drive on the road,” says Ryan.

“For the autumn and winter it will have a reach arm flail fitted, and the front linkage and pto means that we can pair it with a front flail which will make verge mowing much quicker. We’re also looking to have a front loader fitted.”

Ryan notes that the M7152’s Kubota engine is pleasingly frugal, the 330 litre fuel tank giving an extra day between fill ups compared to his previous tractor, and says that the tractor has clearly been designed with the operator in mind.

“Access for routine maintenance is really good – I particularly like the flip up radiator which makes it easy to blow debris out and there are plenty of worklights. It’s very straightforward to drive and I’m looking forward to seeing what we can achieve with it.”

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Life-changing award for Jason Norwood

August 20, 2021/in News, Press Release/by Rosie Duckworth

Life-changing award for Jason Norwood: Having the confidence to make a huge career move and the knowledge to back up key decisions in the job are two of the benefits Jason Norwood says winning the Toro Student Greenkeeper of the Year Award in 2019 have had.

As Reesink Turfcare, award sponsor, and BIGGA announce the finalists for the 2021 competition, the timing is perfect to see what winning greenkeeping longest-standing and industry-leading awards has brought to Jason and his career.

Life-changing award for Jason Norwood

The first is a life-changing one, he says: “By far the biggest difference winning the award has brought to my life is the confidence to make the big decision to leave my job in Harrogate and move countries to take the course manager job at Reay Golf Club, Britain’s most northerly 18-hole link course, in Scotland.

“I couldn’t visit the course before accepting the role due to COVID restrictions and I took the job knowing I would go from being one of nine in my previous role to working mainly on my own with help from volunteer members. But I knew it was the move I had to make to gain experience on a links course and put my newly acquired knowledge to the test.”

The newly acquired knowledge Jason is referring to comes from completing the turf management study course at the University of Massachusetts as part of the prize for winning the award.

Jason says: “The course and the experience were fantastic. They’ve given me the belief that what I am doing is right and I’ve got conviction in the decisions I make with the knowledge I acquired. As the only person tending the course, I’ve got no one to refer to so this is an essential quality to have in making day-to-day decisions.

“When I started at Reay, there hadn’t been a qualified greenkeeper on the course for 20 years and so very little science had been used when it came to fertiliser applications. This was something I wanted to change and have a programme dedicated to help maintain a healthy playing surface.

“One of my favourite lectures at UMass were those on soil. Being able to use the knowledge I gained from the lectures has been incredibly helpful and made it easier to understand how best to work towards giving the plant the correct amount of nutrients when required.

“My main achievement has been the definition and consistency of cutting I’ve been able to bring to the golf course. The amount of positive comments I’ve received about how the course is looking is really pleasing and hopefully overtime the changes being made to the fertiliser programme and with a few more additions of equipment will only make the course perform even better.”

At Reay is a small but perfectly formed Toro fleet, comprised of three Greensmaster 3250-D greens mowers, a Reelmaster 3100-D triplex mower with SideWinder and a Groundsmaster 4300 mower. Jason says: “The next new addition will hopefully be a new fairway mower. I’ve recommended a few other additions that will not only improve the the course, but also make it easier for the volunteers to mow areas of the course safely when they provide help during the growing season.”

So what about advice for this year’s shortlisted candidates for the Finals? “It’s an opportunity to grab with both hands,” he says. “You will learn so much and meet so many great people. Be yourself. Focus on your strengths and don’t force the situation. Lastly, enjoy it. It can literally be a life-changing experience.”

The Toro Student Greenkeeper of the Year Awards finals will be held on 6-7 September 2021 at Celtic Manor Resort in Wales.

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)

Kubota puts power down gently

Life-changing award for Jason Norwood

Kubota puts power down gently

Life-changing award for Jason Norwood

Full Sized Blog Element (Big Preview Pic)

Kubota puts power down gently

Kubota puts power down gently: A big Kubota tractor with a light tread has hit the ground running for sportsfield renovations in the north west.

Life-changing award for Jason Norwood

Life-changing award for Jason Norwood: Having the confidence to make a huge career move and the knowledge to back up key decisions in the job are two of the benefits Jason Norwood says winning the Toro Student Greenkeeper of the Year Award in 2019 have had.

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