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Syngenta Docuseries: Sustainable Golf in the Desert

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Syngenta Docuseries: Sustainable Golf in the Desert: Syngenta Golf’s sustainability docuseries, The Green Report, heads to Arizona for its latest episode, to learn about sustainable use of water on desert courses. 

When faced with tough new water restrictions and hostile media coverage, golf course businesses joined forces under the Arizona Alliance for Golf to successfully engage the public and policy makers on why golf was good for people, the planet and prosperity.

Syngenta Docuseries: Sustainable Golf in the Desert

Syngenta Docuseries: Sustainable Golf in the Desert

In a new three-part episode, The Green Report visits Paradise Valley Country Club and Troon North Golf Club to find out how superintendents, naturalists, course owners and advocates are working together to communicate:

  • Golf only uses 2% of the state’s water
  • Golf generates a $6 billion economic impact and supports 66,000 jobs
  • How desert courses on the edge of urban areas can enhance biodiversity for native plants and wildlife.

Interviewees include course owner Gregg Tryhus and Katie Prendergast from the Arizona Alliance for Golf, as well as naturalist Bri Kenny of Troon Golf, who takes us on a sunset tour of Troon North Golf Club, spotting roadrunners and bobcats.

The episode begins with a course walk at Paradise Valley Country Club with Director of Greens and Grounds Rob Collins, who details the water conservation strategies in place and how he is helping share these practices with golf courses nationwide.

“Arizona shows how golf can turn challenges into opportunities,” said Mark Birchmore, Global Head of Marketing, Turf & Landscape at Syngenta. “Courses here are proving that data-driven water management and sustainability can go hand in hand with creating green spaces that benefit both people and wildlife.”

The new episode will be released at 12PM ET on Wednesday, 8 October 2025, and will be free-to-watch for all golf industry professionals and stakeholders on YouTube.

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Lantra’s campaign to address trend in chainsaw accidents

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Lantra’s campaign to address trend in chainsaw accidents: PPE or A&E: the choice that is faced by people when they purchase a chainsaw.

Lantra, the leading organisation for careers, skills, and qualifications in the land-based and environment sector is today launching a new campaign highlighting the critical importance of chainsaw safety. The campaign will educate the public and professionals, that chainsaws are not just another piece of garden equipment but are potentially lethal power tools that demand proper training and personal protective equipment (PPE).

Lantra's campaign to address trend in chainsaw accidents

Lantra’s campaign to address trend in chainsaw accidents

As chainsaws become more accessible through low-cost supermarkets, being middle aisle specials, available to purchase online and being able to be bought at DIY stores, there has been a worryingly increasing trend of accidents relating to improper use. A freedom of information request to NHS hospitals in England, Wales, and Scotland shows that 3144 have attended accident and emergency departments due to a chainsaw related injury in the last 10 years, with the trend increasing since 2020.

Respect the chainsaw, the new campaign from Lantra, sets out to dispel myths, raise awareness, and promote essential safety measures.

Speaking about the new campaign, Clegg Bamber MBE, Head of Communications at Lantra, said: “We know that chainsaws can cause life-changing injuries within a split second. Sadly, sometimes these injuries become fatal. Our message to all people who operate a chainsaw today, or in the future, is chainsaws are dangerous machines, training on how to use them is essential, and PPE is non-negotiable.”

Also commenting on the new campaign, Mandy Maynard, Head of Industry Partnerships for Forestry and Arboriculture at Lantra said: “Training and protective equipment are important when handling a chainsaw. PPE can mean the difference between a close call and a catastrophic injury. It’s not an add-on but a necessity.”

As part of the campaign, Lantra have released a new film – highlighting the importance of training, knowledge of how to use a saw safely, and the requirement of wearing protective clothing. The new film, led by James Bingham, a qualified arborist summarises the dangers of the chainsaw, and emphasises how understanding how a chainsaw works, how to use the saw properly, including the risk of kickback, and exploring how protective clothing comes into effect should it connect with a chainsaw.

Whether pruning a tree in the garden, clearing a fallen tree from the driveway or working in a professional environment, the campaign underlines that safety must come first.

To learn more about chainsaw safety, download guidance, or to find a Lantra training course near you, please visit www.lantra.co.uk/chainsaw-safety

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Three deals in for Toro at Little Aston

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Three deals in for Toro at Little Aston: Little Aston Golf Club in Sutton Coldfield, one of the highest ranked parkland courses in England, has signed its third five-year agreement with Toro and Reesink Turfcare taking their partnership to 15 years.

Iain Burns, Club Manager, says the enduring relationship is down to trust in the brand:

“We’re delighted to continue our excellent relationship with Toro as we believe they are the best in the business when it comes to the provision of cutting machinery. This marks the beginning of a third five-year term which consolidates our trust and satisfaction in the Toro brand and performance.”

Three deals in for Toro at Little Aston

Three deals in for Toro at Little Aston

In a deal worth roughly half a million pounds, it guarantees the club longevity, reliability, and durability for its turfcare equipment according to Course Manager David Gibbons: “In our opinion, Toro machinery offers the best overall performance for the type of maintenance required at Little Aston Golf Club. With no onsite mechanic, we need hard wearing machinery with a good finish for the level of presentation you’d expect for a top 100 England golf course.

“Our team is familiar with it – how to use and look after it, and it is robust and well made, meaning that after five years the machinery is still in good working order and holding a good price.”

The relationship with Reesink also plays a significant part in the decision and just gets better with time, says David. “While Toro is globally recognised as the leading mower manufacturer, Reesink brings an enormous amount to the table too.

“Financially the club needs to be happy with the price and overall deal. We look for solid warranties, discounts on parts, good support from a machinery point of view and investment in the team with training and greenkeeper education.

“Then we come back to that word trust. We trust Reesink will keep us up to date with alternative or new machinery, we trust we’ll get help with demonstrations as we consider new technology, and we trust they will advise us about any new machines that can do the job better.”

On that note, while the club will “happily replace like for like if it’s the best option, we still always ask if there are any new machines available that can do the job better,” says David.

“For example, we have been building bunkers, and found that the Toro Reelmaster 3100 with the SideWinder technology is the best mower for maintaining bunker banks. It really helps with the undulations and has a patented front unit sliding control for safety when near the edges.”

That’s another advantage with the machinery delivery being spread over the years, “we have time to evaluate the current machine before the next term and adjust accordingly to changing priorities and projects underway,” concludes David.

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GroundTech robotics and renewables work in perfect partnership

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GroundTech robotics and renewables work in perfect partnership: Rushden Golf Club has introduced three Echo TM-2050 robotic mowers to maintain its newer back nine holes, in a partnership with autonomous specialists GroundTech.

The investment marks a major step forward in both sustainability and efficiency with the trio, powered by bespoke solar panels, alleviating the pressure on a busy greenkeeping team of four.

GroundTech robotics and renewables work in perfect partnership

GroundTech robotics and renewables work in perfect partnership

The historic Northamptonshire course has gone through a number of redevelopments and expansion since its formation in 1919. The back nine, opened in 2013, offers an interesting contrast to the original parkland front nine, with a flatter, more open layout. Ideal terrain for an autonomous mower, Director Paul Newell got in touch with GroundTech. “I’d been keeping an eye on the new technologies and identified how much time robots could save us, freeing up our skilled team to focus on improvements in other areas of the course” he explains.

“After a demonstration, the whole team were impressed with the outstanding quality of cut and presentation from the Echo mowers – arguably more accurate and consistent than traditional machines.”

There was just one more issue to overcome, the distance the mowers would be operating away from mains power. “GroundTech’s Marcus Glover quickly suggested a solution in the form of solar panels, which ensures the mowers can operate efficiently when not in close proximity to mains power. This was key to making the whole package work for us and, just a few months on from install, we couldn’t be happier with the whole set-up.”

The TM-2050’s – the largest of the Echo commercial range – can mow up 75,000m2 making them ideal for situations that require high performance and high productivity. At Rushden, the robots are responsible for cutting all areas except the tees and greens, and members have been quick to spot the improvements. “It’s clearly the future of course management, and as one of the first clubs in Northamptonshire to make the jump, we’re delighted the members can already see the difference in presentation and have been so willing to embrace innovation” he adds.

Paul was also quick to praise the club’s first collaboration with GroundTech. “They’ve been brilliant at guiding us through the transition, ensuring the team are all fully happy with the technology and working with us to find solutions such as the solar panels that really meet our needs. We are excited to explore extending the scope of the Echo units in other areas of the course over the coming months and years. “

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First club in UK invests in Toro robotic mowing

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First club in UK invests in Toro robotic mowing: Thonock Park in Lincolnshire is the first club in the UK to invest in Toro’s Turf Pro autonomous mowers.

Having made the decision to move to autonomous mowing at the beginning of the year, the club was introduced to Toro’s new Turf Pro mowers at the BTME launch and has subsequently purchased five from local Toro dealer, Russells Groundcare.

First club in UK invests in Toro robotic mowing

First club in UK invests in Toro robotic mowing

The five Turf Pro 500 mowers are being used to cut both fairways and rough of 18 of the club’s 36 holes. According to General Manager Benjamin Hatch: “Our robot mowers are now cutting the fairways and rough for 18 holes on the Thonock Park course, and we are exceptionally pleased with their quality of cut and the definition between fairway and rough grasses.”

Thonock Park and Russells have had two comprehensive training sessions post-install from Lee Rowbotham, GeoLink and Digital Specialist at Reesink UK.

Lee explains the process: “We were there at the point of delivery to install the chargers and base station. The mowers are blind out of the box, so training involves telling them everything they need to know, like where the charging station is, the route to the fairways, what the safe areas, and not safe areas are. And of course, for the team to understand the operation and the terminology involved.”

Once set up, Course Manager Rob Acheson was shown how to control all five mowers through the Smart App. Operation is something Lee likens to how irrigation sprinklers are controlled.

“They are controlled individually, one at a time, and can be set up in advance,” he says. “Just like you can set a sprinkler to come on at 5am, you can set the Turf Pros to start mowing at 10pm once everyone has gone home if you wish.”

This provides a big advantage in getting course maintenance ahead of play. All fairway mowing can be completed before the course opens, supported by “the almost non-existent noise levels” as confirmed by Benjamin.

Another added benefit of these mowers comes from how the club has been able to redefine the job requirements of the team and can guarantee all-year round value.

“Very importantly, these mowers have enabled us to reassign some of our skilled greenkeeping team to other tasks on the course that require more specialist work,” Benjamin says. “During the wetter months, we expect to keep using these mowers, when ordinarily we would struggle to use the much heavier diesel machines. All in all, it has been a very positive investment for us and one that we believe we will continue to benefit from year after year.”

Just as Reesink sees the value in providing dedicated support for this new technology with the new digital specialist role created for Lee, so too do Russells who have recruited two dedicated employees to demonstrate and install Russells’ autonomous mowing offerings to customers, including private properties, estates, schools, golf courses and other sporting venues.

Mark Willerton, Groundcare Sales Manager at Russells, says: “Russells see autonomous mowers as an important part of our future business, it’s something we’re investing heavily in with dedicated specialist staff and demonstration machines.

“Working alongside Thonock Park and Reesink to understand this next generation of mowing and how to maximise the potential and efficiency of the mowers has been a great learning experience. We look forward to continuing working with the team at Thonock Park to ensure they always have the best turfcare options available.”

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