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Keeping the mountains moving in Saalbach Hinterglemm

Keeping the mountains moving in Saalbach Hinterglemm: Polaris is a firm believer that a product comes to life through its applications, partnerships but most importantly, via the people who use it.

To showcase the versatility of the Ranger, Polaris has embarked on a journey across Europe, the Middle East and Africa to discover and film how customers are using the Polaris Ranger in their day-to-day lives. The initiative, called Ranger Stories, is set to demonstrate the many ways in which the RANGER line-up is servicing customer lives worldwide.

Keeping the mountains moving in Saalbach Hinterglemm

Keeping the mountains moving in Saalbach Hinterglemm

Episode 15 – Saalbach Hinterglemm, Austria

From the fresh tracks in the morning to the very last chair, RANGER is always at work with customers who live and work in Saalbach Hinterglemm, Austria. In the heart of this world-class ski destination, a Polaris RANGER is a common sight. For the locals that keep the mountains moving, it’s a necessary tool that allows them to get the job done and keep the customers happy, no matter what the mountain climate throws their way.

“Saalbach Hinterglemm is a hotspot for sport and tourism year-round,” said Gerold Vonblon, Managing Director and Founder of Vonblon, Polaris dealer in Austria. “Skiiers, snowboarders and mountain bikers in the summer; the fantastic network of pistes for all abilities means there’s a constant stream of activity. For the people that live and work here, they are guaranteed to be busy year-round, so it’s important they have vehicles that are reliable day-in, day-out, and can be adapted to the extreme seasons.

“Seeing how Polaris Rangers have become an essential part of daily life here—whether for ski event logistics, mountain hospitality, or trail maintenance—is a testament to their capability and the trust that’s been built within this hardworking community.”

Ranger Stories Episode 15 follows Gerold Vonblon as he visits valued Polaris customers across the Saalbach Hinterglemm area:

Thomas Johann Ferner – Owner of the Stöcklalm Restaurant in Leogang and owner of three Polaris Rangers, including the Ranger XP Kinetic and two Ranger XP 1000s. Running a restaurant business on the top of a mountain is no easy feat in winter, so Thomas and his wife, Christine, must find an easy way to transport essential supplies and ingredients from the town below to their restaurant. The solution is a fleet of Rangers, all equipped with snow tracks, to traverse the snowy slopes and carry everything they need in the cargo bed.

Fritz Steger – Local hotelier and Chief of the Piste at Saalbach Hinterglemm Ski Club, Fritz is the main man when it comes to preparing the Zwölferkogel for major skiing events, including the FIS Alpine World Ski Championships that took place on the mountain this year. With a fleet of Polaris’ in operation, including the Sportsman XP 1000 and RANGER XP Kinetic fitted with snow tracks, Fritz is always on hand to monitor and manage the slope during the busy ski season.

Sepp Gensbichler – Winkler Alm Restaurant Owner in Saalbach Hinterglemm, a restaurant that sits amidst all the action on the Zwölferkogel directly on the slope, Sepp is a longstanding Polaris customer now on his third Polaris RANGER XP 1000. Fitted with several accessories that make it ideal for winter use, Sepp’s RANGER has a full cab, including an in-cab heater and snow tracks for travelling up and down the mountain with ease.

Hannes Gensbichler – Zwölferkogel Workshop Manager in Saalbach Hinterglemm, Hannes is the master of winter vehicles that operate in and around the Saalbach region, working round the clock to keep the mountain in pristine condition for the season. Maintaining snow groomers, snow blowers, and snow plows are all in a day’s work, made easier by their fleet of 12 Polaris Sportsman and RANGER XP Kinetic that work tirelessly alongside the team to keep the mountain moving.

The all-electric RANGER XP Kinetic is an important tool for the teams that operate throughout the Saalbach Hinterglemm region, synonymous with their commitment to sustainability and responsibility to both people and nature, whilst supporting them with unmatched capability and strength to get the job done, no matter what the mountain throws their way.

Similar to Vonblon’s customers, Polaris vehicles in operation across the area are commonly seen with snow tracks fitted for travelling across deep snow, complemented by the fact that UTVs are generally much more lightweight than cars, for easy traversing up and down the mountain. Customers can then replace the tracks with wheels in the summer season, making it the ultimate year-round vehicle. For most, adapting the RANGER with a full cab kit, including windshield, roof, full doors and a rear panel, is a must, along with an in-cab heater for extra warmth and windshield defrosting.

Hear the stories of Saalbach Hinterglemm’s winter workforce and see why no other machine gets the job done like RANGER.

CATCH THE LATEST EPISODE OF RANGER STORIES HERE

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Fiata Stressgard® now available in 10L packs

Fiata Stressgard® now available in 10L packs: Fiata Stressgard®, from Envu and distributed by Origin Amenity Solutions, is now available in convenient 10L packs. This allows for more flexible application rates of 15 or 20L/ha, making it easier for turf managers to incorporate into their agronomic programmes.

A recent independent trial by the Sports Turf Research Institute (STRI) confirmed Fiata Stressgard’s ability to improve turf resilience, colour, and quality, even during a six-week drought. The study also showed that Fiata Stressgard® enhances photosynthesis, outperforming both untreated plots and those treated with pigment alone.

Fiata Stressgard® now available in 10L packs

Fiata Stressgard® now available in 10L packs

Additionally, the research found that combining Fiata Stressgard® with the growth regulator trinexapac-ethyl reduces potential quality issues often associated with trinexapac-ethyl alone. This combination further boosted chlorophyll levels in both drought-stressed and healthy turf, supporting plant health under various conditions.

Notably, the trial demonstrated that during drought conditions, Fiata Stressgard® was a better option than continuing with turf wetting agent programme alone. While turf wetting agents are essential before and after drought, using Fiata Stressgard® before and during dry periods helped maintain turf quality and improved recovery afterward.

Since its UK launch, Fiata Stressgard® has received excellent feedback from turf managers, who report improved turf quality, enhanced colour, and greater stress resilience. Phil Logan, UK Turf Manager at Envu, commented: The new STRI trial results reaffirm the multiple benefits of Fiata Stressgard. Not only does it improve plant health and drought tolerance, but it also complements trinexapac-ethyl applications, making it an excellent addition to any turf management programme.”

Mark De Ath, PPP Team Lead at Origin Amenity Solutions, added, “The research highlights Fiata Stressgard’s role in modern turf management. Its ability to support plant health, particularly in drought conditions, provides a practical and reliable solution for maintaining high-quality playing surfaces.”

Looking ahead, the full launch of Fiata Stressgard® in 2025 will include a webinar, regional seminars, and dedicated support from Origin Amenity Solutions to help turf managers maximise its benefits.

For more information, visit www.originamenity.com or contact your local Origin Amenity representative.

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Al Zorah Invests in Sustainable Toro Technology

Al Zorah Invests in Sustainable Toro Technology: Al Zorah Golf Club, a Troon-managed facility, has made a significant advancement in its sustainability efforts with the acquisition of cutting-edge Toro battery-powered equipment, as part of an extensive three-year replacement initiative.

This strategic investment highlights the club’s commitment to upholding world-class playing conditions while prioritizing environmentally responsible practices.

Al Zorah Invests in Sustainable Toro Technology

Al Zorah Invests in Sustainable Toro Technology

The newly acquired equipment includes the Toro Greensmaster eTriflex 3370 and the Toro Workman GTX Lithium, both designed with the latest advancements in eco-friendly and efficient technology. These state-of-the-art machines will play a pivotal role in elevating the maintenance standards of Al Zorah Golf Club, ensuring superior turf quality with minimal environmental impact. Additionally, the order from Toro distributor Delta Turf Care encompasses fairway mowers, rough mowers, heavy-duty utility vehicles, and the Toro ProCore, further enhancing the club’s capabilities.

Al Zorah Golf Club leads the charge in sustainability, becoming the first golf course in this region to utilize the fully electric Toro Greensmaster eTriflex 3370 for mowing greens, setting a new benchmark in eco-friendly golf course management.

“At Al Zorah Golf Club, sustainability is at the core of everything we do. Our investment in Toro’s advanced, energy-efficient technology reflects our commitment to reducing our carbon footprint while maintaining the highest standards of course conditioning,” said Terrance Mohamed, Golf Course Superintendent at Al Zorah Golf Club. “We are thrilled that Delta Turf Care and The Toro Company have not only provided us with world-class equipment but also exceeded our expectations by delivering the equipment ahead of schedule.”

The Toro Workman GTX Lithium and Toro Greensmaster eTriflex 3370, powered by lithium-ion battery technology, embody Al Zorah Golf Club’s vision for reducing emissions. Meanwhile, the precision-engineered Toro Reelmaster 3575 ensures exceptional playing surfaces while minimizing environmental impact.

“Delta Turf Care is proud to support Al Zorah Golf Club in its pursuit of sustainability,” said Marinus Koekemoer, Regional Manager at Delta Turf Care. “Our team worked diligently to deliver this fleet ahead of schedule, allowing Al Zorah to enhance its operations and reinforce its position as a leader in eco-conscious golf course management.”

This collaboration highlights the shared vision of Delta Turf Care and Al Zorah Golf Club—a future where innovation and sustainability drive success in the golf industry.

For more information about Delta Turf Care’s range of Toro machinery, please visit www.DeltaTurfCare.com.

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Salsco plays pivotal ‘roll’ in retaining post-Open standards

Salsco plays pivotal ‘roll’ in retaining post-Open standards: From the moment James Bledge took over as Links Manager at Royal Liverpool Golf Club, it was all eyes on preparation for the 151st Open Championship.

From the moment Brian Harman lifted the Claret Jug in July 2023, the focus changed onto how to retain the top-level presentation and play for members to enjoy! Part of solving that equation has been a Salsco HP11-III roller which is delivering unparalleled productivity and unprecedented progression in greens speed.

Salsco plays pivotal ‘roll’ in retaining post-Open standards

Salsco plays pivotal ‘roll’ in retaining post-Open standards

James first came across Salsco rollers in his previous role at Royal Cinque Ports and, while rolling didn’t play a major part in preparations for the Open, he knew it was the solution to retaining standards. “Hand cutting again and again is the way to go when resources are high, however, when you only have five staff in on a Saturday morning and you’re trying to recreate similar conditions for people travelling hundreds of miles to play the course, it’s simply not feasible. The HP11-III with three wide rollers allows us to deliver the greens to an incredibly high standard and has been pivotal to retaining the post-Open ‘buzz’.”

The Salsco HP11-III roller features three oscillating rollers which articulate to guarantee 100% roll to ground contact. With a combined rolling width of 73” and an almost 11mph ground speed, it delivers efficiency and quality with every roll, on every terrain. “We’ll use the Salsco two or three times during the week and after mowing ahead of weekend competitions for that extra bit of greens speed. We also roll throughout the winter instead of cutting to retain presentation and minimise plant stress” James explains.

“In terms of operation, it’s the comfiest roller on the market in my opinion. Because of the mounted brush system, it’s also the cleanest, dispersing any debris pick-up meaning we can use it after sand-dressing, verti-cutting and grooming operations. It’s gone from being a two-person job, to a one-person job.”

He adds, “There’s also evidence to suggest rolling can reduce the impact of Dollar Spot so, in conjunction with careful nutritional management, we’ve been rolling prone areas to remove moisture and create conditions less conducive to the disease.”

James also had good things to say about the service received from the importers Lister Wilder, having used them at his previous club. “They have always been a good company to work alongside – at the end of the phone if we ever need anything and with the right support and answers to any questions we may have.”

For more information on the self-propelled Salsco roller range, available exclusively in the UK via Lister Wilder, visit salscorollers.co.uk 

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Green-tech Shortlisted in Pro Landscaper Business Awards

Green-tech Shortlisted in Pro Landscaper Business Awards: Green-tech, the UK’s leading supplier of landscaping and forestry products, is delighted to announce that it has been shortlisted in the prestigious Pro Landscaper Business Awards 2025.

Green-tech has been recognised in the highly competitive ‘Supplier and Service Provider of the Year’ category, which highlights the company’s continued commitment to excellence within the industry.

Green-tech Shortlisted in Pro Landscaper Business Awards

Green-tech Shortlisted in Pro Landscaper Business Awards

The Pro Landscaper Business Awards have firmly established themselves as the leading industry awards, celebrating the business successes of organisations driving excellence within the UK’s landscaping sector. Now in its eighth year, the awards continue to set the benchmark for industry achievement, attracting a record number of high-calibre entries. Green-tech’s inclusion on this year’s shortlist reflects its outstanding performance and dedication to delivering exceptional products and services.

A judging panel of industry professionals will review Green-tech’s submission alongside the other shortlisted entries, and the winner will be announced at a celebratory awards ceremony on Friday, April 25th, 2025.

Kris Nellist, Green-tech’s Managing Director, declares, “I am incredibly proud to be shortlisted for this award. Green-tech is committed to providing exceptional products and services to the landscaping industry, and this recognition is a testament to the dedication and hard work of our entire team. We look forward to the awards ceremony and celebrating the achievements of all the finalists.”

To achieve this shortlisting, Green-tech demonstrated excellence across key criteria, including financial stability, a commitment to staff training and development, innovation within its product range, outstanding customer satisfaction, and strong sustainability practices. The company’s dedication to environmental responsibility and continued investment in industry-leading solutions reinforce its position as a trusted and influential supplier.

Green-tech’s extensive product range supports professionals across the industry, offering solutions for tree planting, urban landscaping, ground reinforcement, soil and growing media, erosion control, biodiversity and beyond.

Green-tech congratulates all the other shortlisted companies and looks forward to an exciting awards event.

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