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GMA Connect heads to Durham

June 13, 2025/in Events, News, Press Release/by Admin

GMA Connect heads to Durham: Following the successful launch of GMA Connect in Bristol last month, the Grounds Management Association’s new regional event series continues in the North East on Wednesday 18 June at Durham County Cricket Club. Designed to bring the grounds industry together in key regions across the country, GMA Connect is a […]

Toro for rig and furrow fairways at Forfar

June 13, 2025/in Machinery, News, Press Release/by Admin

Toro for rig and furrow fairways at Forfar: Rig and furrow fairways bring as much of a challenge to the greenkeeping team as they do the players. With raised ridges and sunken furrows, it takes a lightweight, manoeuvrable mower to deliver the best results and for Forfar Golf Club in Scotland, Toro is the one […]

GMA Connect heads to Durham

June 13, 2025/in Events, News, Press Release/by Admin

Toro for rig and furrow fairways at Forfar

June 13, 2025/in Machinery, News, Press Release/by Admin

Full Sized Blog Element (Big Preview Pic)

GMA Connect heads to Durham

June 13, 2025/in Events, News, Press Release/by Admin

GMA Connect heads to Durham: Following the successful launch of GMA Connect in Bristol last month, the Grounds Management Association’s new regional event series continues in the North East on Wednesday 18 June at Durham County Cricket Club.

Designed to bring the grounds industry together in key regions across the country, GMA Connect is a hands-on, one-day event offering a unique mix of expert seminars and live demonstrations from leading manufacturers.

GMA Connect heads to Durham

Some of the industry’s top brands will be on show in Durham, including headline sponsor Cramer, ISEKI UK & Ireland, Campey Turf Care Systems, Fleet Line Markers, GKB Machines, Abundigro, The Aquatrols Company, AriensCo, Redexim, and Dennis & SISIS.

Throughout the day, attendees will have the opportunity to see the latest machinery and solutions from the likes of Cramer, who will present a full battery-powered range, including robot mowers, a zero-turn model and all-terrain pedestrian mowers. ISEKI and GKB Machines will jointly demonstrate a compact tractor fitted with a Combi Tool and Deep Tine Aerator, whilst Campey Turf Care will demonstrate their UniRake and display smaller machines pitch side, including the Vredo Turf Buddy and Electric Sarel Roller.

Line marking solutions will be available from Fleet and, new to Durham, Dennis & SISIS will bring the FT mower and Auto Rotorake Mk5, whilst Ariens will display zero-turn and high-grass mulching mowers.

Redexim, The Aquatrols Company and Abundigro and will all be on hand to share practical advice and showcase turf maintenance essentials.

A packed seminar programme features weather expert Mark Hunt’s ‘Turf Management in the Current Climate’, a popular practical soil session led by Alex Vickers, and guidance on using a Playing Surface Assessment to upgrade your facility from the GMA’s Ian Mather-Brewster and Chris Hunter.

The day will close with a panel discussion on climate change at top sporting venues, featuring Vic Demain (Head Groundsman, Durham CCC), Alex Vickers (Turf Consultant), Aaron Tong (Head Groundsman, Hull City MKM Stadium) and James Wright (Senior Maintenance Manager, University of Leeds).

Sarah Hunter, Head of Events at the GMA, said: “Bristol was a huge success for everyone involved, and we’re now really excited to bring GMA Connect to Durham. This event series has been designed to serve the needs of the industry, giving grounds staff at every level access to expert advice and practical solutions within their region.”

Jordan Watson, Area Sales Manager for Cramer UK, said: “We want to support events like GMA Connect because it’s a great networking opportunity and it’s a great way to show the industry everything that we do and the technology that Cramer UK can offer to help them in the future.”

Tickets are free for GMA members, while non-members can attend for £15. Membership provides additional value, including exclusive resources, discounted training, access to the Member Assistance Programme and more.

For more information or to register, visit thegma.org.uk/events.

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Toro for rig and furrow fairways at Forfar

June 13, 2025/in Machinery, News, Press Release/by Admin

Toro for rig and furrow fairways at Forfar: Rig and furrow fairways bring as much of a challenge to the greenkeeping team as they do the players. With raised ridges and sunken furrows, it takes a lightweight, manoeuvrable mower to deliver the best results and for Forfar Golf Club in Scotland, Toro is the one to beat.

Remaining from the time when the ground was used to cultivate flax, a mower that will bring the best results on rig and furrow fairways is one that’s well-balanced, has a low centre of gravity, turf-friendly tyres, and the ability to maintain cutting consistency in tough conditions.

Toro for rig and furrow fairways at Forfar

For Keith Law, Head Greenkeeper at Forfar Golf Club, the Toro Reelmaster 3575-D ticks all the boxes.

“It can certainly be a challenge maintaining rig and furrow fairways if you don’t have the right equipment,” says Keith. “You’ve got to be careful not to run the risk of the grass looking burnt out on the ridges and green in the furrows if the mowers can’t maintain the height of cut or leaves clippings behind.

“The Toro Reelmaster set up with a rear roller brush on the back and groomer on the front, hugs the ground, picks up the grass in the dips and avoids scalping on the top. The brush also disperses the clippings perfectly and the groomer lifts the grass before cutting. It’s perfect on undulations – and on our bunkers, where it doesn’t leave a mark – and as the lightest fairway mower out there it minimises soil compression.”

The purchase of the Reelmaster 3575-D is the start of the club replacing much of its fleet says Keith. “We’re a totally Toro club and it’s testament to the brand that we’re still running and getting great results from machines that are well in their double digits. But now’s the time to focus on the new technology the brand offers.

“We’re a wooded heathland club and as such have had a tough time since Storm Arwen. We’ve lost around 1500 trees, so time outside of general course maintenance has been spent dealing with that.

“It’s going to be great for everyone to focus on new machinery. Our members have already noticed and commented on the tighter finish on the fairways since we got the Reelmaster, it’s brought a links feel to our heathland course, which is appreciated, so it’s going to be exciting to hear the feedback from more new machines.”

The new machine was delivered by distributor Reesink Scotland, the Scottish service branch of Reesink Turfcare based in Livingston, which serves some of the UK’s most prestigious golf clubs, major sporting venues, councils, local authorities and landscapers.

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)

GMA Connect heads to Durham

Toro for rig and furrow fairways at Forfar

GMA Connect heads to Durham

Toro for rig and furrow fairways at Forfar

Full Sized Blog Element (Big Preview Pic)

GMA Connect heads to Durham

GMA Connect heads to Durham: Following the successful launch of GMA Connect in Bristol last month, the Grounds Management Association’s new regional event series continues in the North East on Wednesday 18 June at Durham County Cricket Club.

Toro for rig and furrow fairways at Forfar

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