Tag Archive for: Greens

Attraxor helps refine greens and tame seed heads

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Attraxor helps refine greens and tame seed heads: At Crowborough Beacon Golf Club, Course Manager Luke Jenkins has been achieving exceptional results using BASF’s Attraxor®, a plant growth regulator supplied by Agrovista Amenity.

Containing the active ingredient prohexadione-calcium, Attraxor has become a key part of Luke’s turf management programme, helping him achieve smoother, more consistent greens and a better balance of grass species across the site.

Attraxor helps refine greens and tame seed heads

Attraxor helps refine greens and tame seed heads

Luke, who has been Course Manager at Crowborough Beacon for four and a half years, first came across Attraxor through conversations with Andrew Norman from Agrovista Amenity.

Intrigued by the dual promise of growth regulation and seed-head suppression – and the fact it blended well with the biologicals Luke already uses – he trialled it on the greens and was impressed almost immediately.

“Andrew kept mentioning Attraxor for both growth control and seed-head suppression, and it really ticked a lot of boxes. I started using it and instantly started seeing a difference,” Luke explains.

Seed-head suppression that improves consistency

One of the most obvious benefits for Luke has been the dramatic reduction in seed-head size and frequency – a critical improvement for green speed and consistency.

“You don’t get the big, juicy seed heads you used to get – they’re much smaller,” he says. “We don’t get the white, bobbly greens in the spring that affect roll and speed. Even in a tough seed-head year we had minimal issues compared with other courses nearby.”

Attraxor inhibits a key growth hormone, gibberellic acid, leading to consistent reductions in both shoot growth and flowering. This helps deliver a more consistent surface for golfers and reduces the variability that can make putting unpredictable.

Fast, flexible growth regulation

Attraxor activates on contact with water in the spray tank and begins to regulate growth in as little as four hours – a speed of action Luke values.

“It’s a two-in-one for me: growth regulation including seed-head suppression. I apply it every 21 days and try to get the first treatment on early – because the earlier you start, the better the results,” he says.

Luke typically applies Attraxor around 500 g/ha now and has found it provides consistent regulation across species and cutting heights. That flexibility makes it suitable for the fine turf demands at Crowborough Beacon’s greens, and he notes it keeps growth manageable even when granular feeds are applied.

Attraxor helps refine greens and tame seed heads

Attraxor helps refine greens and tame seed heads

Health, density and integrated use

Beyond seed-head suppression and reduced mowing, Attraxor contributes to improved sward density and healthier roots – outcomes that help turf resist both abiotic stresses and disease pressures.

Crucially for Luke’s programme, Attraxor mixes well with many of the biological products and foliar inputs he uses, allowing it to slot into an integrated strategy that emphasises plant health as well as growth management.

Practical, value-driven performance

For a club with limited resources and no fairway irrigation, reliable, low-rate chemistry that delivers predictable results is essential. Luke highlights Attraxor’s cost effectiveness at such small application rates.

“For the price and the quantity you use, it’s excellent value. I wouldn’t be without it now – 100%. Even if you only want seed-head suppression, it’s worth a trial.”

Luke encourages other course managers to test Attraxor on their sites, particularly where Poa seed heads and variable green speed are issues. For Crowborough Beacon, the product has become a key part of keeping greens consistent and playable while supporting the wider restoration and improvement programme Luke is leading.

“If it works on your site like it does on ours, it’ll earn a permanent place in your shed,” he concludes.

For more information about Agrovista UK, visit https://amenity.agrovista.co.uk/

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SISIS Machines Transform Greens and Fairways

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SISIS Machines Transform Greens and Fairways: Maintaining a golf course as unique and picturesque as Shiskine Golf and Tennis Club demands equipment that delivers exceptional results with precision and reliability.

For Head Greenkeeper Stewart Fotheringham, the introduction of two SISIS machines—the Maxislit and the Multislit—has been nothing short of revolutionary. These innovative tools have transformed the condition of the course’s greens and fairways, setting a new standard for drainage, firmness, and overall playability, even in the face of challenging weather and high foot traffic.

SISIS Machines Transform Greens and Fairways

SISIS Machines Transform Greens and Fairways

Maintaining the course’s stunning greens and fairways has always been a labour of love for Stewart. He began his career at Shiskine, on the Isle of Arran, in 1982 as a 15-year-old apprentice and, 42 years later, his passion for the course remains as strong as ever.

“If you’ve ever been here, you’ll understand why I’ve stayed so long,” Stewart explains. “The location is incredible, with breathtaking views, and the 12-hole layout is a hit with everyone. The members love it, and we see plenty of visitors in the summer. But with all that play, and the wind that hits us from every direction, the course takes a beating.”

To keep the course in peak condition, Stewart and his small team of two full-time and one part-time greenkeepers recently introduced two SISIS machines: the Maxislit for fairways and the Multislit for greens. The results, according to Stewart, have been transformative.

Shiskine’s seaside links course, established in 1896, is a mix of quirky features and challenging terrain. Regular aeration is essential to manage drainage, reduce compaction, and ensure the course can handle heavy play and unpredictable weather.

“The advice to incorporate slit tining came from our agronomist, Gordon Irvine,” says Stewart. “Gordon explained that slit tining over winter offers unique benefits, so we decided to invest in the Maxislit and Multislit from SISIS.”

The SISIS Maxislit, a tractor-mounted deep slitter, is used on fairways to enhance drainage and reduce compaction. “We use the Maxislit about three times between November and January,” Stewart says. The angle of the tines and the spiral design allow deep penetration with minimal surface disturbance, and it’s incredibly simple to operate—just hitch it to the tractor and go. “The results have been excellent,” adds Stewart.

On the greens, the SISIS Multislit, a tractor-mounted deep slitting lawn aerator, has also worked wonders. “We’ve only had the Multislit for a year, but the difference is remarkable,” Stewart notes. “After just a few uses, the greens are firmer and much drier. During Storm Darragh, we had 60mm of rain, and there wasn’t a single puddle on any of the greens. Before using the Multislit, we’d have seen standing water everywhere.”

Stewart emphasises the ease of use as a standout feature of both machines. “They’re straightforward and fast to set up. There’s no complex PTO shaft to deal with, and they’re highly effective. For the Multislit, we’ve used it 4-5 times so far, and the improvement in drainage and firmness has been incredible.”

For Stewart, the investment in SISIS machinery has been transformative. “If you’re struggling with soft greens or poor drainage, the Multislit is a must-have. It’s transformed our greens in no time. The Maxislit has been just as effective on our fairways. I’d recommend these machines to any greenkeeper—they’re simple, efficient, and deliver fantastic results.”

For further information or a no obligation demonstration, please contact SISIS on 01332 824 777 or visit www.sisis.com

For more news, reviews and insightful views, you can follow SISIS on Twitter or Instagram @SISISMachinery and like the company’s Facebook page – www.facebook.com/SISISMachinery. You can also view the latest SISIS videos by visiting www.youtube.com/SISISMachinery

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COMPO puts life back into the greens

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COMPO puts life back into the greens: Two products from COMPO EXPERT have helped to put some much-needed life back into the greens at Kilsyth Golf Club, according to Head Greenkeeper Brian Hill.

Brian has been at Kilsyth Golf Club in central Scotland for just over 30 years. Throughout that time, he has always worked with Agrovista Amenity, the exclusive national distributor of COMPO EXPERT’S turf products in the UK.

COMPO puts life back into the greens

COMPO puts life back into the greens

Brian’s first point of contact at Agrovista Amenity is Ramsay MacGregor and it was Ramsay who recommended the COMPO EXPERT range of products to him.

“I trust Ramsay 100% because I know he is going to give me something that works, and it is not going to bust the bank,” said Brian. “I’m going to get a great product every time from him and that is why I took on-board his suggestion about COMPO EXPERT.”

COMPO EXPERT believes in sustainable, integrated turf management by focusing on modern fertilisation concepts, consistent regeneration of growth and optimal support of the plant’s own physiological processes. All of which promote vitalisation, stress tolerance and root development while providing optimum turf quality.

The innovative product range includes specialty mineral and stabilized fertilisers, slow and controlled release fertilisers, water soluble and liquid fertilisers as well as biostimulants, trace elements and soil conditioners.

Brian first applied Ferro Top® microgranular fertiliser to his greens late last year and the success of that product resulted in him applying Floranid® Twin Eagle NK, a slow-release fertiliser, this year.

“We first applied Ferro Top® in autumn and the results I got coming out of winter were brilliant,” he said. “It has a nice bit of iron in it and makes the sward nice and dense.”

“I then went on to using the Floranid® Twin Eagle NK – which I applied at the end of June and the results have been phenomenal. We haven’t got an irrigation system here, and I’ve only got a bowser, so my timing of products is key. As soon as some rain was forecast, we applied the Floranid® Twin Eagle NK. Honestly, I put it on and couldn’t believe it – the greens have been unbelievable. I’ll look at going again with it in September and then I’ll apply Ferro Top® to prepare for winter.

“The greens are so green, so lush, and the COMPO products have put so much life back into them.

“A lot of fertilisers claim to do amazing things, but COMPO products actually do what they say they will. We don’t have a big budget and therefore every product I put down needs to work. With the COMPO products I know that I’m going to get results every time.”

For more information about Agrovista UK, visit www.agrovista.co.uk/amenity

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GreenTek’s Dyna-Seeder Units Transform Greens at Scarcroft Golf Club

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GreenTek’s Dyna-Seeder Units Transform Greens at Scarcroft Golf Club: Over the past eight years, Matt Houseman, Head Greenkeeper at Scarcroft Golf Club near Leeds, has successfully transformed the grass composition of his greens using Dyna-Seeder overseeder units from GreenTek.

Matt has been implementing a consistent overseeding program, using the Dyna-Seeders 2-3 times a year, and the results have been nothing short of remarkable.

GreenTek’s Dyna-Seeder Units Transform Greens at Scarcroft Golf Club

GreenTek’s Dyna-Seeder Units Transform Greens at Scarcroft Golf Club

“Before we owned them, we were overseeding and getting about 30% uptake, but with the use of the Dyna-Seeders we’re getting between 70 to 75% uptake, possibly even more” said Matt.  “Two to three weeks after seeding we can see distinct lines of new seed coming through, which is obviously very pleasing”

Matt says that since he started using the Dyna-Seeder units, the bent grass content in his greens has increased significantly.   This transformation is a testament to the effectiveness of the Dyna-Seeders’ technology. “As a piece of machinery, they have had probably the biggest impact of any machine we have bought in the past decade” states Matt.

 

Marcus Oliver, GreenTek’s product Development Manager says “When we visited Scarcroft recently, they were overseeding during the midst of a ladies’ competition day.  The minimal disturbance to the putting surfaces was outstanding, enabling the overseeding to proceed without disrupting play”.

Scarcroft Golf Club is just one of the many courses throughout the country who by lightly overseeding multiple times a year have managed to steadily improve the grass composition and playing quality of their greens.

For more information on the Dyna-Seeders Click Here

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Achieving Smooth and Healthy Greens at Shrigley Hall

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Achieving Smooth and Healthy Greens at Shrigley Hall: At Shrigley Hall Hotel & Spa, a prestigious Georgian country house nestled in 262 acres of picturesque Cheshire countryside, Head Greenkeeper Ben Evans ensures that the greens are always at their best by using Mansfield Sand’s MM35 Golf and sand compost mix. These products are key to providing golfers with an exceptional playing experience, keeping the greens true and divots expertly filled.

Shrigley Hall boasts a championship course that presents a true test of skill and stamina for golfers of all abilities and is regarded as one of the finest in the North West of England.

Achieving Smooth and Healthy Greens at Shrigley Hall

Achieving Smooth and Healthy Greens at Shrigley Hall

Ben, who has been at Shrigley Hall for six years and in the greenkeeping industry for 15 years, emphasises the importance of using high-quality materials to maintain the course’s standards. “It is a hotel and resort course, covering 260 acres with lots of woods surrounding it,” Ben explains. “It’s a very busy course, and our membership is thriving.”

Ben has been working with Mansfield Sand for six years, primarily using their MM35 Golf for top dressing the greens. “We started using MM35 Golf because we had issues sourcing our previous sand product,” Ben notes. “We use it for top dressing on greens and probably go through about 60 tonnes of it a year. Our approach is little and often to keep it topped up and at a good level.”

Mansfield Sand’s MM35 Golf, a pure silica sand sourced from the company’s Two Oaks Quarry, is renowned for its benefits, including improved recovery, firmness, smoothness, and an enhanced rootzone. “The MM35 Golf helps us ‘true’ the greens up, smooth the surface, and fill in any indentations,” Ben explains. “If we just put a little bit on at a time, matching it with the growth, it helps build up a nice healthy rootzone. We have a budget to work with, and MM35 Golf from Mansfield fits nicely into that budget. Without it, our drainage would probably be worse.”

The reliability of Mansfield Sand’s service is another key factor for Ben. “I call up the Mansfield Sand office, and they arrange my order. It will be delivered on time, every time – I can’t fault it at all.”

In addition to MM35 Golf, Shrigley Hall also uses Mansfield Sand’s sand compost mix for divots. “We purchase this once a year, and it is a really good product. It is a 60.40 mix, perfect for divots, filling in holes around the tees, and any sort of construction work we do,” Ben adds.

Mansfield Sand’s products, with their consistent quality and exceptional performance, have become indispensable to Shrigley Hall’s course maintenance. The MM35 Golf not only ensures the greens remain smooth and true but also significantly enhances the rootzone and drainage, contributing to the overall health and playability of the course.

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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