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Training Helps Professionals Deliver on National Action Plan

June 20, 2025/in News, Press Release/by Admin

Training Helps Professionals Deliver on National Action Plan: The UK National Action Plan (NAP) for the sustainable use of plant protection products calls on everyone involved in weed, pest, and disease control to adopt integrated management strategies and develop plans often referred to as IPM plans. Whilst still not a requirement, it is at the […]

Toro maintains championship course for The Open

June 19, 2025/in Machinery, News, Press Release/by Admin

Toro maintains championship course for The Open: Once again Toro machinery and irrigation is being used to present the iconic Dunluce Links at Royal Portrush Golf Club to the world for The Open. The UK’s Toro distributor, Reesink Turfcare, will provide additional backup Toro machinery and support throughout the week-long tournament in July and can […]

Training Helps Professionals Deliver on National Action Plan

June 20, 2025/in News, Press Release/by Admin

Toro maintains championship course for The Open

June 19, 2025/in Machinery, News, Press Release/by Admin

Full Sized Blog Element (Big Preview Pic)

Training Helps Professionals Deliver on National Action Plan

June 20, 2025/in News, Press Release/by Admin

Training Helps Professionals Deliver on National Action Plan: The UK National Action Plan (NAP) for the sustainable use of plant protection products calls on everyone involved in weed, pest, and disease control to adopt integrated management strategies and develop plans often referred to as IPM plans. Whilst still not a requirement, it is at the core of the NAP and the sector needs to fully understand what IPM is and how to develop and implement IPM plans.

To support this, BASIS offers a dedicated course providing practical, easy-to-access online training tailored specifically for the amenity sector. The course entitled ‘Planning Integrated Approaches in Amenity Situations’ guides users step-by-step through developing and implementing effective, environmentally responsible management plans.

Training Helps Professionals Deliver on National Action Plan

This course is part of a set of five within the Principles of Sustainable Amenity Management series, created with input from industry experts including former Amenity Forum Chair John Moverley. The full series covers key topics such as navigating policy, enhancing biodiversity, and managing water and air quality in amenity environments.

Designed for busy professionals, the courses are interactive and self-paced, allowing learners to fit training around their work. Real-life case studies and expert insights ensure the knowledge gained can be applied immediately on site. Whether you work for a local authority, manage grounds, consult on environmental issues, or contract on site, this training is relevant and accessible, with no prior qualifications required.

Each course costs £50, or the full five-part series is available for £200 + VAT, providing great value for anyone committed to sustainable amenity management. More information and enrolment is through the link basis-classroom.co.uk/courses/amenity.

There’s never been a better time to develop or refresh your approach to integrated weed control

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Toro maintains championship course for The Open

June 19, 2025/in Machinery, News, Press Release/by Admin

Toro maintains championship course for The Open: Once again Toro machinery and irrigation is being used to present the iconic Dunluce Links at Royal Portrush Golf Club to the world for The Open.

The UK’s Toro distributor, Reesink Turfcare, will provide additional backup Toro machinery and support throughout the week-long tournament in July and can confirm a new long-term agreement to continue working with Royal Portrush has recently been completed.

Toro maintains championship course for The Open

With over a million fans applying for tickets and an anticipated 278,000 spectators expected to attend according to The R&A, it’s shaping up to be the biggest Open in history (outside of St Andrews), and maintaining a cool, calm head throughout years of preparations is Course Manager Graeme Beatt.

“It felt like there was no time at all between the 2019 Open finishing and preparations for the 2025 tournament starting,” Graeme says. “With 40,000 more people coming and a significant increase in corporate hospitality, we, along with The R&A, have been focused on improving the spectator experience and it was agreed we’d enlarge all of our spectator areas, rebuild the range and reconstruct the front nine of the Valley course.

“The rest of the changes are subtle. We’ve adjusted the first and seventh greens and have two new Championship tees on the fourth and seventh – the fourth is now 25 yards longer and the seventh about 15 yards longer than in 2019.”

Preparations are now focused on maintaining the courses at their general tournament standard: “From season to season we’re busy with members and events so we maintain the courses at a tournament standard year-round with Toro,” Graeme explains.

A Toro customer for over 30 years, Royal Portrush, its team of 30 staff and an international support team of 18, will use the club’s complete fleet of Toro equipment including battery-powered ride-on greens mowers, fairway mowers and utility vehicles, plus a new state-of-the-art Toro Lynx Central Control System to achieve the ideal playing conditions.

In addition, the club welcomes for the first time four Toro Vista shuttles configured for four, six and eight passengers to aid personnel transportation around the site.

There are changes to the way the Toro machinery is being used for the Championship, the biggest, Graeme tells us, is that the electric ride-on mowers are being used for the greens instead of hand cutting as was the case in 2019.

“The precision and technology of the Greensmaster eTriFlex 3370 ride-on mower is such that the results are equal to a hand mower,” Graeme tell us. “This was an approach favoured by St Andrews and Royal Troon when they hosted The Open and eliminating the chance of an oil leak brings peace of mind.”

The irrigation system upgrade, which included replacing all sprinkler heads with Infinity and B Series across both courses, is currently accommodating an unseasonably dry spring says Graeme: “We’re having a really dry spell which would be absolutely perfect if it was the end of June, but as it’s springtime we’re having to employ the technology of the system.

“The individually controlled irrigation heads are perfect for giving precise control over watering ensuring only the exact amount needed is used and we can achieve our goals without wastage.”

Danny Campbell, General Manager at Royal Portrush, commented on the new agreement with Toro: “The Club has had a wonderful relationship with Toro for more than three decades and we’re delighted to extend it even further. Graeme’s team produce the best surfaces all year round and their dedication, along with the support of Toro, enable us to continually deliver our courses to the highest standard.”

Jon Cole, Divisional Business Manager at Reesink Turfcare, concludes: “Our relationship with Royal Portrush is 35 years strong and to be providing Graeme and the team with all the equipment and backup and support they need to make hosting their third Open a success is an honour.”

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)

Training Helps Professionals Deliver on National Action Plan

Toro maintains championship course for The Open

Training Helps Professionals Deliver on National Action Plan

Toro maintains championship course for The Open

Full Sized Blog Element (Big Preview Pic)

Training Helps Professionals Deliver on National Action Plan

Toro maintains championship course for The Open

Toro maintains championship course for The Open: Once again Toro machinery and irrigation is being used to present the iconic Dunluce Links at Royal Portrush Golf Club to the world for The Open.

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