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Jacobsen At AZ Alkmaar

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Jacobsen At AZ Alkmaar: Currently third in the Eredivisie, Dutch football club AZ Alkmaar has purchased a Jacobsen Fairway 250 to maintain training ground pitches at the new 10-acre facility. The delivery was made by local Jacobsen dealer Voets Tractoren en Werktuigen BV.

René Schouten de Jel has worked at the club for five years and is part of the team that maintains the training ground pitches. Commenting on the new facility, he said:

Jacobsen At AZ Alkmaar

“We have four natural grass pitches and four artificial pitches. At the stadium, we have two Desso GrassMaster pitches. Two groundsmen, including myself, are based at the training centre, and we have three staff who maintain the stadium pitches. We recently purchased the Jacobsen Fairway 250 to replace our old machine which was very old and did not meet the standards required from a topflight Dutch football team.

“This is the first Jacobsen machine the club has purchased; we asked three companies to tender, and Jacobsen came out on top. The quality of the product is outstanding, and it was certainly the best value for money. We also received a very good reference from Rob Wilderom at Zaanse Golf Club, which is just around the corner from us. He mentioned how good the quality of cut and reliability was, so we couldn’t argue with that. Everything about the mower, from ease-of-maintenance to usability is perfect for us here.

“We have also received very good service from both of our dealers, Van der Pols and Voets Tractoren en Werktuigen BV. This is an important factor to consider when making any purchase; the after-sales support is just as crucial as the quality of the product. The representatives at the company have been very helpful; they always pop in to check on us and provide their knowledge and expertise when required. Overall, it has been a fantastic experience.”

The AZ Alkmaar training centre is located near to Amsterdam and opened in the autumn of 2016. The club has 15 teams, and the new training facility features offices, a gym, players’ rooms and a restaurant. Highly regarded manager Louis van Gaal, who managed the club from 2005 to 2009, lauded the standard of the facility:

“A real environment for top sports,” he said when he was asked for his opinion during the official opening. “It is inevitable that, with everything in place like a vision, people and facilities, things will only get better.”

AZ Alkmaar are hoping to be contenders for the domestic and international leagues in the years to come. They are currently five points behind Ajax and 12 points behind leaders PSV Eindhoven with six games left to play this season.

For more information, visit: www.jacobsen.com/europe

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ClearWater System At Fleetwood GC

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ClearWater System At Fleetwood GC: Terry Booth, Head Greenkeeper at Fleetwood Golf Club, was thrilled to be given the “go ahead” to order a ClearWater system recently.

The club, aware of current legislation concerning washpads and pollution prevention, wished to upgrade their facilities and believed, having read a number of articles, that a washpad water recycling system would be the future-proof solution. After a number of years, it was finally decided that funds could be made available and Terry Booth with director Brian Geddes researched the project. Details and prices were obtained, visits made and systems viewed and considered. BTME, incidentally, played an important part initially in the process as supplier stands were visited and information gathered. At BTME this year matters were finalised and an order placed for a ClearWater system soon afterwards.

ClearWater System At Fleetwood GC

Fleetwood lost no time and arranged delivery soonest having decided to “self-install” using their local experienced contractor. Terry explained that the cost savings offered on self-install by Acumen with ClearWater would be most welcome. Matthew Mears, Acumen ClearWater’s sales and development manager, visited the club soon after the show to discuss installation and delivery arrangements. The system was promptly installed and in action, much to the delight of Terry and his staff! He’s happy to show it to others interested too.

Brian Geddes expressed interest in the ECA (Enhanced Capital Allowance) scheme and the fact that the WTL (Water Technology List) approved ClearWater system qualified. Under the scheme, businesses can write off 100 per cent of the cost of qualifying plant and machinery against taxable profits in the year of purchase. This can bring significant financial savings and reduce the business’ impact on the environment. Treasurer Andy Cartwright will be “on the case” said Brian!

Despite the savings available with self-install and the ECA scheme, it was encouraging to learn that “the number one factor for buying ClearWater” as Terry put it “was the people I have dealt with and the first class service received. We have built up a good relationship.” People and Service do matter in any business relationship and not everything can be done over the internet either!

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Terrain Aeration At Hyde Park

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Terrain Aeration At Hyde Park: Terrain Aeration has provided services to relieve compaction of soil at Hyde Park. The company used its Airforce Terralift and SuperScamper machines. The latter works in conjunction with a towed compressor and is therefore a lighter machine producing less weight on the turf surface. The primary areas to be treated were north of the Bandstand, an area of 10,200 m2 with sycamores and elms, along with the ash tree circle north of Serpentine Road, an area of 892 m2

Before work started it was necessary to radar scan for underground services and mark out the areas to be treated. The Terralift hammers a hollow probe one metre into the soil, releasing a blast of compressed air to fracture the compaction and injecting dried seaweed which will expand and contract with the moisture content in the ground. The probe is inserted in spacings of two metres on a grid pattern, to ensure the underground fracturing overlaps. The resulting holes are top-filled with Lytag, lightweight aggregate to provide a long-term aeration and ventilation shaft which will encourage air and water into the root zone. The result is a healthier soil structure, the compaction is relieved and a stronger root growth is promoted.

Terrain Aeration At Hyde Park

This particularly applied in Hyde Park in the areas around the trees.Terrain Aeration have also treated the area around the Horse Chestnut group in Kensington Gardens to the east of Broadwalk and in Regents Park, the area beneath the canopies of the first and second line of trees between Chester Road and Ready Money Fountain. An area of two thousand five hundred square metres beneath canopies of Norway maples at the southern end of Marylebone Green has also had the Terralift treatment. “We have used Terrain Aeration’s services for a number of years now,” says Ian Roger, Royal Parks’ Arboricultural Manager, “and their programme of decompaction of the soil beneath some of our most stressed trees will have long-term benefits, extending their viable lifespan, and ensuring their continued contribution to the amenity of the park and the environment.”

For more information, visit: www.terrainaeration.co.uk

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New Support At Polaris

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New Support At Polaris: Leading ATV manufacturer Polaris has appointed Kenny Kay as  a Technical and Warranty Specialist.

Kenny joins the Polaris Technical Department directly from the military where he completed a lengthy and extensive hands-on mechanical career. Currently he is undergoing the comprehensive Polaris induction and training programme before starting his role of interfacing with dealers and their mechanics.

New Support At Polaris

“Kenny possesses a vast range of technical knowledge of all types of vehicles,” says Polaris Technical Department’s Sam Merrifield, “and he can’t wait to apply this knowledge and experience to the ever-growing range of Polaris products.”

Even one of Kenny’s hobbies, alongside running and ice hockey, is rebuilding engines. Kenny says what attracted him to Polaris was a great opportunity to work with quads, side by sides and motorcycles in such a progressive and professional environment. He looks forward to being able to start his role and bring his experience in solving mechanical issues to the Polaris dealer network. Polaris, in turn, welcomes him into the Polaris Central Europe team.

For more information, visit: www.polaris-britain.com

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Duncan Ross At Hurlston Hall

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Duncan Ross At Hurlston Hall: The condition of a golf courses greens is what a head greenkeeper is often judged on, and Duncan Ross’ surgical precision has ensured they are the go to contractor for Hurlston Hall Golf Club.

The completion of the latest two greens are the latest in a project that has seen nine completed. For Chris Ball, former head greenkeeper at Hurlston Hall who recently took up the role as links manager at Hillside Golf Club, working with Duncan Ross on a long-term drainage project generated a refined understanding whilst solving the clubs’ problem greens.

Duncan Ross At Hurlston Hall

“For us they are a local company and when you factor in getting other companies in from the North West of England there’s not many specialising in drainage.” Chris said. “I think Duncan has refined his methods over the years and it’s almost like key hole surgery.

“We’d done seven greens previously with Duncan and we’ve been going around the course targeting the nine worst and the ones that have just been completed were the last two that were screaming out to be done.

“You can immediately see the difference in the greens, but you’ve still got to do your bit as a greenkeeper and maintain the organic matter.

“I can’t fault the work they do, and the fact now is that he knows what he’s doing, and we now know what he wants to do beforehand and that’s key. The first year everyone was still learning, we put holes in the greens for aeration but this would slow them down as when it came to taking the Turf up it would fall apart, and now we know not to do anything when Duncan is coming in because it makes it more efficient for them and prevents adding time onto the project.”

Having gone through the process of getting to know how one another works the other aspects of being able to use a local contractor have become more prominent. All of the materials used on the project are locally sourced, which keeps costs down with no compromise on quality.

And when it comes to drainage quality is paramount. Like everyone else, Chris was under pressure to have the course open, but because of the weather in the North East of England his focus was primarily on providing the best greens possible during the peak golf season.

“They all perform great in the summer which is key,” he said. “I’d say they’ve improved play in the winter if we have a normal winter, but what’s happening now is the greens are drier than the rest of the course and people still can’t play because the rest of the course is under water.

“We’ve definitely got better performing greens for longer but in the North West of England it’s seriously wet. But when it does stop raining they dry out a lot quicker and you know you can withstand the torrential down pours in the summer because the drains are going to take care of it.”

For more information, visit: www.duncanrossltd.co.uk

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