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Premier League and STRI Group document benchmark for pitch quality

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Premier League and STRI Group document benchmark for pitch quality: The Premier League, widely considered the world’s most competitive football league, understandably put the playing surface at the heart of everything they do. The recently launched Premier League Pitch Standards Framework is a resource that documents the requirements of establishing and maintaining an elite surface, that performs to the highest standards and keeps players safe.

Serving as a reference for stakeholders involved in pitch management, club management and league organisers, it outlines the Premier League’s rules and expectations. It’s packed with guidance on everything from pitch construction profiles, drainage and irrigation to hosting concerts and managing pitches in winter weather, alongside a raft of informative case studies.

Premier League and STRI Group document benchmark for pitch quality

Premier League and STRI Group document benchmark for pitch quality

This is the first official document of its kind published by the Premier League and has been a truly collaborative effort – a key factor in its depth and quality. Authored by highly experienced consultants at STRI Group, the process involved consultation with senior grounds people from all Premier League clubs and the Grounds Management Association.

Adam Kaliniecki, Football Operations Manager for the Premier League, commented, “This is a fantastic document which reflects the hard work and professionalism of grounds teams in the Premier League who work tirelessly to ensure our pitches are the best in the world.

“The expertise and knowledge of the consultants from STRI was invaluable in leading the project. The data they gathered and interpreted was a vital part of the process, and the ongoing collaboration with grounds teams resulted in a resource that effectively benchmarks best practice in the industry.”

The document is available online here: https://www.premierleague.com/about/publications 

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It’s onwards and upwards for Moffat Golf Club

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It’s onwards and upwards for Moffat Golf Club: With two new mowers from Baroness it’s ‘onwards and upwards’ for the maintenance team at Moffat Golf Club – literally!

Situated in the heart of the Southern Upland Hills of Scotland, the challenging topography of the moorland course has proved no match for the new LM311 triple greens and LM551B fairway mower which are delivering improvements in cut quality and presentation to the delight of the members.

It’s onwards and upwards for Moffat Golf Club

It’s onwards and upwards for Moffat Golf Club

For Course Manager Fraser Mitchell the recent purchase was made even more exciting by the fact the pair of Baroness machines were the first new additions to the club’s machinery fleet for many years. “Financial pressures had meant that most of our equipment was well overdue for an upgrade and I was tasked with assessing what was the most critical need” he explains. “When I opted for a new greens and fairway mower there was a lot of pressure to make the right choice – thankfully we got it spot on!”

“Getting equipment on demonstration is so important for us given the challenging nature of our course. From the very first phone call, Colin Gray at Hamilton Ross Group and Richard Connell from Baroness were fantastic, they brought us demo units and we knew there and then they were exactly what we needed to improve reliability, presentation and quality of cut around the course.”

Renowned for their samurai sword sharpness and robust build quality, the Baroness LM311 greens mower and LM551B for fairways set the standard for pinpoint precision and turf quality. The LM311 all-hydraulic triplex, with fully steerable units, economic Kubota diesel engine and optimal operator comfort is ideal for greens and tees – delivering consistency in even the most challenging conditions. Promising similar consistency for fairways thanks to its industry-leading range of motion, is the LM551B.

Strong on paper, Fraser has been delighted with their performance in the field. “They’ve been fantastic. They’re very well built and stand up to the challenge – delivering a far superior cut and finish which has been admired by so many of our members.” He adds, “From an operator perspective, they’re also incredibly comfortable and easy to maintain. The pair give us everything we need to focus our efforts on the course and not spend all of our time in the shed with our heads under the bonnet!”

For more information on any of the models within the Baroness golf range, visit www.baronessuk.com

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Toro, Reesink UK and St Andrews Links Mark a Milestone

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Toro, Reesink UK and St Andrews Links Mark a Milestone: Toro, in collaboration with its UK distributor Reesink UK and St Andrews Links Trust, proudly celebrates a 25-year partnership, marking one of the longest-standing formal relationships between Toro and a customer globally.

This enduring collaboration underscores a shared commitment to innovation, sustainability, and excellence in golf course management, helping shape the modern landscape of greenkeeping at the ‘Home of Golf’ and beyond.

Toro, Reesink UK and St Andrews Links Mark a Milestone

Toro, Reesink UK and St Andrews Links Mark a Milestone

A Legacy of Innovation

St Andrews Links has long been a symbol of golf’s heritage, tracing its roots back to the 15th century. It was here that Old Tom Morris was one of the first to revolutionise course care with many new practices including topdressing, the practice of using sand to create smooth greens and teeing grounds, now a fundamental technique worldwide. Building on this legacy, Toro has delivered cutting-edge technologies to support the evolving demands of turf management, from precision irrigation to advanced electric mowing systems.

“St Andrews Links is where tradition meets innovation,” said Amy Dahl, vice president International at The Toro Company. “For 25 years, we’ve had the privilege of supporting their dedication to excellence through trusted equipment, sustainable solutions, and shared values. This milestone represents not just a partnership, but an ongoing legacy of progress.”

James Ralley, Commercial Director at St Andrews Links Trust, said: “We are delighted to be celebrating such a significant milestone with Toro, one of our longest standing partners. Over the past 25 years, Toro has played an important role in the continued development of our greenkeeping practices, allowing us to provide world-class playing conditions across the seven courses here at St Andrews Links. This partnership is one we value greatly, and we look forward to continuing this for years to come.”

Driving Standards in Turf Management Through a Shared Commitment

Over the past two and a half decades, Toro and Reesink UK have supported the Trust with groundbreaking equipment and irrigation systems, helping it remain a benchmark for golf course quality worldwide.

Neil Coulson, CEO at St Andrews Links Trust, said: “As custodians of St Andrews Links, we have a responsibility to not only provide great playing conditions year-round, but to also manage the historic courses in a responsible and environmentally conscious way. For 25 years Toro has been a valued partner in our efforts to implement sustainable practices, particularly in the electrification of our mower fleet and the continued improvement in our irrigation systems. We’re proud of what we’ve achieved together and pleased to celebrate this milestone.”

Alastair Rowell, Managing Director at Reesink UK, added: “We’re proud to play a role in this remarkable journey. This partnership exemplifies the best of what can be achieved when industry leaders come together with a long-term vision and a passion for excellence.”

Looking Ahead

As this milestone is celebrated, all three partners remain focused on what lies ahead. The collaboration between Toro, Reesink UK and St Andrews Links Trust is not just a reflection of the past 25 years—it’s a foundation for continued innovation in sustainable course management and support for the next generation of greenkeepers.

For more information, please visit www.toro.com

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Toro for rig and furrow fairways at Forfar

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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

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.

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Jim McKenzie Backs Attraxor and Maxtima

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Jim McKenzie Backs Attraxor and Maxtima: At a venue that’s hosted the Ryder Cup, 19 European Tour events, and countless visitors from around the world, expectations for course quality are sky high. For Jim McKenzie, Director of Golf Courses and Estates Management at the Celtic Manor Collection, finding products that can consistently deliver performance without disruption is essential.

With three championship golf courses under his remit—including the world-renowned Twenty-Ten Course—Jim leads an expert team managing one of the UK’s most demanding golfing venues. And when it comes to turf management, he says two of Agrovista Amenity’s products—Attraxor and Maxtima—have become standout performers.

Jim McKenzie Backs Attraxor and Maxtima

Jim McKenzie Backs Attraxor and Maxtima

“We’ve dabbled over the years with various cultural and chemical approaches, particularly to deal with Poa seedhead suppression,” explains Jim. “Ray Hunt from Agrovista Amenity suggested we take a look at Attraxor plant growth regulator, and we liked what we saw in the marketplace. We trialled it on Roman Road in 2023, and the results spoke for themselves.

We were impressed enough that we decided to use it across the whole site, all three courses.”

The trial proved effective. Jim noted not only a reduction in clip rate, but also smaller and less disruptive seed heads, leading to smoother ball roll and improved green presentation—even at slightly higher heights of cut.

“The Poa was still there and seeding, but it was far less invasive. That helped maintain surface quality without the need for disruptive maintenance—crucial for a venue like ours where there are no closure days.”

For Jim and the team, Poa is not just accepted—it’s the grass of choice, and managing its behaviour is key to course quality.

“We used to lie awake at night worrying about keeping Poa out. Now, it’s about how we manage it—and products like Attraxor make that job a lot more effective.”

Alongside Attraxor, Maxtima has also been introduced into the programme, further strengthening the site’s ability to tackle turf health issues with confidence. Maxtima is a next-generation DMI fungicide powered by Mefentrifluconazole, and Jim is a fan.

Jim McKenzie Backs Attraxor and Maxtima

Jim McKenzie Backs Attraxor and Maxtima

“Maxtima’s been a valuable addition too. It’s part of that progression in product development where we can use targeted solutions that fit our unique environment.”

Its flexible application window, rainfastness, and strong resistance profile have made Maxtima a valuable addition to Jim’s toolkit—especially in a high-pressure, high-visibility environment like Celtic Manor.

“We’ve had no fresh outbreak of disease since November last year and Maxtima is the only fungicide which was used during that period,” Jim adds.

But it’s not just the products that have impressed.

“We’ve known Ray Hunt and Peter Holstrom from Agrovista Amenity for a long time—both are great to work with. They bring completely different things to the table, and that synergy works really well for us. The support we get is second to none.”

Jim McKenzie certainly knows what it takes to maintain excellence—and he’s clear that Agrovista Amenity’s product innovation and personalised support are helping Celtic Manor stay ahead of the game.

For more information about Agrovista UK, visit www.agrovista.co.uk/amenity

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