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Osca 3 elevates synthetic maintenance at Colliers Park

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Osca 3 elevates synthetic maintenance at Colliers Park: James Mathewson, Head Groundsperson at Colliers Park National Football Development Centre in Wrexham, has found a game-changer in the Syn-Pro by SISIS Osca 3 for the upkeep of their synthetic pitch.

James brings a wealth of knowledge from his diverse career path, including stints at renowned clubs like Arsenal FC and West Ham United FC as well as the Honourable Artillery Company. For the past 18 months he has been at Colliers Park, which boasts state-of-the-art facilities dedicated to football development. Among its features is a full-sized synthetic pitch, a crucial asset for training and matches. Before James’ tenure, the deep cleaning maintenance of the 3G pitch was outsourced, incurring significant monthly costs.

Osca 3 elevates synthetic maintenance at Colliers Park

Osca 3 elevates synthetic maintenance at Colliers Park

James explains, “Before I came here, we were contracting out the maintenance of the 3G pitch, which was a big cost every month.”

The introduction of the Osca 3 marked a turning point in their synthetic maintenance strategy. James elaborates, “We identified the Osca as a power brush that could reduce the de-compaction for us, keep the rubber crumb distributed, and keep the pitch in a good overall condition.”

The Syn-Pro by SISIS Osca 3 is a tractor mounted powered oscillating brush with a 1.9 meter working width and is equally effective when used on synthetic turf with sand or rubber infill. The two oscillating brushes stand the carpet fibres up and redistributes the infill evenly, minimising compaction on the surface and improving its performance – giving consistent playing characteristics while preventing pile damage caused by reduced infill levels.

One of the significant advantages James highlights is the flexibility the Osca 3 provides. “We no longer have the monthly expenditure of bringing the contractor in. We invested in the machine, but it is already starting to pay itself back now, and we are getting a better pitch for it. With the Osca, we can now fit in the maintenance work around bookings and weather conditions, whereas before, when we used a contractor, we would need to take the pitch out of action for a whole day.”

James further explains how the Osca’s oscillating brush, a unique feature setting it apart from other models, plays a crucial role. “The oscillating brush gives us the decompaction and redistribution, but the stiff brush keeps it nice and clean and smooth, and re-levels everything off.”

In addition to the machine’s performance, James praises the customer service from Syn-Pro by SISIS. “The service from SISIS is excellent. Ben Lloyd (Field Support & Sales) comes in and is always on the phone if I need him throughout the year.”

With the Syn-Pro Osca 3, James and Colliers Park have not only achieved significant cost savings but have also elevated the quality of their synthetic pitch maintenance. The machine’s innovative design and the dedicated support from Syn-Pro by SISIS have made it an indispensable tool for ensuring optimal playing conditions.

For further information or a no obligation demonstration, please contact Syn-Pro by SISIS on 01332 824 777 or visit www.synprobysisis.com

For more news, reviews and insightful views, you can follow Syn-Pro on Twitter or Instagram @synprobysisis and like the company’s Facebook page – https://www.facebook.com/SynPro-by-SISIS.

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Ventracs replace ageing fleet at Ladbrook Park Golf Club

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Ventracs replace ageing fleet at Ladbrook Park Golf Club: Ladbrook Park Golf Club, situated in the Warwickshire countryside near Tanworth-in-Arden, has put its trust in Ventrac and taken delivery of FOUR Ventrac 4520 all-terrain compact tractors and 13 attachments to maintain their prestigious 1908 Colt-designed course.

Kevin Fellows has been the course manager for 38 years, having joined the club in 1985 from nearby Shirley Golf Club. He was appointed to his current position in 1994.

Ventracs replace ageing fleet at Ladbrook Park Golf Club

Ventracs replace ageing fleet at Ladbrook Park Golf Club

Commenting on the club’s decision to take this route, he said,

“With the exception of our fine turf areas, the majority of the course is now maintained with Ventrac equipment. It fits in with our agronomic requirements and does everything apart from fine turf and aeration. For all other areas – approaches, fairways, semi, rough, our ecology areas, transport, ditching, haulage – the Ventrac system fits perfectly. At the moment we have everything we need. It fits our current maintenance plan; tomorrows objectives and our longer-term direction.

“Selling it to the board of directors was not an issue. The initial thinking was to identify machines for replacement on a like-for-like basis and then progressively, over the next few years, replace and update as necessary. The alternative was to take the Ventrac route. Fortunately, the Finance director and board were keen to fund our replacement programme, with the support of the Greens committee, whichever direction we chose.

“When the cost options were put on the table it became a bit of a no-brainer. It is difficult to justify spending close to £100,000, or thereabouts, on a dedicated mower to cut rough, which does nothing else apart from macerate leaves and then put in the shed at the end of October and let it sat there, doing nothing for 3-4 months.

“I spoke with the club’s Finance and Greens directors in conjunction with the greens committee and we arranged a demo with a couple of Ventracs and a selection of implements. After some training and machine familiarisation, Jon Lewis, Price Turfcare’s regional sales manager, who I’ve known for years, left it with us so we could thoroughly evaluate it on our course. When you’re looking at new equipment you need to bring your team with you. You sit back and listen to what they say and sitting there one lunchtime, there was a comment which really sticks in my mind; one of the guys said ‘it’s becoming increasingly difficult to say no to.’ And he was right, because it suited our course. You’ve got invest in machinery that suits your course.”

“It was a big commitment to swap out our existing fleet and go, almost exclusively, with Ventrac. Once we started to look, we became increasingly discontent with some of the market forces; supply lines and cost were major considerations. As a course manager you have to think laterally, so I asked myself is there a better way of doing this? Covid caused a reset in thinking; prior to the pandemic a lot of clubs were committed to one manufacturer or another. We were principally a one manufacturer machinery operation.

“I was looking for something that gave us more versatility and began by looking at compact tractors from various manufacturers. Then, by pure chance Jon Lewis dropped by one afternoon with a trailer of Ventrac equipment. Naturally enough I had a look and next morning Jon gave me a brochure. And the rest is history!

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Baroness Dealer Awards presented at BTME

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Baroness Dealer Awards presented at BTME: BTME 2024 provided the perfect platform for Baroness U.K. to recognise the excellence achieved within their dealer network over the last 12 months.

The Baroness Dealer Awards celebrates outstanding individual and team performance – with George Browns Ltd, Henderson’s Grass Machinery and Lister Wilder all receiving recognition in Harrogate.

Baroness Dealer Awards presented at BTME

Baroness Dealer Awards presented at BTME

David Fisher, Area Sales Manager (Groundcare) for George Browns Ltd was the recipient of ‘UK Salesperson of the Year 2023’. On collecting his award, David commented, “I’d like to thank all of my customers for the ongoing trust they have in myself and George Browns Ltd. 2023 was a great year and I look forward to continuing this positivity into 2024!”

Henderson Grass Machinery, Baroness distributors for central and East Scotland, were recognised for achieving the ‘Highest Machinery Sales Growth on previous year (2022-2023)’. The Henderson’s sales team received their award from Richard Connell, Baroness U.K. Area Sales & Service Manager for Scotland.

Completing the awards, and collecting the accolade for ‘Highest Overall Sales for 2023’, was Lister Wilder. Presented by Baroness U.K. Area Sales Manager Luke Collins to the Lister Wilder Groundcare Sales Team in attendance, a spokesperson said, “It’s fantastic to receive this award. The huge growth that both Lister Wilder and Baroness have seen over the last five years is proof that we have become a ‘go-to’ choice for golf, sports and other fine turf customers.”

Adam Butler, Director for Baroness U.K. adds, “The Baroness Dealer Awards provide a superb stage to showcase the hard work and dedication that our multi-branch dealers continue to deliver. Baroness are proud to produce world leading machinery, for which we strive for world leading backup and support – that’s what we have and that’s what we will continue to build on, day-to-day and year-to-year. We are extremely proud of all within our network and especially the aforementioned winners for 2023. From the whole Baroness U.K team, we’d like to extend a big thank you to our dealers and customers alike for their continued support.”

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Fibresand success at Colliers Park

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Fibresand success at Colliers Park: Colliers Park National Football Development Centre, located in Wrexham, is a premier facility dedicated to the development and training of football talents. One key figure contributing to the success of Colliers Park is James Mathewson, the Head Groundsperson, who has brought his extensive experience to improve the quality of the pitches.

James’ journey in the world of grounds management began at the Honourable Artillery Company in London, where he gained valuable experience. His passion and skills led him to work at renowned football clubs such as West Ham United FC and Arsenal FC, spending four years at Arsenal’s training ground in London Colney. Following the challenges posed by the Covid-19 pandemic, James took on the role of Deputy Head Groundsperson at Northampton Saints before the opportunity to work at Colliers Park arose, and he has been contributing to the Centre’s success for the past 18 months.

Fibresand success at Colliers Park

Fibresand success at Colliers Park

Mansfield Sand is a reputable company known for providing high-quality products and solutions for turf management. With a history of delivering market leading sand products, Mansfield Sand has become a trusted partner for groundspersons and turf professionals.

At Colliers Park, James implements Mansfield Sand’s Fibresand for the renovation of the pitches. The Fibresand pitch, now four years old, has proven to be a game-changer in terms of performance and durability. James stated, “I used them for my first renovation I did here, and the rest is history. We topped up 150 tonnes of Fibresand, and it has been regularly topped up since it first came in.”

James highlights several advantages of Fibresand over traditional soil-based pitches. “The Fibresand pitch offers superior drainage, holds together better, and minimises the risk of chunks being kicked out during play. Additionally, the ease of damage repair and quick recovery contributes to a healthier pitch, ultimately allowing for increased usage.”

Gary Cunningham, Sport & Landscape Sales Manager for Mansfield Sand, plays a crucial role in maintaining the performance of the Fibresand pitch. James explains, “Gary comes in every year to core sample the pitch for a fibre content reading, reports back if a top up is required or not and then we go from there.” This collaborative effort ensures that the pitch remains in optimal condition, with regular assessments and top-ups as needed.

James’ expertise and the use of Mansfield Sand’s Fibresand products have significantly contributed to the success at Colliers Park National Football Development Centre. The Fibresand pitch not only provides a superior playing surface but also offers long-term advantages in terms of durability and maintenance.

For more information visit www.mansfield-sand.co.uk

You can also follow the company on Twitter – @MansfieldSand and Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/MansfieldSandSportSurfaces/

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Club Car portfolio on show at BTME

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Club Car portfolio on show at BTME: Club Car, the industry-leading manufacturer of small-wheel, zero emissions vehicles, will showcase its innovative collection of golf and utility cars at BTME next week.

Among the vehicles on display at Europe’s premier turf management exhibition, held at Harrogate Convention Centre, will be a Lithium-Ion-powered Club Car Carryall 500, which was launched in Europe last summer.

Club Car portfolio on show at BTME

Club Car portfolio on show at BTME

The versatile Carryall range has long been the favoured utility vehicle of superintendents and groundskeepers around the world with its exceptional reliability and best-in-class ergonomics.

The new Lithium-Ion versions charge up to 40% faster than lead acid batteries, do not degrade over time and are around 180kg lighter, allowing for smoother operation over manicured terrain and less turf damage.

Also on the stand will be Club Car’s acclaimed Tempo golf car – featuring Lithium-Ion battery, Visage GPS technology and premium seats – and an Urban, Club Car’s innovative new road-legal utility vehicle which boasts automotive-grade safety features and low operational costs.

Andy Bourke, Club Car’s Regional Sales Manager for UK, Ireland & Scandinavia, said: “With our broad portfolio of sustainable transport solutions, it’s hugely important for our customers to be able to see what we have to offer.

“BTME is a great opportunity to meet up with our customers and dealers to hear their feedback, and it’s always a good barometer of the year ahead for the industry.”

Club Car’s expert sales team will be on hand at stand 626 to highlight the vehicles’ key features and benefits and to discuss visitors’ requirements.

For more information, visit www.clubcar.com, or to book a time slot at BTME contact Andy Bourke, Club Car’s Regional Sales Manager, UK, Ireland & Scandinavia: Andrew.Bourke@clubcar.com.

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