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New Greens Team At Sleaford

November 23, 2018/in Industry News, News, People, Press Release/by External Source

New Greens Team At Sleaford: It’s all change at Sleaford Golf Club after new faces were brought in to look after their greens and fairways. There have been many changes in the greenkeeping team at Sleaford Golf Club in recent weeks after the retirement of the club’s longest-serving greenkeeper Arthur Simpson, and the decision of head […]

Wiedenmann A Time Saver

November 22, 2018/in Machinery, News, Press Release/by Val Graham

Wiedenmann A Time Saver: Two new kit arrivals for a busy Middlesex grounds team are saving up to five working days a month. The Wiedenmann Terra Spike GXi8 HD and the Wiedenmann Super 500, delivered in October, are significantly reducing time spent on aeration, collecting and scarifying. Chris Lynch, Grounds Manager at John Lyon School, Harrow-on […]

New Greens Team At Sleaford

November 23, 2018/in Industry News, News, People, Press Release/by External Source

Wiedenmann A Time Saver

November 22, 2018/in Machinery, News, Press Release/by Val Graham

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New Greens Team At Sleaford

November 23, 2018/in Industry News, News, People, Press Release/by External Source

New Greens Team At Sleaford: It’s all change at Sleaford Golf Club after new faces were brought in to look after their greens and fairways.

There have been many changes in the greenkeeping team at Sleaford Golf Club in recent weeks after the retirement of the club’s longest-serving greenkeeper Arthur Simpson, and the decision of head greenkeeper Ian Batty to change careers after nine years at the club.

Brian Sharp takes over as head greenkeeper after similar positions at Crail Golfing Society and The Roxburghe Hotel, in Scotland, and latterly at Westerhope Golf Club, near Newcastle

“I felt it was the right time for a new challenge and I wanted to get back to managing a links-style course from where I learnt my trade in Scotland,” said Brian (49).

Sleaford GC have also taken on two apprentices to learn their trade and qualify as greenkeepers, and after a huge response to their advert on Facebook, Chloe Lea and Mark Payne were appointed.

Chloe is breaking new ground as the club’s first female greenkeeper.

She said: “I wanted to find a job working outdoors in a natural environment in a role that was physically active; it was a perfect opportunity.”

For Mark, the Sleaford course will be highly familiar territory as a member of the club and a keen golfer.

For over 20 years Mark has worked on the perimeters as a landscape gardener, tree surgeon and irrigation engineer for more than 20 years.

“This was a great opportunity to put all my skills to the test in one job and so far is the best move I’ve ever made. I’m loving the job,” he said.

Committee member Nick Lawson added: “After a lot of searching for the right staff we have hopefully recruited the best people to take the club forward with our existing greenkeeping team of Jimmy Smith and James Bonser.”

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Wiedenmann A Time Saver

November 22, 2018/in Machinery, News, Press Release/by Val Graham

Wiedenmann A Time Saver: Two new kit arrivals for a busy Middlesex grounds team are saving up to five working days a month.

The Wiedenmann Terra Spike GXi8 HD and the Wiedenmann Super 500, delivered in October, are significantly reducing time spent on aeration, collecting and scarifying.

Chris Lynch, Grounds Manager at John Lyon School, Harrow-on the-Hill and his two assistants, Mark Chandler and Joe Naughton now have breathing space to tackle different projects. The site, at Sudbury Fields in North West London, has four full size football pitches, three junior size pitches, 4 training zones and three cricket squares. On any given afternoon up to 200 pupils and PE staff from the independent boys’ day school, make full use of the playing facilities.

“Other than our 1^st team football pitch, each pitch and training zone can get used up to nine times per week,” said Chris Lynch.

“With our previous aerator, we could expect to cover all 28 acres, minus the cricket squares, in five to six working days. Now with the GXi8 HD, the sports fields with the cricket squares included can be done in less than three days.

“We’re also saving at least two days a week with the Super 500. Just last week all pitches were raked quite roughly to take out dead grass. Lots of material came out. We took the Super 500 across and in one pass it picked everything up. I was beyond impressed. All 28 acres collected with one pass in just over two days.”

“In terms of time saved and work quality these machines are fantastic. All of a sudden productivity is increased by a week per month. Over a year we’re talking about an extra month to do other work across the site. Any Head Greenkeepers or Grounds Managers reading this with a similar amount of usage every day will know how invaluable that kind of time is to absorb the extra work given to us. I am very fortunate to work for a school that backs me with the machinery needed to keep the surfaces at their best.”

The Terra Spike will run at least once every three to four weeks, typically, September through until April or May.

“On 20 mm tines we will comfortably get down to 250 mm as no complex pipework lies beneath any of the pitches. The Terra Spike will not only help repair and replace levels but keep air and water moving through the profile,” continued Chris Lynch, who took up his role 2.5 years ago after a 15 year spell at The Harrow School.

“Another key benefit will come during March/April, when 400 tonnes of sand is put down to help aid pitch recovery as part of our renovations. The Terra Spike’s efforts will also assist the way we deliver chemical and fertiliser products required for the turf. Sand aids in unlocking positive nutrients locked up in the clay and the Terra Spike will allow the sand to work down into the clay to aid this process. “

“For me the Terra Spike is the easiest machine on the market to use. Its set up is really simply. If you are not happy with something it’s a small quick adjustment to the depth or the heave.

Wiedenmann’s Super 500 is a three-in-one sweeper, collector, scarifier known across the industry for its versatility and 2.5 m³ capacity. The John Lyon team has seamlessly incorporated the Super 500 into their weekly routine.

“We have the largest collection of oak trees in the neighbourhood and need to lift leaves before they contaminate the turf surface so the Super 500 is out on Mondays, Wednesday and Fridays. We cut on Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays and mark everything on Fridays, weather dependent of course” explained Chris Lynch.

“The Super 500 has been set up as a scarifier which just tickles the surface as we work. We don’t want to go into hard, as leaf collecting is the priority for now. When I joined, one of the biggest problems I inherited was thatch and there is still some thatch level in our pitches. The Super 500 given time will help alleviate that, stopping debris working its way down through the surface. In this instance, it’s not necessarily what you see on the top that causes problems, it can be what’s down below. I am looking forward to getting this into the surface far more aggressively come renovations time next spring”

Area Sales Manager, Grant Buckingham, from Wiedenmann UK dealer, Ernest Doe & Sons, at Esher, was on hand throughout the sales process.

The John Lyon School was founded in 1876 for the education of local boys by the Governors of Harrow School, in keeping with the wishes of John Lyon, the founder of Harrow. Now it takes 650 pupils with sport being central of importance. In particular the school has a tailored sports mentoring programme which helps nurture and develop elite sports performers and selected sports scholars.

For more information, visit: www.wiedenmann.com

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 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)

New Greens Team At Sleaford

Wiedenmann A Time Saver

New Greens Team At Sleaford

Wiedenmann A Time Saver

Full Sized Blog Element (Big Preview Pic)

New Greens Team At Sleaford

Wiedenmann A Time Saver

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