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Silvermere Invests in Hunter Irrigation Upgrade with KAR UK

July 1, 2026/in News, Press Release/by Admin

Silvermere Invests in Hunter Irrigation Upgrade with KAR UK At Silvermere Golf Course, irrigation plays a critical role in maintaining the high standards expected of its 18-hole championship parkland course. Under the guidance of Course Manager Tim Muir, the Surrey venue has undertaken a major in-house irrigation upgrade project using a range of Hunter irrigation […]

Harrowden acquires George Davies Turf & Stone

July 1, 2026/in News, Press Release/by Admin

Harrowden acquires George Davies Turf & Stone Harrowden has acquired George Davies Turf & Stone (GDT), bringing together two highly respected businesses with shared values, complementary strengths and a shared commitment to quality, service and long-term customer relationships. Harrowden is the UK’s largest grower and distributor of turf and mat products, with more than 60 […]

Silvermere Invests in Hunter Irrigation Upgrade with KAR UK

July 1, 2026/in News, Press Release/by Admin

Harrowden acquires George Davies Turf & Stone

July 1, 2026/in News, Press Release/by Admin

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Silvermere Invests in Hunter Irrigation Upgrade with KAR UK

July 1, 2026/in News, Press Release/by Admin

Silvermere Invests in Hunter Irrigation Upgrade with KAR UK

At Silvermere Golf Course, irrigation plays a critical role in maintaining the high standards expected of its 18-hole championship parkland course. Under the guidance of Course Manager Tim Muir, the Surrey venue has undertaken a major in-house irrigation upgrade project using a range of Hunter irrigation products supplied by KAR UK.

Silvermere Invests in Hunter Irrigation Upgrade with KAR UK

Tim, who has been Course Manager at Silvermere for nine years, explained that the project was born out of the need to replace an ageing PVC irrigation system which had become increasingly unreliable.

“Probably four or five years ago we were running on an old PVC system, and we had endless problems with it, so we made the decision to upgrade,” he said. “We started a three-year project of an in-house irrigation install, which originally covered greens, tees and approaches.”

During the early stages of the project, Tim was introduced to KAR UK’s Carl Sharp – Golf Sales Manager UK & Ireland, who recommended a range of Hunter products including G-85, I-25 and I-20 rotors.

Following the success of the initial installation, Silvermere expanded the project further by introducing fairway irrigation across the entire course using Hunter’s G-85 golf rotors.

“The last year just gone, we decided to add fairway irrigation to the full course, which we then went with the Hunter G-85 heads,” said Tim. “They’ve been great. We’ve just finished the install now and have been running them over the last few weeks with great results, so we’re really pleased with them.”

The Hunter G-85 rotor is designed specifically for golf applications and is renowned for its durability, torque output and efficient water distribution. Its patented gear-drive system and self-cleaning design have proven particularly valuable at Silvermere.

“I really like the self-cleaning system and the way the heads run,” Tim explained. “We’ve had no problems with anything getting stuck or gears getting blocked up with sand. The throw on them is great and the nozzle ranges are amazing.”

The flexibility of the nozzle selection has enabled the Silvermere team to tailor irrigation precisely to different areas of the course.

“Some fairways tighten up in places, so we’ve adjusted certain nozzles so we’re not over spraying,” said Tim. “We’ve gone with a twin-row 180 design on the fairways, so we’re not losing loads of water into the roughs. The nozzles have allowed us to minimise the water we’re wasting and use it where we want it.”

Silvermere Invests in Hunter Irrigation Upgrade with KAR UK

Efficient water use was a major consideration throughout the project, particularly as the club relies heavily on mains water.

“We haven’t got endless amounts of water here,” Tim said. “We really needed to use it only where it’s needed.”

For the tees, Silvermere installed a combination of Hunter I-25 and I-20 rotors, allowing the team to match sprinkler performance to different tee sizes and layouts.

“We’ve got the I-25s on tees and I-20s on the smaller tees,” said Tim. “They’re running really well too. It’s allowed us to just water the tees and not waste any water again.”

The Hunter I-25 rotor is widely regarded for its durability and versatility, offering a large nozzle selection and built-in check valve to improve water efficiency. Meanwhile, the I-20 provides flexibility for smaller areas thanks to its broad nozzle options, vandal-proof drive mechanism and precise arc adjustment.

Tim believes the improvements in irrigation performance have already had a noticeable impact on course conditioning.

“Historically, the old heads gave uneven coverage, and we’d be out hand watering loads on corners of greens,” he said. “You wouldn’t know if it was the make-up of the greens or a problem with the irrigation, but since putting in the G-85 heads there is so much more even coverage. We still hand water in places, but it’s more shady patches now.”

Another key factor for Silvermere has been the long-term reliability of the Hunter products.

“Some of them have been in the ground three years now and we haven’t needed to touch them since we set the arc and put the nozzle in on the day they were installed,” Tim said.

Tim also praised the support and service provided throughout the project by KAR UK.

“KAR are great,” he said. “The service is good, Carl’s always been there and the supply was excellent. Everything ran smoothly, so we’d definitely recommend them.”

Looking ahead, Tim is confident that the partnership with KAR UK and Hunter irrigation products will continue long into the future.

“It has been very productive working together,” he said. “I’m sure we’ll cross paths a lot in the future and carry on working together.”

For more information, please visit www.karuk.com

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Harrowden acquires George Davies Turf & Stone

July 1, 2026/in News, Press Release/by Admin

Harrowden acquires George Davies Turf & Stone

Harrowden has acquired George Davies Turf & Stone (GDT), bringing together two highly respected businesses with shared values, complementary strengths and a shared commitment to quality, service and long-term customer relationships.

Harrowden acquires George Davies Turf & Stone

Harrowden is the UK’s largest grower and distributor of turf and mat products, with more than 60 years of experience serving the landscaping and horticultural sectors.

The acquisition follows a long-standing relationship between the two businesses, with Harrowden having been a trusted supplier to George Davies Turf & Stone for many years. It reflects a shared commitment to quality, service and doing business the right way, as well as a belief that the combined business will be stronger together than either organisation could be alone.

Founded in 2001 by George Davies, George Davies Turf & Stone has grown from a start-up business into a leading supplier of turf and landscaping materials, serving more than 3,250 trade customers and supplying approximately 1.4 million rolls of turf each year. The business employs 30 people across its Clifton Reynes and St Albans depots and has built a reputation for exceptional customer service, operational excellence and long-term customer relationships.

George Davies will remain actively involved in the business as part of the senior leadership team for at least the next three years, providing continuity for customers, suppliers and employees while helping shape the next phase of growth.

George Davies said:

“After 25 years of building George Davies Turf & Stone, this was one of the biggest decisions I’ve ever had to make. When the opportunity arose, it quickly became clear that it was the right fit for the business, our customers and our team.

“Harrowden stood out because they share many of the same values and recognise the strength of the business our team has built together. They want to build on that success rather than fundamentally change it.

“I’m incredibly proud of what we’ve achieved over the last 25 years and excited about what comes next. I’m also delighted to be staying involved and helping shape the next chapter for the business, our customers and our team.”

George Davies Turf & Stone will continue to operate under its established brand, with customers continuing to work with the same trusted team while benefiting from the additional strength, investment and opportunities the acquisition brings.

Harrowden acquires George Davies Turf & Stone

Together, Harrowden and George Davies Turf & Stone will employ more than 130 people, operate from seven locations across the UK and have a combined turnover approaching £20 million, combining national reach with the local expertise, customer focus and service standards that have helped both organisations succeed.

Chantall Ridd-Jones, Director, Harrowden, added:

“We’ve admired what George and his team have built for a long time. George Davies Turf & Stone has an excellent reputation within the industry for the way it looks after its customers and the relationships it has built over the last 25 years.

“What stood out to us during our conversations was how closely our values align, and we’re excited about what we can achieve together, while preserving the culture and standards that have made both businesses successful. This is about building on those strengths and creating new opportunities for our customers, employees and the wider business.”

While the acquisition creates opportunities for future investment and growth, customers can continue to expect the same commitment to service, reliability and personal relationships that have always been at the heart of the business.

Harrowden and George Davies Turf & Stone are well placed to build on their shared strengths, continuing to deliver high-quality products, exceptional service and innovative solutions while building on their shared values.

For the latest industry news visit turfmatters.co.uk/news

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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)

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Silvermere Invests in Hunter Irrigation Upgrade with KAR UK

Harrowden acquires George Davies Turf & Stone

Silvermere Invests in Hunter Irrigation Upgrade with KAR UK

Harrowden acquires George Davies Turf & Stone

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Silvermere Invests in Hunter Irrigation Upgrade with KAR UK

Silvermere Invests in Hunter Irrigation Upgrade with KAR UK

Harrowden acquires George Davies Turf & Stone

Harrowden acquires George Davies Turf & Stone

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