Tag Archive for: Brings

Soil Biology Brings Rewards

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Soil Biology Brings Rewards: A greens team has seen its maintenance budget double and recruitment increase having introduced a range of soil biology methods across the course.

Harpenden Common Golf Club swept aside its existing greens renovation programme in favour of a less intrusive, environmental one based on applying compost teas, fertilisers, trace elements and zeolites.

Soil Biology Brings Rewards

“The old system of digging up our waterlogged greens twice a year to try to improve drainage had failed,” reports head greenkeeper Sean Brocklehurst, “so we invited an agronomist specialising in soil biology to take a look at the problem.”

Soil Biology Ltd’s Hillery Murphy recommended an extensive programme of boosting the microbial count across the 18-hole private members parkland course in a bid to reduce thatch and strengthen the rootzone.

Now in its fourth year of the soil biology strategy, Harpenden Common is reaping the benefits inside and outside the clubhouse, states Sean. “Poor drainage on the greens made them unplayable sometimes, forcing us to close the course and risking loss of members. Playing surfaces have improved so much that we can stay open year-round, which is great news for everyone here.”

General manager Terry Crump said: “Our key priority is to deliver the best possible course conditions and clubhouse facilities for our members. They will go elsewhere if we cannot provide golf whenever they want it.

“It’s no exaggeration to state that the club might have struggled if we had persisted with our existing maintenance strategy, which relied heavily on chemical and physical treatments.”

Year-round course playability has helped the club double the greens team’s maintenance budget, allowing it to introduce improvements across the site.

Soil Biology Brings Rewards

“We are raising standards off course as well as on to boost presentation around the playing areas,” says Sean, “and we have been able to recruit an apprentice greenkeeper to increase the team to seven. “

Harpenden Common applies Soil Biology products right across the course to raise quality throughout. “The zeolites add structural integrity to the turf and retain then release nutrients over time,” Sean explains, “also encouraging a healthy balance of beneficial bacteria in the rootzone. Members agree the state of the course is the best it has ever been.”

Hillery Murphy says: “Harpenden Common is a great testimony to soil biology.  Zeolites deliver more consistent results, creating a honeycomb in which beneficial microbes can thrive and metabolise nutrients for the grass plant to take up. This is the future for course maintenance practices.”

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Industry Award Brings Big Benefits

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Industry Award Brings Big Benefits : The Toro Student Greenkeeper of the Year Award, which is now in its 29th year, is recognised and respected across the greenkeeping industry for discovering the most promising talent in the country, thanks to the support of the profession’s college lecturers.

Here we speak to John Millen, sportsturf tutor at Plumpton College, someone who has witnessed firsthand the benefits of a student being nominated and winning the acclaimed award:

Industry Award Brings Big Benefits

“I have nominated a student most years I have been a lecturer and that’s more years than I care to remember! There are plenty of good reasons for this. To start with the award generates career interest and that’s something I wholeheartedly support. I think more needs to be done to push greenkeeping as a viable career option and this is one way to do that.

“It’s also a positive way to promote the college. It’s important for students coming into college to see the success and recognition of their course peers and be confident that their college is going to support them too, in any way it can. I believe being consistently attributed to such an award as a nominator will attract more people to the course and college.”

This year was the first year that the award had opened up nominations to employers, and having been a course manager himself for many years, this is a development John welcomed.

“I think of this industry as one big family; we all play a part in supporting the next generation, nurturing them and helping them achieve their goals. As such I don’t think it makes a difference who nominates the student, it’s just important that we all keep spotting the talent and not assuming someone else will.”

In fact, this year’s winner, Nick Machin, was nominated by his employer, the course manager at Royal Cinque Ports Golf Club, a decision supported by John as Nick’s lecturer at Plumpton College. David Cole, managing director of the award sponsor Reesink Turfcare, reiterates: “This year’s winner Nick didn’t just prevail through his own efforts, but through the support of his employer and educators. Nick has benefitted from the excellent support of his employer and we are pleased to recognise Plumpton’s important influence on his career to date. It’s a successful combination.”

Not only has John been a lecturer and a course manager, but he was also chairman of the British and International Golf Greenkeepers Association (BIGGA) in 1994, so it goes without saying that anything developing the profession of greenkeeping is a good thing in his eyes. “Education and training are paramount in any industry, no matter whether you are fresh out of college or, like me, decades into your career,” he says.

With the paid-for prize of a scholarship to the University of Massachusetts, which consistently ranks in the top 100 of The World’s Most Innovative Universities, for the winner and a trip to the Golf Industry Show in America for the student and nominator, there’s huge benefits at stake here, as John confirms:

“Having been to the show as a result of one of my nominations, I can vouch that it’s an incredible show; the learning experiences, whether you are a lecturer or employer, are fantastic and well worth the application form!”

For more information, visit: reesinkturfcare.co.uk

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Reesink Brings Latest Toro Launch To BTME

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Reesink Brings Latest Toro Launch To BTME: The GreensPro 1260, Toro’s latest UK launch, will be headlining the Reesink Turfcare stand at BTME 2018. It’s also the first year that Reesink will have two stands. Joining the Reesink stand in Hall M is stand C32 dedicated entirely to TYM tractors to accommodate the range as it expands and where the new T393 will be on show.

Reesink Turfcare’s marketing manager Holly, comments: “There’s lots to be excited about this year. The show provides the perfect place to bring the latest launches from Toro to the UK market and showcasing the latest technology from one of the leading brands always generates a talking point. It’s great to have representation from all brands at the show and it’s right that TYM has its own stand to accommodate the range as it expands. We look forward to welcoming everyone to both our stands to see the line-up and share invaluable advice from our specialist machinery team.”

Reesink Brings Latest Toro Launch To BTME

Toro’s latest launch is the new GreensPro 1260 which takes all the excellent features of the previous Toro GreensPro models and adds a hydraulic drive system to eliminate leaks and prevent potential contamination of the grass, plus overlapping heads for a consistent roll over every pass. The benefit of this is two-fold: uniform smooth greens are achieved in just one sitting and the risk of scuffing during turns is dramatically reduced.

Representing the extensive range of Toro machinery and accessories will be the TriFlex 3420, eFlex 2100, Reelmaster 5010-H, Reelmaster 3575-D, Groundsmaster 4000-D, Workman GTX-E and the GeoLink Precision Spray System simulator, which debuted at the 2017 show.

Irrigation firm favourites for the fine turf and sports sector, including the Toro Lynx PC control software and the Infinity, Turfguard, T5, T7, Flex series, B series and 590 series sprinklers, will also be on stand. For Otterbine the best-selling Fractional five-in-one aerator is joined by the Concept 3, both are versatile and cost-effective aerating systems and fountains that improve water quality and enhance aesthetics.

On the TYM stand will be the latest addition to the compact tractor range, the T393. It has been brought to the UK by Reesink Turfcare because of its perfect positioning to bridge the gap between the compact utility range and the mid-duty range in the TYM line up. It further complements the mid- and heavy-duty TYM ranges, which are represented on stand by the T654. The TE145 flail mower from the recently launched range of attachments from Sicma completes the line up from TYM and indeed Reesink.

For more information go to www.reesinkturfcare.co.uk

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Lister Wilder Brings The ‘Mow Factor’

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Lister Wilder Brings The ‘Mow Factor’: Lister Wilder Ltd, a Kubota groundcare and construction dealer, has been announced as this year’s biggest UK ‘MOW-team’ supporting The Movember Foundation, with more than 60 members of staff donning great moustaches to raise funds for the men’s health charity.

Including sales team members, workshop engineers, parts advisers and company directors, the Lister Wilder Movember ‘MOW-team’ has already raised an impressive total of more than £8,000, including a donation of £500 from Kubota UK.  With fundraising continuing throughout the month of November, Lister Wilder are encouraging friends, family and work colleagues to support this worthy cause.

Lister Wilder Brings The ‘Mow Factor’

As part of the ‘MOWvember movement’, Lister Wilder has also lent its support to The Rich Brothers, of BBC Garden Rescue, Movember campaign that has seen them travel around six counties in two days, mowing huge moustaches into fields in a bid to raise much needed funds.

To support the brothers in their task, Lister Wilder has donated Kubota’s popular G23 ride-on-mower, with Harry and David Rich utilising its power, precision, agility and minimal turning radius to groom the perfect moustache.

Phill Hughes, Groundcare Sales Director at Lister Wilder and the company’s Movember Team Captain, commented: “We’re all very excited about being announced as the biggest “MOW-team’ to be supporting The Movember Foundation, as well as assisting the Rich Brothers.

“For many of us this is the first time we’ve entered the risky world of facial hair, but we’re experts at helping our customers achieve a good mow, so we’re hoping some of us can achieve a good mo’ too. It’s all about raising as much money as possible for this fantastic charity supporting men’s health and we are very grateful to all those who have already donated.”

The Movember Foundations annual campaign is focused on bringing the issue of men’s health to the fore, raising awareness of its importance, whilst also generating much needed money to support vital research efforts to fight prostate cancer and testicular cancer.

To donate and keep up to date with Lister Wilder’s Movember ‘MOW-team’ progress, visit its Movember fundraising page here: https://moteam.co/lister-wilder-ltd?mc=1.

You can see The Rich Brothers Movember campaign and the Kubota G23 ride-on mower in action here: https://www.facebook.com/MovemberUK/videos/10154736154056017/.

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