Tag Archive for: Club’s

SALTEX brings community clubs closer to industry

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SALTEX brings community clubs closer to industry: SALTEX 2025, Europe’s cutting-edge grounds management exhibition, returns to the NEC, Birmingham on 12-13 November with a fresh programme of features designed to provide resources and networking opportunities for grounds professionals and community clubs. 

The Community Sports Zone remains the go-to destination for clubs and volunteers seeking to engage with suppliers and manufacturers. Exhibitors including Campey Turf Care Systems, Dennis, SISIS, ISEKI and GreenTek will be on hand to showcase their latest products and services tailored to grassroots sports. Located next to the GMA Hub, the Zone also provides access to national governing bodies including the Football Foundation, England and Wales Cricket Board, Rugby Football Union and Rugby Football League who will be offering guidance and advice on sport-specific development.

SALTEX brings community clubs closer to industry

SALTEX brings community clubs closer to industry

A new major addition for 2025 is the Football Foundation Grant Funding Desk – a one-stop service for clubs seeking advice on how to secure vital support for grassroots pitches and facilities through grants and funding opportunities. The desk equips volunteers and clubs with the practical tools and guidance they need to grow and maintain their facilities – all within the professional context of SALTEX.

Visitors can access information on:

  • Up to £100,000 in grants for pitch maintenance machinery
  • The Huddle – funding support for catering units at clubs
  • Groundskeepers Corner – join a thriving online community of peers
  • Step-by-step guidance on grant eligibility and application processes
  • Home Advantage Programme – up to £250,000 to help clubs take on grass pitch sites

Community clubs and volunteers will also be able to benefit from a series of sport-specific meet-ups and guided tours for football, rugby (Union and League) and cricket, designed to help visitors network with fellow clubs, the GMA’s Pitch Advisory Service team and key National Governing Bodies.

Tours will start in the SALTEX Clubhouse before taking visitors around the exhibition floor, highlighting the most relevant exhibitors as well as key show features including the Community Sport Zone, The Workshop and the GMA Hub.

Each session offers practical guidance and the opportunity to explore support tailored to community clubs.

“We understand how vital grassroots sport is to the wider sporting ecosystem in the UK, and it’s important that SALTEX provides a platform to support clubs and volunteers alike,” said Sarah Hunter, Head of Events at the GMA. “This year, with the introduction of the Funding Desk alongside our ever-popular Community Sports Zone and Clubhouse sessions, we are giving visitors even more opportunities to access guidance and gain the tools and connections they need to thrive.” 

Join us at SALTEX and level up your experience. Register for FREE and be in with a chance of winning a Cramer Tools Lawn Mower, complete with charger and battery worth £2,240!

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Pleasington Golf Club’s transformation

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Pleasington Golf Club’s transformation: Pleasington Golf Club, Lancashire, has revealed the latest results of its £1 million course transformation.

Rated the No.1 heathland course in Lancashire, the 12-time Open qualifying venue is upgrading its course as part of a long-term ‘Good to Great’ plan.

Pleasington Golf Club’s transformation

Pleasington Golf Club’s transformation

Just an hour from Manchester, Liverpool and Leeds, the club is already a popular destination with players heading to three nearby Open links, as well as golf travellers stopping off on route to and from Scotland via the M6.

Pleasington Golf Club is aiming to secure its position as one of the finest courses in the UK.

“This has been an important and exciting journey for the club,” said General Manager, Mark Bleasdale. “While the course has always been recognised as an outstanding layout, hosting Open qualifying and prestigious amateur events including the Pleasington Putter for elite amateur women, we wanted to restore its natural character and return it to its very best.

“Now, after major works over the past three winters, including the regeneration of heathland, the course has been transformed.”

The course upgrade has included:

  • Making the course visually stronger with new and renovated bunkers
  • Creating firmer, faster greens with enhanced drainage and disease resilience
  • Strategic design changes making the course fairer to higher handicap players and more challenging for low handicappers and elite golfers.

The work has been overseen by respected golf course architect Ken Moodie of Creative Golf Design.

The project is part of the club’s ‘Good to Great’ plan, which aims to make the venue among the best golf courses in the UK, as well as being an inclusive club at the heart of the community, encouraging golf for all and restoring the landscape’s natural environment.

Visitor bookings are now open for the 2024 season, as well as a series of open competitions and a new Sunday Driver stay-and-play golf package, with accommodation at The Dunkenhalgh Hotel & Spa.

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Alderney Golf Club’s Triumph with Origin Amenity Solutions

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Alderney Golf Club’s Triumph with Origin Amenity Solutions: A stunning coastal golf course located on Alderney Island, the third largest of the Channel Islands, Alderney Golf Club is a haven for golf enthusiasts seeking both challenge and natural beauty.

In recent years, the club faced a persistent threat to its greens in the form of Dollar Spot, a fungal disease notorious for its detrimental impact on turf health and playing performance.

Alderney Golf Club's Triumph with Origin Amenity Solutions

Alderney Golf Club’s Triumph with Origin Amenity Solutions

Dollar spot causes small tanned spots about the size of a Dollar coin (Dollar Spot!) around 2-5cm in diameter.  It is spread through small bits of mycelium moving to a new plant host. They move in water and can also be spread on shoes, golf equipment, and turf management equipment. Spots can typically coalesce which can wipe out large areas of turf.

At Alderney Golf Club, both Poa and Bent grasses contribute to the botanical sward composition. Unfortunately, Dollar Spot threatens both grass species and their susceptibility to the disease necessitated a targeted management approach.

Dollar Spot has plagued Alderney Golf Club for half a decade. Despite efforts to control it, the disease was historically initiated in June. In response to this challenge, Alderney Golf Club sought the expertise of Origin Amenity Solutions (OAS), a leading provider of turf management solutions. Working closely with OAS technical advisor Marcus Hewitt, the club devised a proactive strategy to combat Dollar Spot and rejuvenate its greens.

OAS recommended the implementation of Exteris Stressgard, a potent fungicide, applied in mid-May with a follow-up application two weeks later. This pre-emptive approach aims to suppress the Dollar Spot before it gains momentum.

Maintaining a healthy plant is extremely important when managing Dollar Spot so the Course Manager Paul Flairclough focused on enhancing turf health. A tailored regimen comprising Liquid N, Seaweed, and Elevate Fe, supported by a wetting agent programme featuring Tricure AD and Seaquest, strengthened the turf against disease while promoting vigour and resilience.

The results were remarkable. Paul comments ‘Since working with Marcus from OAS the course has been in immaculate condition. Marcus’ support with Dollar Spot management has improved summer playing conditions on the greens and our membership and visitors have provided excellent feedback.’

As autumn approached, Dollar Spot pressure continued due to the high humidity. Dedicate fungicide was applied with Trimate in September keeping the greens Dollar Spot free and prepared for any Microdochium Patch outbreaks that would often start in late September.

The success story of Alderney Golf Club stands as a testament to the power of strategic collaboration and innovation in turf management. By partnering with Origin Amenity Solutions and embracing cutting-edge solutions, the club not only conquered Dollar Spot but also elevated the overall quality of its greens. Today, Alderney Golf Club continues to shine as a beacon of resilience and excellence, offering an unrivaled experience amidst the unspoilt terrain of the Channel Islands.

Paul concludes, “Exteris worked extremely well on our golf course and we had good control over Dollar Spot for the first time in five years on this site. Due to the Stressgard technology, the grass was healthy and looking amazing.”

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Gaudet Luce Golf Club’s Wildflower Success

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Gaudet Luce Golf Club’s Wildflower Success: Nestled in the picturesque landscape of Droitwich, Worcestershire, Gaudet Luce Golf Club has embarked on an impressive wildflower project under the guidance of Course Manager Andy Laing.

The stunning results achieved can be attributed to the use of DLF’s Colour Boost range, demonstrating the positive impact it can have on both the golfing experience and the local environment.

Gaudet Luce Golf Club's Wildflower Success

Gaudet Luce Golf Club’s Wildflower Success

Founded in 1995, Gaudet Luce Golf Club has established itself as a premier destination for golf enthusiasts in Worcestershire. With an 18-hole Phoenix Course and a 9-hole par 3 Hadzor Course, the club caters to golfers of all skill levels.

Playing a pivotal role in the transformation of Gaudet Luce’s landscape is DLF’s Colour Boost range. This carefully crafted mixture of wildflowers and garden flowering species not only enhances visual appeal but also supports local wildlife and restores critical habitats.

Ideal for landscaping projects, the Colour Boost range is designed to bring colour, biodiversity, and interest to any space.

Among the varieties in the Colour Boost range, Andy opted for the Chameleon mixture for Gaudet Luce’s wildflower project. Comprising over 40 species and subspecies, this dynamic blend ensures a constantly changing display of colours and forms throughout the growing season. It has proven to be a consistent performer, offering a dazzling show from spring to November.

Reflecting on the success of the wildflower project, Andy shared insights into the club’s journey. “In 2011, we experimented with perennial wildflower mixes, but they proved hard to establish. Shifting our focus to annual wildflower mixes in 2012, we now have approximately 15 wildflower areas across the course,” he explained, emphasising the importance of meticulous preparation.

On the choice of the Chameleon mixture, Andy expressed, “The mixture we chose was Chameleon from Colour Boost, offering over 40 different varieties for successional flowering. The mixes change throughout the year, continuing to flower through to November, with the first frosts.”

Highlighting the environmental impact of the initiative, Andy noted, “The abundance of bees and insects has been phenomenal.” Leaving the wildflowers, once they had stopped flowering, over winter also proved effective, attracting birds to feed on the leftovers. Customer feedback has been exceptional, with visitors now expecting and appreciating the vibrant wildflower displays as an integral part of the golfing experience at Gaudet Luce.

Matt Gresty, MM, and Designer Sales and Brand Manager for DLF, played a supportive role in the project. Andy acknowledged, “Matt has helped us with sound advice,” highlighting the collaborative effort between Gaudet Luce Golf Club and DLF.

Gaudet Luce Golf Club’s commitment to the wildflower project, coupled with the success of DLF’s Colour Boost range, showcases how careful planning and quality products can transform a golf course into a biodiverse and visually stunning landscape. The vibrant wildflower displays not only enhance the golfing experience but also contribute to the overall well-being of local ecosystems.

For further information, please contact DLF UK on 01386 719758 or visit the DLF website www.dlf.co.uk

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Golf clubs to become STEM classrooms

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Golf clubs to become STEM classrooms: The British & International Golf Greenkeepers Association (BIGGA) and the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America (GCSAA) are collaborating to have BIGGA exclusively present GCSAA’s First Green STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) education programme in the UK.

Founded in 1997, First Green is the only STEM education and environmental outreach programme using golf courses as learning labs.

Golf clubs to become STEM classrooms

Golf clubs to become STEM classrooms

The First Green curriculum helps students apply their classroom knowledge in an outdoor setting. Using STEM concepts connected to golf course management and conservation, students find new inspiration in their schoolwork and learn about the possibility of a career in golf or a STEM-related field. Since its inception, First Green has reached students in the United States and Canada through learning labs that bring the classroom to life on the golf course. First Green also gives students a first-hand look at the important role greenkeepers (or superintendents as they are known in the US) play in their communities.

As part of the multi-year agreement, GCSAA will provide branding, training, insight and curriculum advice to assist BIGGA with establishing First Green in the UK. The two associations will share best practices and updates to ensure students will be part of programmes offering the best possible experience and learning.

This initiative was announced as part of the 2023 BIGGA Turf Management Exhibition (BTME) in a joint event attended by representatives of GCSAA and BIGGA. Initial planning is underway and a schedule of First Green events presented exclusively in the UK by BIGGA will be available when they are announced at www.bigga.org.uk.

Jim Croxton, BIGGA CEO, said: “First Green is a brilliant tool with all the assets, lesson plans and resources that any golf course needs to host an event. We’re thankful to the GCSAA for the incredible work they have done to develop the programme and also for enabling us to bring it to the UK, where I am confident it will be a huge success.”

Rhett Evans, GCSAA CEO, said: “STEM education opens the door to a wide variety of career paths including golf-related careers. While our number one goal for First Green is to support the education growth of students, we also contribute to golf’s sustainability by showcasing golf facilities’ focus on preserving the environment and creating interest in a golf-related career. Over the years we have collaborated on many initiatives with BIGGA and created a strong working relationship. This long-term and successful relationship enabled our two associations to seamlessly bring the GCSAA’s First Green programme to the UK.”

For more information about First Green in the United States, visit thefirstgreen.org

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