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Year-round aeration for Duddingston GC

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Year-round aeration for Duddingston GC: Head Greenkeeper, John Guthrie at Edinburgh’s Duddingston Golf Club favours the little and often approach to aeration. Maintaining healthy surfaces is key for the parkland club which nestles below Edinburgh’s iconic Arthur’s Seat and has a history dating over 125 years.

The purchase of a Wiedenmann Terra Spike GXi8 HD deep aerator in May, from Scottish dealer, Fairways GM at Kinross, was essential to his strategy, and five months’ hence, he continues to be really pleased.

Year-round aeration for Duddingston GC

Year-round aeration for Duddingston GC

“It’s making a big difference; I knew the GXi8 would be good, but I didn’t factor quite as quick or as neat. Easily all 18 greens can be done before 1.00 pm, so about a hectare’s worth in total. In the past, aeration tied up three people. we would have had someone following on with a roller and another person tidying up behind. The Wiedenmann is so clean, you don’t always have to roll at the back if you set it up properly. Two of the team can be free to do other tasks; resource wise, that is a significant benefit.

“Since May, we’ve taken a discrete approach, tining down on the greens to 100- 150 mm and tees to 200 mm, all with 12 mm tines, experimenting with heave at 5° occasionally. From November, we switch to 20 mm tines and might go 250 mm on the greens if conditions allow, possibly again with a little amount of heave. The fairways, too, will get the full depth and the bigger tine.

“A good machine deserves its praise.  H&S on the machine is first rate. It really is smooth, and the operator doesn’t leave the cab feeling they’ve had a full body work out.  Also, smoothness means the Terra Spike is surprisingly quiet, not too noisy for members playing nearby, but mostly we can be done before they get anywhere close.

“Hopefully, we’re out all 12 months a year, weather permitting, and target a few choice areas with extra runs when there’s time available.”

Membership at Duddingston GC has increased over lock down but tee times have remained constant for John and his team of five. “There’s nothing for it but to keep doing your best and the whole team has done really well, even now new members are still joining.

Bob Marshall, Area Sales Manager at Fairways GM said:

“The GXi8 was absolutely the right fit for John and his team.  It paired well with their existing Kubota L4240 tractor and for his site it’s got access-all-areas status.”

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New appointments for INFINICUT®

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New appointments for INFINICUT®: To support their ongoing growth, INFINICUT® have been busy making appointments as they expand both their internal sales team and external, nationwide dealer network.

Taking up the role of Territory Sales Manager for Scotland and the North of England is Bobby McDougall – a third generation greenkeeper and well-known name, having gained years of valuable experience on both sides of the industry fence. Also, now part of the INFINICUT® network are Hunt Forest Group, taking on the sales, service and support for the range across the South.

New appointments for INFINICUT®

New appointments for INFINICUT®

Bobby began greenkeeping in 1997 where he worked underneath John Coleman at Abbeydale Golf Club. After taking up a role in sales with Aitkens in 2009, he then moved more into the construction side, taking up a position with Souter Sports and then later joining dealership Fairways GM. In addition to the North, Bobby’s new role at INFINICUT® will also see him looking after Sweden, Norway and Southeast Asia.

“Having previously worked alongside John, we have remained in touch and I have naturally always followed the developments of both the INFINICUT® and TMSystem™ ranges. When the opportunity arose to come on board, it was an invitation I couldn’t turn down” explains Bobby, who joined the team in July 2021. “It’s fantastic to be part of such an innovative, forward-thinking company with products that are always improving and set the standards for the industry.”

In another appointment, Hunt Forest Group are the latest name to be added to the growing dealer network, strengthening coverage across Hampshire, Dorset, Somerset and Wiltshire. Formed in 2019 following a merger between two prominent John Deere dealerships, Hunt Forest offer a broad selection of franchises to meet the requirements of both agricultural and amenity customers.

New appointments for INFINICUT®

New appointments for INFINICUT®

Commenting on the news, Turf & Construction Sales Director Ed Smales said, “We are delighted to be working with INFINICUT® – it is a unique product that is well-built and has an excellent reputation in the market. The range is a fantastic fit alongside the JD brand and the rest of our existing portfolio, meaning we can now offer even more quality solutions to new and existing customers to satisfy their maintenance needs.”

Oliver Hall, INFINICUT® Territory Sales Manager added, “Hunt Forest have a great reputation for sales and aftercare and across their depots will have factory trained technicians and a plethora of parts on the shelf to support customers in their area. We are very much looking forward to working with Ed and the team to further raise the INFINICUT® profile and offer a more localised service across this key territory.”

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Headland Amenity ready for SALTEX

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Headland Amenity ready for SALTEX: Headland Amenity will be in a new location this year the same technical team will be on hand to discuss your needs and focusing on the very latest in disease prevention methods.

Headland has, over 14 years, trials data on various disease prevention strategies including the popular 20.20.30 mix, and are committed to continued investment in many research areas. Come and talk to us over a cup of coffee about some of our latest trial work, and how best we can help you with your specific issues.

Headland Amenity ready for SALTEX

Headland Amenity ready for SALTEX

Stand G060

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Ventrac package for the RAC

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Ventrac package for the RAC: Iain Dye, the Courses Manager at The RAC in Woodcote Park, has taken delivery of a Ventrac 4500 with Contour deck and Tough Cut deck, to help maintain the two downland golf courses and surrounding estate.

Situated within the rolling Epsom Downs in Surrey, the Old Course, designed by the renowned William Herbert Fowler, was opened in 1915, while the Coronation Course was inaugurated in 1953, occupying the site of the club’s former New Course, which had been ploughed up during the Second World War.

Ventrac package for the RAC

Ventrac package for the RAC

Commenting recently Iain Dye said,

“I first saw the Ventrac during a demonstration at Tandridge Golf Club and although very impressed, we didn’t have the budget at the time to purchase it. However, the recent construction of our new reservoir prompted me to ask Rupert Price of Price Turfcare for demo here.

“It really comes into its own when mowing the steep sides of the retention walls. It would take a huge number of team hours to strim this area, so it’s saving a lot of time that can be used productively elsewhere on the courses.

“Apart from some utility vehicles we are a Toro fleet, but this Ventrac is unique and extremely versatile. We can use it for woodland management with the Tough Cut deck to get into the margins to clear brambles and brush. The health and safety aspect was an important factor in the purchase; nobody likes strimming at the best of times, but on steep slopes it’s a particularly onerous task. The Ventrac can operate on slopes of 30 degrees in complete safety; it seems to go anywhere!

“The Contour deck articulates well on uneven terrain, reducing scalping on high areas and we’ll be using it on our fairways during the winter to protect our fairway units from any worm casts. Also, it can go out in wet weather as the eight tyres produce only 6 psi, so it won’t mark the finer turf areas.

“We can now raise the presentation around the courses, maintaining steeper banks which we were unable to manage previously. These areas can be mown regularly and therefore become even more manageable over time.”

During the summer months Iain has a team of 27 including two Deputy Course Managers; Gary Stewart is responsible for the Old Course and Simon Glover for the Coronation Course. He also has two full-time mechanics and a mechanic/greenkeeper, who all ensure that the machinery works well at all times. He joined the RAC in June 2020 from Tandridge Golf Club, where he spent 14 years, initially as Deputy Course Manager before being promoted to Course Manager in 2013. After studying at Elmwood College, he joined the greenkeeping team on the Jubilee Course at St. Andrews in 1997 and worked on the Old Course from 2001, before moving from Scotland to take the job at Tandridge.

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Cooper Pegler CP3 Evolution up for grabs

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Cooper Pegler CP3 Evolution up for grabs: Knapsack sprayer specialists Hozelock-Exel celebrates its return to the Saltex grounds management show by giving exhibition visitors the chance to win two of its most popular models.

Hozelock-Exel claims uniquely long experience in manufacturing professional sprayers under its Cooper Pegler and Berthoud brands and is offering one knapsack from each for visitors to take away from the event.

Cooper Pegler CP3 Evolution up for grabs

Cooper Pegler CP3 Evolution up for grabs

A firm favourite worldwide among grounds managers for more than 20 years, the CP3 Evolution is tough, durable and gives operators the spray quality they demand.

With an eye on comfort and safety, the knapsack features an ergonomic carrying system that includes tailored shoulder straps and waist belt designed to work better for longer.

Twin tank handles give operators added dexterity, while the proprietary pump system lengthens lifetime and optimises operational convenience.

Berthoud Vermorel knapsacks straddle the diversity of demand across sport, amenity and landscaping sectors. Like every model in the range, the Pro Comfort 2000 features bespoke waist and chest safety harnesses, ergonomically contoured with sturdy backframe to heighten operator comfort and limit body stresses imposed during spraying.

Like its sister models, the Pro Comfort 2000 is easy to use, service and repair to give groundscare professionals the `best buy` value, while a host of spares and accessories such as spray shields, seal and nozzle kits and multi-nozzle spray booms further extend the knapsack’s flexibility.

“Both models typify product features common to both brands,” says Allan Wainwright, UK National Account Manager, “They are modern, serviceable and robust, delivering the reliable spray pressures vital for operators to apply correctly calibrated treatment liquid dilutions. I look forward to presenting these premium quality knapsacks to the lucky winners during Saltex,”

www.cooper-pegler.com

www.berthoud.fr/en/

Follow Cooper Pegler and Berthoud on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook

Get involved at www.gmasaltex.co.uk/see-you-at-saltex/

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