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Mega Twister blows in new era

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Mega Twister blows in new era: Buchanan Castle Golf Club, at Drymen, is within touching distance of Loch Lomond. Twenty miles from both Glasgow and Stirling, the parkland course, designed by the legendary James Braid, lies in the foothills of the Scottish Highlands.

At the start of summer, Buchanan Castle’s well known head greenkeeper, Ronnie Myles, retired after 15 years, and his role has been taken up by two joint Head Greenkeepers, Chris Prior and James Macdonald.

Mega Twister blows in new era

Mega Twister blows in new era

Chris and James have been with the club for 3 years and 4 years, respectively. They share a commitment to present the best course they can for members and visitors all year round.

“Communication is key and, so far, we’re into a good system,” said Chris. “We discuss and agree priorities and projects well ahead. Every morning, first thing, we confirm that day’s tasks.”

“We know what the other is working on,” continued James. “When things change, we keep in touch.”

One of their first decisions was the purchase of a Wiedenmann Mega Twister blower from Scottish dealer, Fairways GM at Inchinnan, Renfrew, when their existing blower started to fail. The Mega Twister offers a 390 m³/minute capacity and a 230° swivel action.

Buchanan Castle’s team of five normally cut grass across the whole course on Mondays and Thursdays during the season, using a blower to tidy loose clippings from the surface.

“This blower has everything we were looking for,” said James. “It’s turning circle comes in very handy. Getting in and around greens and bunkers is a whole lot easier. With our earlier blower you had to drive over greens to blow cuttings and debris out of play. This has extra power, in-cab hydraulic controls and easy rotation. You can park up in one spot yet still achieve more. Making fewer tractor movements ultimately is kinder to the turf and quicker.  The Mega Twister has been here less than a fortnight but already we are saving lots of time on the fairways alone.”

The Mega Twister is the second Wiedenmann machine in the club’s fleet.

“Last season, we purchased a Super 500 primarily for leaf collection,” continued Chris. “When you have as many leaves as we do, there comes a point where collecting them is the only way. Last year the old blower blew leaves into sections and the Super 500 lifted them. That made a real difference. Come this autumn when the leaves start to fall, the Mega Twister and the Super 500 combined, will make the whole operation easier and faster still.”

Fairways GM’s Stuart Cameron, said: “The continuous airflow on the Mega Twister is powerful enough to shift leaves and debris effectively across wide areas, even while damp.

“With the hydraulic ram option, the operator in the cab can adjust the nozzle height up and down as well as from side to side, letting you react to conditions. With all that swivel going on there’s no need to back up or stop. The goose neck nozzle which Chris and James chose, provides even more precision.  The support wheels also protect the turf. It’s a topflight blower.”

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ICL Schools Seminar Returns in Style

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ICL Schools Seminar Returns in Style: The ICL Independent Schools Seminar recently returned in full force after a two-year absence due to the pandemic.

Held at the all-new Sports Turf Academy within Leicester City FC’s world-class training facility, approximately 50 turf professionals from the Independent Schools sector attended the event to network and enhance their education.

ICL Schools Seminar Returns in Style

ICL Schools Seminar Returns in Style

With the last seminar taking place in 2019, many attendees saw it as a valuable opportunity to catch-up on trends and topics within the ever-changing world of turf management.

“You’ve got to stay up to date,” said Gary Austin, Deputy Head Groundsman at Radley College. “In the short amount of time between the seminars, things have moved on so quickly and less products have become available. If you don’t attend events like this and keep yourself aware, then you will get left behind.”

ICL’s Dr Richard Collins was the first to take to the stage and proceeded to provide an overview and update on the many research projects being conducted by ICL. Richard explained the importance of research and trials; detailed the types of research being carried out by ICL including internal studies and those in partnership with leading universities; and he also offered an insight into specific projects such as SMX – a soluble seaweed concentrate, and a variety of wetting agents.

Turf in the metaverse was up next as Syngenta’s Daniel Lightfoot addressed the exciting potential of digital agronomy. In his presentation, Daniel explained how digital activity will underpin the future of turf management, encouraging less chemical applications and more accurate biological ones. Attendees then saw how Syngenta’s Pest Management app is helping to provide turf professionals with essential product and application information.

A short coffee break allowed delegates to reflect on the morning seminars before ICL’s Henry Bechelet outlined strategies for effective renovations. Step-by-step Henry went through the stages of a successful renovation process by covering everything from seed

choice to early establishment and proven fertilisers to the use of supported technologies.

Lunch signalled the halfway point and, in turn, provided the fuel for attendees to share their opinions in a panel debate led by Adam King, Head of Grounds at Radley College. It presented an opportunity to discuss the biggest issues that the Independent Schools sector cares most about. Conversations focussed on staffing levels, recruitment, pay grades, how to get more people into the industry and whether industry organisations should be doing more for the sector. The refreshing debate could have continued long into the evening as attendees shared their own experiences and collaboratively explored potential solutions.

Host for the day and Head of Sports Turf and Grounds, John Ledwidge, then provided a fascinating insight into the recently launched Sports Turf Academy. John explained how the Academy aims to inspire the next generation of sports turf students by offering an elite training environment, with access to the latest technology and expertise.

The day concluded with a memorable behind the scenes tour of the club’s state-of-the-art training facility and the consensus was that the attendees were pleased to see the return of the seminar.

“I’m taking so much away with me,” said Chris Moody, Head of Grounds at Ratcliffe College. “Firstly, it has shown me just how much research goes into each and every ICL product. I found the digital technology presentation fascinating; it was a real eye-opener and I’ll be downloading the app as soon as I can, especially as it is free at a time when we’re all trying to keep within our budgets. Overall, days like this are very much needed – we all have time pressures, but we still need to take the time to attend something informative which brings together people of the same ilk.”

Michael Hood, Head Groundsman at Leicester Grammar School, agreed: “It has been great catching up and meeting people from other schools to share advice,” he said.

“We’ve all got the same problems, but we don’t get the chance to talk about it very often so today has been very beneficial.”

It was the first ICL seminar Ipswich School has attended, and Head Groundsman Martin Cull wasn’t disappointed: “We came today not really knowing what to expect but it has been amazing. Seeing all the research gives you even more trust in the products. Talking to other like-minded people and finding out how they deal with certain issues has also been very useful.”

“We haven’t got a huge budget, so the timing of product application is essential,” added Martin’s colleague Ollie Jones. “Therefore, the biggest thing I’ll be taking away with me from today is knowing exactly when to use products. It has been a real privilege to attend – the facilities here are breath-taking.”

The event certainly struck a chord with Aaron Winfield, Assistant Groundsman at Harrow School: “Listening to John Ledwidge and finding out how he is trying to develop the industry through the Sports Turf Academy was incredible. There is a clear hole in the industry which he is trying to fill. I also enjoyed participating in the panel debate because people are leaving the industry, which is hard to see when you love it. Today we have established that we need to educate more people from outside the industry as to just how great this job is.

“This event has been brilliant, and we need more days like this because it has allowed us to come together and help us nurture the future of the industry. I’d like to say a big thank you to Emma Kilby (founder of the seminar) and everyone else at ICL.”

Please contact ICL on 01473 237100 or visit www.icl-sf.co.uk or www.icl-sf.ie if you are in Ireland.

For more news and insightful views, you can follow ICL on Twitter @ICL_Turf

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Future of greenkeeping in safe hands

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Future of greenkeeping in safe hands: Toro, Reesink Turfcare and the British & International Golf Greenkeepers Association (BIGGA), have revealed the finalists of their prestigious annual awards, which seek to uncover the UK’s leading student greenkeepers.

Each year the Toro Student Greenkeeper of the Year Awards enable BIGGA, the UK’s only membership association for golf greenkeepers, to work alongside turf maintenance equipment manufacturer Toro and distributor Reesink Turfcare to celebrate the next generation of talented and dedicated greenkeepers.

Future of greenkeeping in safe hands

Future of greenkeeping in safe hands

A record 54 nominees from across the United Kingdom were put forward by educators, course managers and head greenkeepers and other mentors. From those candidates, a final 12 have been chosen to contest the grand finals this September.

For the first time, the finals of the Toro Student Greenkeeper of the Year will take place at Goodwood, the historic sporting venue located in West Sussex. The awards event will take place a week before the estate hosts Goodwood Revival, the famous weekend of classic racing. Goodwood is also home to the Downs Course, described by Justin Rose as a “truly inspirational” place to play golf.

September’s event will be the 33rd staging of the Toro Student Greenkeeper of the Year Awards and just the sixth time the Toro Young Student Greenkeeper of the Year Award, open to greenkeepers aged 21 or under, will take place. To be eligible to take part, candidates must be registered on a qualifying greenkeeping qualification and must be nominated by their course manager or college tutor.

The Toro Student Greenkeeper of the Year finalists are:

  • Andrew Bate, Hesketh Golf Club
  • Tom Bromfield, Trentham Golf Club
  • James Gaskell, Ripon City Golf Club
  • Abi Laker, Frilford Heath Golf Club
  • Andrew Ritchie, St Andrews Links
  • John Thornton, Hellidon Lakes Golf and Country Club

The Toro Young Student Greenkeeper of the Year finalists are:

  • Jake Beech, Newcastle-under-Lyme Golf Club
  • Alfie Brookes, Gathurst Golf Club
  • Luke Charnley, Royal Liverpool Golf Club
  • Peter Pattenden, Carden Park Golf Club
  • James Stratford, Broome Manor Golf Club
  • Freddie Williams, Dudsbury Golf Club

More information about the finalists is available here.

The Toro Student Greenkeeper of the Year winner will receive: enrolment in the 10-week University of Massachusetts Winter Turf School; a two-week expenses-paid placement at Adare Manor, venue of The 2027 Ryder Cup; an all expenses paid trip to the GCSAA Conference and Show in Florida; and a visit to Toro Corporate HQ, R&D Centre and Equipment Operations in Wisconsin.

The Toro Young Student Greenkeeper of the Year winner will receive: a two-week work placement at Vidauban Golf Club in France; a five-night trip to Continue to Learn at BTME including four days of education; and a gift voucher for Toro Training.

The runners-up and endorsers of the winners will also receive various prizes.

BIGGA Learning and Development Executive Deb Burnett said: “Each year the Toro Student Greenkeeper of the Year Awards gain a little more prestige, as previous finalists go on to achieve wonderful things in their careers. I’m delighted that more student greenkeepers than ever before participated in the nomination process and all should be proud of how they performed during the regional interview stage.

“The 12 finalists are very worthy of their spot and I can’t wait to watch them overcome the challenges we set for them at glorious Goodwood this autumn. My thanks go to Toro and Reesink Turfcare for their continued support of this wonderful initiative.”

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Vermorel knapsacks put grounds team in comfort zone

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Vermorel knapsacks put grounds team in comfort zone: Head groundsman Jason O’Keele and his six-strong Epsom College team are all dab hands with knapsack sprayers.

“Everyone has their PA6 certificate so they can use them whenever we need to weed and feed,” says Jason.

 

Vermorel knapsacks put grounds team in comfort zone

Vermorel knapsacks put grounds team in comfort zone

The team manage an 85-acre estate, 12 hectares devoted to sport, including five cricket squares, 12 turf pitches, two synthetics and plenty of planted-up borders lining college staff and pupil accommodation at the 1,200-head co-educational independent school, so there’s plenty of opportunity for them to hone their spray skills.

Part of Commercial Groundscare Services’ team of professionals who tend school sports facilities throughout Surrey, the Epsom College contingent are based permanently on site.

“Being here full time means we can really take pride in looking after what are fantastic facilities,” Jason says. And as pupil numbers rise under the  College’s expansion programme, so does the sporting calendar.

“We can have as many as 10 cricket fixtures here on a Saturday for example,” he adds, “while local and league football clubs also train here.”

That all means the pressure’s on to deliver perfectly manicured grounds that reflect the prestige and prowess of the College academically and across a sporting spectrum that includes, football, rugby, hockey, tennis and athletics.

“I like to give team members different jobs to tackle as that creates more interest for them, rather than doing the same thing all the time,” explains Jason, whose allegiance to Hozelock Exel knapsack brands dates back some years.

“Our Cooper Pegler professional sprayer has always run without any trouble but I wanted a couple more knapsacks so that we could speed up the efficiency of our spraying programme,” he says.

“I trialled the 16l capacity Pro Comfort 2000 sprayer in the Berthoud Vermorel range, liked it, and have just bought another one. What impressed me were the chest and back strap supports. Ergonomically designed, they make spraying comfortable, and that’s important if you are out there for a day non stop.

“Also helpful is the zip bag of spare nozzles and accessories and the extendable lance, which lets us reach into corners and the back of borders.”

Jason keeps the weed and feed programmes separate, using each Vermorel knapsack for discrete duties. “In spring and summer we’re out every fortnight for a couple of days, applying liquid iron across the ornamental lawns with one of the knapsacks while using a mix of systemic herbicide and liquid nitrogen with the other.

“Growth retardant applied to banks reduces the need for strimming, and we can use it in the same knapsack as that for feed.”

Winter sees the team applying moss and algae treatment liquid monthly to the two synthetic pitches. “They thrive over the colder weather so we need to tackle growth regularly as playing surfaces can become slippery.”

Jason knows the value of regular maintenance in keeping knapsacks primed. “We run pre-start checks before every outing and in the two years since I bought the first Vermorel knapsack, I haven’t replaced anything.

“They are certainly robust and the piston and pump operation really works well, delivering a consistent, continuous spray.”

Variety is the spice of life they say and Jason puts theory into practice. “Everybody takes turns in spraying as they are all trained up to use knapsacks, complete with white suits, wellies and appropriate PPE kit.

“It helps keep everyone engaged, which means we have the best chance of delivering the finest results across the grounds.”

Each of the three premium grade knapsacks – Vermorel 1800, Pro Comfort 2000 and top-range 3000 Electric – come with ergonomically contoured, sturdy backframe as standard.

Safety harnesses provide rising levels of support progressing through the line – from padded shoulder straps on the `1800`, to padded shoulder, waist and chest strapping on the `2000` and fully specified `3000`.

All Vermorel knapsacks are easy to use and dismantle for servicing and repair.  They are also suitable for applying sanitisers and disinfectants and are available with a host of spares and accessories such as spray shields, seal and nozzle kits and multi-nozzle spray booms to give operators even greater flexibility.

www.cooper-pegler.com

www.berthoud.fr/en/

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Essential information in your hand

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Essential information in your hand: The new Syngenta Turf App now includes a host of added features to help with everyday turf management decisions and enhance long-term planning.

Features for the new Syngenta Turf App include:

  • Disease & Pest ID Guide
  • Treatment recommendations
  • Product information
  • Tank-mix calculator
  • Application records
  • Support contacts
Essential information in your hand

Essential information in your hand

Launching the new Syngenta Turf App at the Turf Science Live event (8 July), the company’s Commercial Head for UK and Europe North West, Daniel Lightfoot, said: “It’s incredibly valuable to have all the information required to help make key management decisions readily to hand wherever you are.

“From a practical course managers perspective, the Turf App is a hugely beneficial tool for all spray applications and turf management decisions.”

A new Disease & Pest ID Guide provide a clear pictorial view of what to look out for, along with management notes of where and when problems are most likely to occur. It includes an in-depth strategy for the optimum Integrated Turf Management approach to each pest and disease.

Coupled to the ID Guide, users can simply select the target disease or pest for a full list of approved Syngenta control products.

Within each of the product listings, there are full details of statutory labels, safety data sheets and technical guides, to ensure operators are always fully compliant with the latest regulatory information on product use.

“It ensures operators always have access to the most up-to-date information instantly in their hand, wherever they are working,” reported Daniel. “The labels displayed on your phone are always clean and uncontaminated, compared to potentially handling old labels on part-used bottles in the store.”

Application records created in the Turf App enable full spray records to be quickly and simply created. Users can now add any company’s products into the system, including fertilisers and biocontrols, for example. Once any product details have been added, they remain available for future addition or reference.

“Course managers or agronomists can create spray recommendations using the Turf App that can be emailed to sprayer operators or contractors. That eliminates the chance of error from misreading hand-written sheets or instructions,” he advised.

Operators can also access information and update details of any application direct, if they are logged into the course account.

One-time registration enables users to input all their facility details, spray areas, equipment and operators – which can be instantly imported into spray records – making them quick and accurate to complete.

The app’s innovative Tank-mix Calculator will help operators complete the applications efficiently and accurately, by providing the amount of any products required to spray a given area and the appropriate water volume, along with advice on nozzle selection and sprayer set up.

“The fact that the spray records retained in the Turf App are allied to the label and product information within the system, alleviates the need to keep paper copies of labels in the office and ensures they are legally compliant.

“Digital tools have made a huge advance in supporting the skills and experience of turf managers,” highlighted Daniel. “Once you start to couple together the Turf App, with tools such as WeatherPro forecasting and the Primo Maxx II Growing Degree Day Calculator, for example, it creates a really powerful and practical integrated decision support package,” he added.

The new Syngenta Turf App is available free to download from the iStore or GooglePlay for Apple or android phone and tablet devices.

For more information visit www.syngentaturf.co.uk

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