Tag Archive for: Change

Driving Change at Lac Blanc

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Driving Change at Lac Blanc: Polaris Off Road continues its Ranger Stories video series in a new light with the introduction of the ‘Ranger Stories: Driving Change’ initiative.

Polaris is a firm believer that a product comes to life through its applications, partnerships but most importantly, via the people who use it; which is why once again, Polaris has embarked on a journey across Europe, the Middle East and Africa to discover and capture how its customers are driving change alongside the Polaris RANGER. Dedicated to the good that Polaris customers do, Ranger Stories: Driving Change is inspired by the many Polaris customers that are working hard to make a positive impact on the world.

Driving Change at Lac Blanc

Driving Change at Lac Blanc

Episode 2 – Lac Blanc Bike Park in Alsace, France

As a popular ski resort for over 50 years, Lac Blanc came alive during the winter time, welcoming skiers and snowboarders from all over the world. In the summer, however, the snow had cleared and all that was left were hikers to explore the natural surroundings that Lac Blanc had to offer. So, in 2007, Lac Blanc opened its Bike Park to make the most of the quiet summer months and welcome a new audience to the area. Downhill mountain biking is rapidly growing in popularity – giving riders a fast-paced, adrenaline-filled challenge with a backdrop of beautiful, natural landscapes – so it’s no surprise that the summer months at Lac Blanc Bike Park are now as busy as the winter months.

Carved out of the mountains in Alsace, France, the bike park offers downhill mountain bike riders nine different route options ranging in difficulty and technicality. From families with young children, to serious World Cup competitors that train on the black line, Lac Blanc Bike Park welcomes all skill levels.

Joining the ‘Driving Change’ spin-off series, Polaris joins the Lac Blanc Bike Park Site Development Director, Michael Barthelme, to see and hear how the Polaris Ranger helps to manage a resort of this size, juggling trail maintenance, rider safety and the extreme terrain that comes with this mountainous setting.

Lac Blanc’s intricate trails snake through 170 acres of land, in and out of forests and over extreme gradients. Whilst the riders and their bikes can navigate thanks to the chair lift, the safety team need to be able to access all areas of the site – every trail, tree and corner – to ensure they can keep every inch of the trail clear and reach injured riders.

The Ranger XP 1000 not only gives the Lac Blanc team the power and stability needed to combat these gradients quickly, but is also equipped with on-demand all-wheel drive, meaning that all four wheels engage automatically when the vehicle needs more traction.

For situations involving a rider accident, the team can navigate tight trails within the forest thanks to the Ranger’s tight turning radius and 33cm ground clearance to navigate over rocks and tree roots. The cab comfortably seats up to three people in case the rider needs to be transported to a safer or more comfortable location, whilst the 27.9cm front and rear suspension travel ensures the ride is as smooth as possible. The 454kg cargo bed capacity can easily take the weight and size of a mountain bike, if it needs to be transported with the rider, alongside the safety team’s essential equipment including medical bags and maintenance tools.

When Lac Blanc Bike Park closes for the winter, Lac Blanc Ski Resort opens; and there’s no shortage of use for the Ranger XP 1000 in the winter months either. The team swap out the tyres for tyre tracks, and the Ranger becomes the ultimate snow vehicle, servicing the ski resort throughout the snowy months.

The Lac Blanc Bike Park team also chose to add extra accessories to its Ranger XP 1000 for added comfort and convenience, including a full cab kit – including full doors, windshield, rear panel and roof – with an in-cab heater to manage extreme temperatures in the winter. There’s also a LED light bar when daylight hours are reduced, a winch for helping to move fallen trees or assist with extreme hill climbs, and not forgetting the Polaris Lock&Ride tip-down headache rack fitted to the cargo bed for carrying their equipment securely.

For more information on Lac Blanc Bike Park, please visit their website here.

CATCH THE SECOND EPISODE OF RANGER STORIES: DRIVING CHANGE HERE.

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GPS sprayer leads step change in philosophy

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GPS sprayer leads step change in philosophy: A major overhaul of equipment and the adoption of cutting-edge technology is driving a new, long-term strategy at The Leicestershire Golf Club (TLGC).

Led by Course Manager, Steve Hardy, and backed up by the club’s management committee, the grounds team is now able to perform their roles to a higher level while also making significant efficiency gains.

Steve only took over the role in July 2021, joining TLGC from The Warwickshire where he was Assistant Course Manager.

It took him just a few months to oversee a transformation of the club’s machinery shed which he says is already having a significant impact on how the course plays, and how the club is run.

Out has gone the aging machinery which was costing the club tens of thousands of pounds every year in repairs and maintenance.

In its place has come a fleet of new John Deere kit which Steve says is saving time and money while also giving the team the tools to do the best job possible.

“When I came in, I wanted to make improvements but there were lots of issues that needed resolving so it was a case of prioritising,” Steve said.

“The machinery fleet was old and inefficient – breakdowns were happening all the time and it was taking days to get the parts to be back up and running.

“The team was spending hours cutting the course and it still wasn’t looking the best it could because the tools they were using were letting them down.”

Steve proposed sweeping changes. Within weeks he had organised demonstrations with major brands of the mowers, sprayers and utility vehicles he felt the club needed.

“The club was moving from purchasing machinery and hoping it would last for 20 years to a five to seven-year strategy so, financially, it’s been a big ask for them,” he said.

“But the communication between us and the members was good. The old budget meant the money we had wasn’t enough to do some basic maintenance or buy the necessary amount of fertiliser we need.

“We brought the committee down to the shed and showed them the old machinery next to the new stuff and it was a no-brainer. The club wanted a plan with no surprises and this is what they now have.”

Working with Jacob Shellis from John Deere dealer Farol, Steve ordered four 2750 Precision Cut greens mowers, two 7500A fairway mowers, a 9009 Terrain Cut for roughs and surrounds, and a HPX Gator for picking up on the driving range and general course transport.

But the stand-out purchase for Steve is the HD200 GPS precision sprayer which has revolutionised the way the team applies herbicides, fungicides and fertilisers.

The 757-litre capacity PrecisionSprayer is based on Deere’s ProGator heavy-duty utility vehicle chassis and is packed full of technology such as AutoTrac, which guides the machine for the operator, and automatic section control to turn on and shut off individual nozzles.

This means spraying greens becomes far more accurate as there is no overlap or non-target areas sprayed with expensive chemicals.

Steve estimates that he is now spraying at least 30% less chemical, purely due to the accuracy of the machine – his chemical budget for disease control has already been reduced to reflect the change.

“The sprayer is getting a huge amount of use. Just on greens, we’re spraying once a week with a wetting agent, a fertiliser, or a growth regulator,” he said. “In peak season it will be out working most days.

“Previously the job was contracted out so we were bound by the weather and the availability of someone to come and do the job. Now, if we get a gap, we can go out whenever the conditions are right.

“This is our first year using the sprayer and compared to other clubs in the area we came out pretty clean. A lot of that will be down to good planning but the chemical going down at exactly the right rate in exactly the right place has to have had an effect too.”

Alongside accuracy and convenience, Steve says he appreciates the time saving.

“Using automated spraying records is great,” he said. “They are generated as soon as a task has been completed.

“With the option of downloading them immediately from your iPhone, this takes a lot of time away from the admin side of things and ensures complete compliance.”

All the new machines are fitted with Modular Telematics Gateways (MTG) receivers, allowing Steve to track the status and performance of each model. The fully connected fleet is also remotely monitored by Farol so, when scheduled maintenance is required, TLGC is contacted without needing to act.

The information is fed to the John Deere Operations Center and so far, shows a great step forward in efficiency.

Steve said: “By allocating tasks from a computer or phone to each operator on a machine, they just go from job to job which has cut idle time down to below 6%.

“We are able to share all this information with the club, so they know exactly what’s going on among the greenkeeping team.”

The six-strong team of greenkeepers are happy with their new tools, and the two trained sprayer operators have adopted the technology quickly.

Steve said: “There is plenty more to be getting on with here but the new machinery is a huge step forward. The committee is very proud of it and my team is very happy.

“This has solved the problems we faced in the main season and now we can move on to our next priority, which is irrigation.”

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Driving change at Les 3 Dindes

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Driving change at Les 3 Dindes: Polaris Off Road continues its Ranger Stories video series in a new light with the introduction of the ‘Ranger Stories: Driving Change’ initiative.

Polaris is a firm believer that a product comes to life through its applications, partnerships but most importantly, via the people who use it; which is why once again, Polaris has embarked on a journey across Europe, the Middle East and Africa to discover and capture how its customers are driving change alongside the Polaris RANGER. Dedicated to the good that Polaris customers do, Ranger Stories: Driving Change is inspired by the many Polaris customers that are working hard to make a positive impact on the world.

Driving change at Les 3 Dindes

Driving change at Les 3 Dindes

Episode 1 – Les 3 Dindes, Animal Refuge in Southern France

Les 3 Dindes is built on the firm foundation that every animal – from the noble horse to the overlooked turkey –  should be treated with love, care and respect, making no distinction between species.

Welcoming animals that have been abandoned, mistreated or rescued from cases of neglect, factory farming and laboratories, Les 3 Dindes is a non-profit association dedicated to the animal cause, currently home to 145 animals that can now experience life to its fullest. The refuge has been built to give the animals a forever home that mimics their natural environment as closely as possible, with the room to enjoy the beautiful french countryside. The impact is visible; every animal has an obvious bond with the team at Les 3 Dindes, regaining their trust in humans, rediscovering their instincts amongst other animal friends, and learning that they no longer need to live in fear.

Kicking off the ‘Driving Change’ spin-off series, Polaris joins Les 3 Dindes owner and president Lisa Fernandez to see what a huge difference care, love and attention can make to the animals’ lives. A longstanding friend of the Polaris brand and an avid driver herself, Lisa uses the Polaris Ranger XP 1000 to help manage the 30-hectare farm – not only with the day-to-day feeding, medicine administration and grounds maintenance for the animals already in the refuge, but also with expansion and building for new rescues in the future.

Much like Lisa and her team, the Ranger XP 1000 is ready to work hard, every day. With its dependable Prostar® DOHC engine, the Ranger XP 1000 is not only Polaris’ most capable and comfortable Ranger yet, but it also delivers excellent reliability and versatility. Set in the rolling hills of Southern France’s countryside, Les 3 Dindes needs a capable off-road vehicle to reach all corners of the refuge. From steep inclines and narrow trails to forest areas and wide-open fields, the Ranger takes the team all over with its 33cm ground clearance, 27.9cm suspension travel and huge 27-inch Maxxis tyres. Not only that, the 1134kg towing capacity is put to use with trailers to carry large bales of hay, and the many, heavy buckets of feed and the large, 454kg-capacity cargo bed not only gives the team enough space for maintenance and fencing supplies but comes in handy to take along the many rescue dogs that like to ride alongside Lisa too.

Les 3 Dindes relies upon its volunteers, sponsors and contributors to continue its care, treatment and rescue missions. Please visit www.les3dindes.org, or follow them on Facebook and Instagram to find out more.

Catch the first episode of Ranger Stories: Driving Change here:  https://youtu.be/lo_Guyda4fo

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Change of careers pays off

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Change of careers pays off: A dramatic change of careers paid off for SRUC student Ben Matthews, after his tutors unanimously named him the winner of this year’s HNC Golf Course Management Student of the Year Award, sponsored by John Deere and Scottish turf dealer Double A.

Born in London, but raised in Canada from the age of three, Ben moved to Scotland in 2014. He worked in health and social care in both Canada and Scotland for 20 years in total before realising it was time for a change.

Change of careers pays off

Change of careers pays off

“Since moving back to Scotland I had been helping children in crisis situations as an advocate, ensuring they had a voice,” Ben says. “It was amazing work and I loved it, but I started to burn out – I couldn’t switch off from worrying about the children I was working with.”

Initially Ben studied for a master’s degree in Sustainable Resource Management at the University of Edinburgh.

“If I could, I decided I wanted to turn the degree into a job where I could work outdoors while protecting the environment,” he explains.

It was a chance sighting while passing the SRUC campus one day that led to him pursuing a career in golf course management.

“I’ve always been a fan of golf and although I’ve never been any good, I do enjoy playing it,” he says.

“I was driving past the SRUC Elmwood campus one day and they had a big banner outside which read ‘have you thought about a career in greenkeeping?’.

“I ended up calling them and going to see Paul Miller, the course programme leader, and everything he told me about it ticked all the boxes.”

Ben enjoyed the variety of subjects taught on the course, even those he initially assumed would be less interesting, such as soil science.

“I thought it would be dry, but Dr Miller made it really interesting, teaching us everything we would need to know as a turf manager,” he says. “I also loved learning about design and construction.

“I’ve been to a few universities and colleges, and this was by far my best experience – the tutors are all phenomenal.”

Ben has since secured a position as a seasonal greenkeeper for the St Andrews Links Trust.

“I only live 25 minutes away so it seemed silly not to try for a position at the home of golf,” he says.

“I’m lucky enough to be working on the old course, where golf has been played for 600 years, so every day is like Christmas Day for me at the moment!”

Ben is enjoying focusing on the practical side of greenkeeping and looks forward to building up his experience and skills.

“I’ve been absolutely blown away by the greenkeeping community – everyone is so supportive and welcoming,” he says. “It’s the type of industry where if you’re having a problem, you can call someone at another golf course and they will lend you equipment or recommend a product. It’s such a tightly knit and positive community. I’m so happy to be in it.”

Ben is currently busy preparing the famous St Andrews’ course for the 150th Open this summer.

“I don’t think I could be in a better place to start my career and I’m so grateful to SRUC and so happy to have won this award,” he says. “Finding out I had won really cemented that I’d done the right thing in changing careers and that all my hard work has paid off.”

Course Tutor Ian Butcher says: “Ben has been a very positive member of the faculty throughout a period of change and transformation, and all the staff welcome his contribution to our classes whether they are online or on campus.

“Ben has, like many of our HND cohorts, decided to change career, from the Health and Social Care sector and he also previously completed an MSc Degree in Sustainable Resource Management. This provided Ben with a strong foundation for our own curriculum as we address the challenges golf faces in the 21st century.

“He has very strong team building background and has also shown strong communication skills with industry professionals, as well as adaptability to new situations. In 2021 he was awarded the R&A Greenkeeping Scholarship, which again adds to his perspective on the golf world as a whole.

“Without doubt his keenness to learn and enthusiasm for golf course management leads to the consistently high standard of submissions and capacity to explore new ideas. We look forward to supporting his new career as it continues with the St Andrews Links Trust in the Open Championship year of 2022.”

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GMA pushes for guidance change

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GMA pushes for guidance change: The Grounds Management Association (GMA) has written to the Government to request a change to the recently published Guidance on Changes to rebated fuels entitlement, which fails to be inclusive of all sports when citing exemptions to the new red diesel legislation.

In a letter to HMRC and HM Treasury, GMA Chief Executive, Geoff Webb reminds policymakers of the commitment made in the Reform of red diesel and other rebated fuels entitlement Policy paper published in November 2021, which made clear that there would not be a withdrawal of an entitlement to use red diesel in areas such as heating and sports.

GMA pushes for guidance change

GMA pushes for guidance change

“We are calling for wording within the guidance to be changed to replace the multiple references to “golf courses and driving ranges” with a more inclusive term that reflects the HMRC’s original intention to maintain the rebate entitlement across the wider sporting community, says Geoff Webb.

“It is not acceptable to exempt only one sport when there are many other sports facilities with turf surfaces that rely on red diesel to fuel essential machinery and specialist vehicles to maintain grounds to a safe, accessible, and satisfactory standard.

“Grassroots, community, and professional clubs, as well as educational establishments will be hit hard with increased costs if this guidance does not get amended.

“The GMA remains fully supportive of the Government’s net zero ambitions and understands the rationale behind pulling fiscal levers to deliver environmental goals. It is, however, crucial that policymakers are fair and avoid inadvertently imposing punitive taxes that will have an adverse effect on individuals, organisations, and communities.”

The GMA will continue to engage with the Government on this matter and encourages others to write to local MPs to reiterate the points made in the association’s letter.

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