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Hunter & KAR UK Help Transform Irrigation at Sutton Coldfield GC

September 3, 2026/in News, Press Release/by Admin

Hunter & KAR UK Help Transform Irrigation at Sutton Coldfield GC When Chris Roberts became Course Manager at Sutton Coldfield Golf Club, it quickly became apparent that the club’s ageing irrigation system was becoming one of the biggest obstacles to maintaining consistently high playing surfaces. Originally founded in 1889, the renowned heathland course sits within […]

Avant Tecno gears up for September machinery exhibitions

September 3, 2026/in Events, News, Press Release/by Admin

Avant Tecno gears up for September machinery exhibitions Manufacturer of compact multifunctional loaders, Avant Tecno, are preparing for a busy month of exhibitions where they will be showcasing both Avant and Leguan Lifts machinery. Avant Tecno will be attending GroundsFest 2026, Vertikal Days and the APF Exhibition. “This summer has been a busy season of […]

Hunter & KAR UK Help Transform Irrigation at Sutton Coldfield GC

September 3, 2026/in News, Press Release/by Admin

Avant Tecno gears up for September machinery exhibitions

September 3, 2026/in Events, News, Press Release/by Admin

Full Sized Blog Element (Big Preview Pic)

Hunter & KAR UK Help Transform Irrigation at Sutton Coldfield GC

September 3, 2026/in News, Press Release/by Admin

Hunter & KAR UK Help Transform Irrigation at Sutton Coldfield GC

When Chris Roberts became Course Manager at Sutton Coldfield Golf Club, it quickly became apparent that the club’s ageing irrigation system was becoming one of the biggest obstacles to maintaining consistently high playing surfaces.

Hunter & KAR UK Help Transform Irrigation at Sutton Coldfield GC

Originally founded in 1889, the renowned heathland course sits within Sutton Park and operates under the careful oversight of both Historic England and Natural England. While its unique location makes it one of the country’s most picturesque golf courses, it also presents significant challenges when undertaking any infrastructure work.

For Chris, the club’s 1991 irrigation system had simply reached the end of its useful life.

“We were constantly dealing with leaks,” he explained. “The pipework was old and the sprinkler coverage, particularly on the tees, was really poor. It was becoming a horrible cycle of losing grass, overseeding, getting it back for winter and then losing it again during the next drought.”

Seeking a long-term solution, Chris began working with KAR UK’s Manager of International Golf Sales Wes Henshaw, whose advice initially centred around improving irrigation performance on one particularly problematic putting green.

“We carried out catch cup testing and realised the sprinklers simply weren’t providing head-to-head coverage,” Chris said. “After changing the layout and increasing distribution uniformity, we virtually eliminated the hand watering that had become part of our daily routine.”

That early success gave Chris confidence in both Hunter’s products and KAR UK’s technical expertise.

When the time came to modernise the course’s irrigation infrastructure, the decision to adopt the Hunter Pilot System was straightforward.

Unlike many projects of this scale, Chris elected to undertake the installation entirely in-house.

The decision wasn’t driven purely by cost. Because the golf course sits within a Scheduled Ancient Monument, every trench had to follow the original pipe routes to avoid disturbing Roman roads, 16th-century boundary ditches and other archaeological features. Historic England closely supervised the works, meaning careful excavation was essential throughout the project.

Over several years the team installed close to 180 Hunter sprinkler heads across greens, approaches and tees, replacing outdated UPVC pipework with modern polyethylene mains.

KAR UK’s support extended well beyond supplying equipment.

“It wasn’t just a case of selling us the hardware. Wes made sure we were installing everything correctly and provided quality control throughout the project.”

The results have transformed daily course management. Where staff once monitored sprinklers throughout the night, the Hunter Pilot System now allows complete confidence in fully automated overnight irrigation programmes.

“We can put it on at ten o’clock at night and know it’ll still be running perfectly at five in the morning.”

Hunter & KAR UK Help Transform Irrigation at Sutton Coldfield GC

Control via the Hunter Pilot mobile app has also provided flexibility.

“If rain suddenly appears that wasn’t forecast, I can switch the system off from my phone. We’ve also got a full course map so we can target individual sprinklers if one area needs more water.”

The club has further enhanced precision by integrating POGO moisture meters with the Hunter Pilot system. Moisture readings are analysed using AI, enabling Chris to fine-tune nozzle selection, irrigation run times and water distribution with increasing accuracy.

“It’s helping us refine everything. We can see exactly where adjustments need to be made.”

Perhaps the greatest benefit has been the amount of labour saved.

Previously, significant staff time was devoted to hand watering, monitoring sprinklers and constantly reacting to irrigation shortcomings. Those hours can now be spent improving other areas of the golf course.

“It’s freed us up. Man hours used to get lost dealing with irrigation. Now we’re able to focus on fine-tuning greens and improving other aspects of the course.”

For Chris, the reduction in pressure has been every bit as valuable as the improved turf quality.

“I think it’s taken a huge amount of stress away. As course managers we always want to produce the best possible surfaces, but when you’ve got the right systems in place, everything becomes easier.”

Reflecting on the completed project, Chris believes the combination of Hunter’s technology and KAR UK’s technical support has fundamentally changed how the course is managed.

“People forget how dated old irrigation systems become until they install a new one.

Afterwards you find yourself wondering how you ever coped before. The accuracy, the reliability and especially being able to service everything from above ground has been a real game changer for us.”

For more information, please visit www.karuk.com

You can also follow KAR UK on X and Instagram @KARUK_LTD for much more news, reviews and insightful views.

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Avant Tecno gears up for September machinery exhibitions

September 3, 2026/in Events, News, Press Release/by Admin

Avant Tecno gears up for September machinery exhibitions

Manufacturer of compact multifunctional loaders, Avant Tecno, are preparing for a busy month of exhibitions where they will be showcasing both Avant and Leguan Lifts machinery.

Avant Tecno gears up for September machinery exhibitions

Avant Tecno will be attending GroundsFest 2026, Vertikal Days and the APF Exhibition.

“This summer has been a busy season of shows for the Avant team – and we’re looking forward to one last bumper month! At all three shows, we’re excited to be outside in the sun, showcasing our machinery and meeting customers, partners and other industry professionals” says Raimo Ala-Korpi, Managing Director of Avant Tecno UK.

From 16th to 17th September, GroundsFest will be heading back to Warwickshire to host their B2B trade show for grounds staff, greenkeepers, landscapers, estate managers, contractors and more.

Combining business and education opportunities with outdoor demonstrations and amusements, GroundsFest features opportunities to discover the latest grounds maintenance machines as well as two days of action-packed activities, including lawn mower racing!

Also hosted in Warwickshire, APF 2026 will be taking place on 24th to 26th September, showcasing forestry, woodland, arboriculture, fencing and grounds maintenance sectors.

Celebrating its 50th event, APF’s gold anniversary promises an exciting show, welcoming even more exhibitors and attractions.

“From digging and material handling to grass cutting and tree trimming, Avant loaders are a multifunctional machine that can adapt to a wide range of applications and tasks. During September’s events, we aim to give attendees a chance to have a hands-on experience with our Avant loaders and discover how they can work smarter, not harder!” adds Raimo.

Taking place on 9th to 10th September, Vertikal Days is hosting their 19th event, once again bringing together the lifting and access industry for two days of networking and machinery showcases.

During the two-day event in Newark, Nottinghamshire, Avant Tecno will be joining their sister company, Leguan Lifts, to exhibit their latest innovations in powered access platforms.

Founded in Finland in 1991, Avant Tecno are the world’s first producer of the compact loader – a multi-functional machine built to tackle a wide range of tasks with ease and efficiency.

With over 200 attachments designed to meet the needs of their customers, Avant loaders support productivity across construction, plant hire, agriculture, landscaping, equestrian and property maintenance applications.

Also founded in Finland, Leguan Lifts specialise in designing and manufacturing reliable, technologically-advanced and off-road-capable self-propelled access platforms.

“If you’re attending any of these events this September, come and say hello to the Avant and Leguan team!” concludes Raimo.

For more information about GroundsFest, visit https://groundsfest.com/

For more information about APF 2026, visit https://www.apfexhibition.co.uk/

For more information about Vertikal Days, visit https://vertikaldays.net

For more information about Avant Tecno, visit https://www.avanttecno.com/uk

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)

Hunter & KAR UK Help Transform Irrigation at Sutton Coldfield GC

Avant Tecno gears up for September machinery exhibitions

Hunter & KAR UK Help Transform Irrigation at Sutton Coldfield GC

Avant Tecno gears up for September machinery exhibitions

Full Sized Blog Element (Big Preview Pic)

Hunter & KAR UK Help Transform Irrigation at Sutton Coldfield GC

Hunter & KAR UK Help Transform Irrigation at Sutton Coldfield GC

Avant Tecno gears up for September machinery exhibitions

Avant Tecno gears up for September machinery exhibitions

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