Tag Archive for: Investment

Sturdy Stoneburier proves the ideal investment

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Sturdy Stoneburier proves the ideal investment: After years of hiring various makes and models of stoneburier with varying levels of success, ATV Contract Services Limited decided the time was right to purchase their own machine and went for the most robust model they could find – the Stoneburier from GKB Machines.

Managing Director Paul Hensman noticed the superior build quality Stoneburier at a dealer open day, and in the few months since its delivery it has more than lived up to expectations – taking commercial groundwork projects, on tough terrain, in its stride.

Sturdy Stoneburier proves the ideal investment

Sturdy Stoneburier proves the ideal investment

Based in the East Midlands but assisting with major infrastructure projects around the country, ATV Contract Services have an extensive fleet of equipment for cultivation and soil preparation – with the GKB Stoneburier SB180 the latest addition to that, delivered in Spring 2022. “These machines, with the nature of the work at hand, take a real hammering and what you don’t want is to invest in something that is going to spend more time in the workshop than out in the field!” says Paul.

“We saw the GKB machine at an open day hosted by Fentons of Bourne and the first thing that struck me was how sturdy and robust it was and, following a good chat with the GKB team, we placed an order. The proof has been in the pudding and in the first eight weeks from delivery, the Stoneburier did six weeks’ worth of work and everybody was incredibly impressed with it. It’s been on a lot of POS (public open space) work where you’ll very often find debris such as discarded kerbstones or lumps of tarmac in the ground and the SB180 hasn’t missed a beat.”

The Stoneburier utilises blades that rotate against the direction of travel to effectively screen stones and other debris from the top 7” of the surface, creating an optimal seedbed in a single pass. One particular feature that has impressed Paul and the team is the 45o angle on the GKB blades meaning that when they turn in the ground, no pan layer is created. He explains, “Other stoneburiers we’ve used with blades at 90o to the rotor can actually compact the ground in such a way that restricts drainage and negatively impacts seed germination. That simple design feature on the GKB Stoneburier makes a huge difference to not only the quality of finish, but how often the machine will jam or clog up.”

“The GKB Stoneburier made great commercial sense and has proven to be a fantastic investment. We are already benefitting from having it on our fleet, available whenever and wherever we need it” Paul concludes.

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Investment to improve quality of grounds

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Investment to improve quality of grounds: Yesterday, the GMA’s CEO, Geoff Webb joined England Manager, Gareth Southgate and stars from cricket, rugby union and rugby league to mark a game-changing multi-sport, multi-million-pound investment announcement.

As part of a £92 million, three-year multi-sport investment commitment, the Football Foundation has extended use of their FREE revolutionary pitch inspection app, PitchPower, to cricket, rugby union and rugby league clubs.

Investment to improve quality of grounds

Investment to improve quality of grounds

Through PitchPower, community clubs and organisations are able to carry out their own grass pitch inspections and receive bespoke advice and recommendations from experts at the Grounds Management Association to improve the quality of their grass pitches.

PitchPower has already been a game-changer in transforming the country’s grass football pitches. In its trial alone, PitchPower helped to inspect almost 5,000 football pitches, leading to £8.6m of Football Foundation investment.

The app is now available to rugby league and is set to go live for rugby union at the season opener on 17/18th September, whilst cricket will follow at the next season.

Beyond inspections, from Spring 2023, a new £15m funding pot will also be made available via the Football Foundation over the next three years enabling cricket, rugby league and rugby union clubs to apply for a grant funded by the Sport England National Lottery fund.

Football Foundation says, “Grass pitches are essential to grassroots sport. Better grass pitches will mean fewer matches will be postponed and more people can play more rugby, cricket, and football. The PitchPower app will help revolutionise the quality of grass pitches across England. We know that more opportunities to play improves not only physical health but also mental wellbeing, the places we live and the local economy too.”

GMA Chief Executive, Geoff Webb says, “The Ground Management Association is proud to have been a key delivery partner in the pilot for the PitchPower app and continues to work closely with the Football Foundation as we extend the service to a wider sporting community enabling cricket and rugby to also start reaping the benefits. If there’s no ground, there’s no game. As simple as that, so we welcome this additional investment to support grounds management.”

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BIGGA postpones BTME to March 2022

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BIGGA postpones BTME to March 2022: The British & International Golf Greenkeepers Association (BIGGA) has made the decision to postpone its major exhibition and trade show, the BIGGA Turf Management Exhibition (BTME), which was due to take place in January 2022.

Taking into consideration the uncertainty regarding the rapid spread of the Omicron variant of COVID-19, the National Board of Management of the association convened on the evening of Thursday 16 December and made the unanimous decision to delay the exhibition and associated education programme, Continue to Learn, which are held at the Harrogate Convention Centre in North Yorkshire.

The new dates for BTME 2022 will be Tuesday 22 to Thursday 24 March 2022, with Continue to Learn taking place from Sunday 20 to Wednesday 23 March 2022.

BIGGA CEO Jim Croxton will take to Facebook Live at 2pm on Friday 17 December to provide further clarification regarding the decision and to answer any questions relating to the postponement. Head to the BIGGA Facebook page, https://www.facebook.com/golfgreenkeepers to get involved.

Jim said: “The uncertainty regarding the Omicron wave of coronavirus has led us to engage in consultation with key stakeholders and consider contingency courses of action for our flagship event, BTME. We know all sides of the industry are keen for the show to take place and after due consideration of all options the BIGGA National Board of Management, working closely with BIGGA’s team of staff, has taken the decision to postpone BTME until March 2022.

“It is heartening to see the success of the booster vaccination programme, but we are committed to running a safe show for all attendees and with all the information available to us, we do not believe this would be possible in January 2022.

“This decision has not been taken lightly and has involved an incredible amount of logistical organisation to make a postponement possible. I am grateful to all of the key stakeholders that make BTME possible for their rapid responses to our decision, which has enabled us to confirm the postponement as early as today.

“Our thanks go to those who have supported BIGGA in this decision and we are excited to be hosting the full BTME and Continue to Learn experience in March 2022.”

Attendees who have signed up for the show will automatically be registered for the new dates. Continue to Learn bookings will also be carried over and BIGGA will be in contact with everyone who has booked a place on the education programme in the coming days to discuss arrangements further.

BIGGA acknowledges that this postponement will present challenges to many exhibitors and visitors to BTME and the team is committed to assisting all those who need support to transfer their commitments.

The BIGGA National Board of Management is the elected body of BIGGA members from across the country whose voluntary role is to provide strategic direction and ratify key decisions on behalf of the association. They are supported by a network of volunteers at all levels of BIGGA and the core BIGGA staff team.

Anyone who requires further information or assistance as to the postponement of BTME is encouraged to contact BIGGA via the following channels:

Website: www.btme.org.uk

 

Don’t risk your investment this winter

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Don’t risk your investment this winter: One of the best things you can do for your mower this winter is to gift it the best possible replacement parts. And when it comes to a Toro mower, Toro Genuine Parts are the best there is.

It’s more than likely that two deciding factors for choosing Toro machinery are the superior quality of cut and good return on investment and to risk that by choosing cheaper, spurious parts is a false economy, according to Reesink Turfcare.

Don't risk your investment this winter

Don’t risk your investment this winter

Michael Hampton, parts manager at the company, explains: “The considerations that go into deciding which brand to get your machinery from should also influence the decision you make when it comes to which parts you choose. Things like performance, quality of cut, longevity, return on investment, all stand up for parts too.

“Choosing parts that aren’t Toro Genuine Parts, especially when it’s for a Toro mower, can wreak havoc with the machine’s performance and can even risk damaging the cutting units, costing more in the long-term.

“Taking a cylinder mower as an example, the scissor-like shearing action that gives the fine finish it is famed for requires the bedknife and cylinder blades to be sharp, matched and in close relationship with each other. The fit you get with a brand that isn’t specifically designed for the intricacies of the mower will never be exact and that’s where the problems can start. The fact is well-maintained kit with the right parts tends to be trouble-free with far less down-time.”

With cutting in the winter months going down to three times a week, now is a good time to strip back the machines and take an in-depth look at the cutting unit. Keeping on top of general maintenance of tines, filters and belts, ensures machines are in the best possible condition for the hard ground conditions of winter and going into the demands of spring. It can be tempting to cut corners when it comes to servicing and that can be expensive.

For those clubs without a workshop manager or team with the know-how or time to take this sort of job on, Reesink’s dealers and service centres, which are located across the country, can step in. The benefits of a genuine service include second-to-none local support, comprehensive stock reserve, 24-hour delivery service and trans-Atlantic freight service. This represents the kind of reassurance Reesink wants to give turfcare professionals: minimum downtime, maximum productivity and more customer service.

Winter machinery maintenance is a key part of the greenkeeping calendar and the quality of the replacement parts are vital to the machine’s performance in the toughest season of the year. Toro Genuine Parts guarantee the highest possible standards and the best possible backup so, when it comes to which parts to pick, choose the best: choose Toro Genuine Parts.

To stock up on Toro parts or for winter machinery maintenance advice, customers can get in touch with their local Toro Genuine Parts dealer or service centre or contact Reesink via reesinkturfcare.co.uk

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Celtic Manor’s academy investment

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Celtic Manor’s academy investment: The Celtic Manor Resort is relaunching its Golf Academy next month with a £500,000 facelift featuring the installation of brand-new, industry-leading Toptracer Range technology.

Toptracer Range’s ground-breaking technology allows golfers to practise like never before, offering real-time shot data and accurate, interactive visuals alongside a host of different game modes to make range sessions more enjoyable.

Celtic Manor's academy investment

Celtic Manor’s academy investment

Toptracer interactive screens are being installed into every one of the 28 bays at the Golf Academy driving range, allowing golfers instant access to live shot analysis such as distances hit, accuracy, ball speed, launch and landing angles.

Furthermore, Toptracer Range will be incorporated into the expert tuition packages available from a team of PGA professionals at Celtic Manor Golf Academy, allowing the resort professionals to take their teaching analysis to the next level.

The Celtic Manor Golf Academy will show off its new facilities for the first time at a launch event on Sunday 12th December, where anyone can try out the new tech and compete for a host of brilliant prizes provided by Callaway.

The extensive refurbishment will be completed in January by the opening of a state-of-the-art VIP suite equipped with the latest Callaway equipment. The suite will be bookable for groups looking to celebrate a special occasion, enjoy a night out with a difference, or for corporate team-building.

Celtic Manor Resort Director of Golf, Spa and Leisure David Griffin said: “Toptracer Range is the ultimate game-improvement and entertainment tool, and I am sure golfers of all standards will really benefit from its many functions when they come here to practise.

“The addition of Toptracer will further enhance the academy’s credentials as the premier practice facility in South Wales, and we are also always looking for ways to encourage more people to take up golf. Toptracer will transform our academy facilities, and we look forward to improving our experience for every golfer that visits our resort.”

David Cederholm, EMEA Sales Director for Toptracer, commented: “It’s very exciting to start this partnership, and it represents a fantastic opportunity to continue the growth of the game of golf in Wales. It’s brilliant to be working alongside such a prestigious venue, and we look forward to seeing how Toptracer can enhance the visitor experience at Celtic Manor.”

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