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BIGGA Awards showcase greenkeeping at its finest

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BIGGA Awards showcase greenkeeping at its finest: The British & International Golf Greenkeepers Association (BIGGA) is delighted to reveal the finalists of the annual BIGGA Awards, with greenkeeping teams represented from across the golfing spectrum.

Each year BIGGA invites nominations from the golfing industry to recognise the achievements of its greenkeeping members, who play a vital role in the ongoing success of the sport.

BIGGA Awards showcase greenkeeping at its finest

BIGGA Awards showcase greenkeeping at its finest

The BIGGA Awards are divided into three categories, with the winners revealed at the BIGGA Celebration with Jacobsen. The event takes place on the opening evening of the BIGGA Turf Management Exhibition (BTME) in January 2024.

The BIGGA Awards recognise that high standards of quality and dedication are vital to the success of any golf course or championship. They reward the innovation of BIGGA members who are at the cutting edge of the profession and any BIGGA member within the UK, regardless of their golf facility’s size, age or reputation, can enter. The awards provide golf clubs with an opportunity to showcase their greenkeeping team’s talents and celebrate their achievements.

BIGGA Awards 2024 finalists

Championship Greenkeeping Performance of the Year sponsored by Bernhard and Company

This award recognises that the success of any tournament depends upon the expertise and dedication of the greenkeeping team. From the lowliest club championship through to golf’s professional tours – all are only made possible due to the work of greenkeepers who go above and beyond to present the finest playing surfaces possible.

The finalists in this category for 2024 are:

  • Paisley Golf Club, led by Course Manager Jonathan Caldwell, for hosting the Scottish Golf Men’s Area Team Championship Finals in September 2023
  • Portlethen Golf Club, led by Head Greenkeeper Neil Sadler, for hosting the Scottish Golf Boy’s Under 16 Open Championship in July 2023
  • Walton Heath Golf Club, led by Course Manager Michael Mann, for hosting US Open Golf Championship Final Qualifying in May 2023 and the AIG Women’s Open in August 2023.

Greenkeeping Project of the Year

This award recognises those greenkeeping teams who have undertaken a specific project, completed within the past year. However, projects can be long term and may include course construction, renovation or rebuild. They particularly award innovative thinking and commitment to the project by the home greenkeeping team.

The finalists in this category for 2024 are:

  • Basingstoke Golf Club, led by Course Manager Scott Roberts, for the redevelopment of the former Dummer Golf Club site and creation of a new golf course and associated facilities
  • Dudley Golf Club, led by Head Greenkeeper Stewart Marshall, for bringing the golf club back from the brink of closure and producing a thriving venue through a range of course improvement projects
  • Sandiway Golf Club, led by Course Manager Richard Sinker, for the ‘Project 1946’ redevelopment that is seeing the golf course revert to its original heathland characteristics

Outstanding Contribution of the Year

This award is presented to a BIGGA member or members who have made an outstanding contribution above and beyond their normal working life. This can be for charity, for the betterment of the greenkeeping profession or association or generally for society. The winner of this award will be revealed at the BIGGA Welcome Celebration at BTME 2024.

More information about each of the finalists can be found on the BTME website.

BIGGA CEO Jim Croxton said: “It has become something of a BIGGA tradition that we sign off the year by revealing the finalists of our annual awards and I couldn’t be prouder of this year’s line-up. The performance of a greenkeeping team can massively impact the fortunes of a golf club and these six finalists all show instances of greenkeepers possessing the confidence and ability to take the lead and ensure their golf club’s ambitions are fulfilled.

“I wish them all the best for the awards and look forward to discovering the winners at the BIGGA Awards on the opening night of BTME 2024.”

Sponsorship opportunities are still available alongside these awards. If you’re interested in getting involved, contact BIGGA’s head of business development Lauren Frazer using lauren@bigga.co.uk.

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Polaris RANGER XP Kinetic to make its debut at LAMMA

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Polaris RANGER XP Kinetic to make its debut at LAMMA: Taking place 17-18 January next year, Polaris Off Road is attending LAMMA 2024—the UK’s leading agricultural machinery and equipment show—and is set to showcase the long-awaited, all-electric RANGER XP Kinetic; the hardest working, smoothest riding UTV ever built.

Richard Coleby, National Sales Manager at Polaris UK & Ireland said: “We’re really pleased to be going back to LAMMA next year; it enables us to continue building our strong relationship with the agricultural community, and for this show in particular, it’s great that we’re able to showcase our brand-new RANGER XP Kinetic; a vehicle that’s been highly anticipated by both new and existing customers and one that we’re really excited to exhibit here in the UK, especially as, for many customers, this will be the first time they will be able to see the vehicle in the flesh.”

Polaris RANGER XP Kinetic to make its debut at LAMMA

Polaris RANGER XP Kinetic to make its debut at LAMMA

Set to arrive in UK dealers in the coming weeks, the RANGER XP Kinetic delivers uncompromised capability, unrivalled durability, and refined performance. With its all-electric powertrain, engineered for off-road use through Polaris’ exclusive 10-year partnership with Zero Motorcycles, the RANGER XP Kinetic offers the most horsepower and torque ever found in a utility side-by-side, with a class-leading 110 horsepower and 140 lb-ft of instantaneous torque that delivers maximum power and quick acceleration when it’s needed, including the ability to effortlessly tow up to 1,134kg and boasts an industry-best 680kg payload capacity. Thanks to being fully electric, the RANGER XP Kinetic also delivers smooth, precise control when operating at low speeds, especially useful in scenarios like towing or backing up to a trailer.

Polaris can be found in hall 17, stand 670, along with the new Ranger XP Kinetic and the full utility line-up including the RANGER 570, RANGER 1000, RANGER XP 1000, RANGER Diesel,

RANGER Diesel Deluxe, Sportsman 570, Sportsman XP 1000 as well as youth models Ranger 150 EFI and Sportsman 110 EFI.

The small but mighty mid-size RANGER 570 is punching well above its weight, with a Prostar 570cc double-overhead-cam engine which packs class-leading power. The Ranger offers incredible suspension, which provides 25.8cm of ground clearance, a tighter turning radius, and a compact width of just 144.5cm, giving the RANGER 570 a best-in-class combination of manoeuvrability and capability.

Engineered for work, the RANGER 1000 features a ProStar 1000cc engine, class-leading 1,134kg towing capacity, impressive payload capacity of 454kg and a tight turning radius to stay agile in tight spaces, the RANGER 1000 is one of the most capable machines on the market.

The top-of-the-range utility vehicle, the RANGER XP 1000, boasts a huge towing capacity of 1134kg and 454kg cargo bed capacity, as well as 33cm of ground clearance, 27.9cm suspension travel on the front and rear, and on-demand four-wheel drive. Available in 3-seat and CREW models (seating four to six riders), the XP 1000 is available in Azure Crystal, starting at £18,399 excluding VAT.

With a three-cylinder Kubota diesel engine, the RANGER Diesel boats 24.8 horsepower and 40.8 ft.lb of torque; 1134kg towing capacity; 730kg payload capacity. As well as Polaris’ on-demand all-wheel drive; electric power steering; Engine Braking System, and Active Descent Control, the RANGER DIESEL performs to the highest standards for years to come.

Combining the same durability, dependability and capability, with premium upgrades, the RANGER Diesel Deluxe is fitted directly at the factory, with a pre-installed 8-vent in-cab heater, an under-seat box for enhanced storage, and a noise reduction system to create a more comfortable, quieter cab.

As the most-trusted ATV in the industry, the Sportsman 570 delivers both performance and reliability thanks to its ProStar 570 engine. The Sportsman 570 features a bold design from front to back, a handlebar-mounted pod with an integrated LED work light and a built-in battery charging port. The sealed suspension bushings and durable A-arms give the Sportsman true resilience and ability to tackle the toughest tasks.

The Sportsman XP 1000 provides best-in-class power to accelerate faster, pull harder and carry more. With a fast-reacting all-wheel-drive system, electronic power steering, 680kg towing capacity and 261kg payload capacity with 36 litres of integrated storage, nothing can stop you.

Based on the full-sized Ranger, the Ranger 150 EFI was the industry’s first youth vehicle with smart safety features, making it the ideal vehicle for children to enjoy the outdoors safely. Perfect for the worker in training the RANGER 150 EFI features a 22.7kg rear bed capacity and is available in Avalanche Grey.

With a reliable 112cc 4-stroke engine with electronic fuel injection, the Sportsman 110 EFI is packed with youth-centred safety features that come as standard, including a speed limiting adjuster, safety flag, daytime running lights and a safety tether. The Sportsman 110 is ideal for young ATV riders aged 10 and above.

Please contact the Polaris press office if you would like to book a slot with the Polaris UK team during LAMMA 2024 – press@polaris-orv.media

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It’s J Premier Wicket time and again

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It’s J Premier Wicket time and again: When it comes to a cricket pitch, there’s not much that Richie Woodmason, owner of Willow Turf Care, doesn’t know about them – whether it’s playing on them or maintaining them!

One thing he is certain of, is that when he needs a grass seed that is going to germinate quickly and deliver hard-wearing results capable of withstanding the demands of the modern season, he turns to Johnsons Sports Seed. Following his own extensive research, it’s Johnsons J Premier Wicket that ticks all the boxes for Richie, seeing it employed on 41 of the 42 renovations he completed last season.

It’s J Premier Wicket time and again

It’s J Premier Wicket time and again

After moving to Australia to play cricket, Richie became involved in the grounds maintenance at the Perth club, swiftly taking on the role of Head Groundsman. On his return to the UK, he then adopted a similar role at his home club before a return trip to Oz saw him gain further experience of management in warmer climes. Back again, and positions at Gloucestershire Country Cricket Club and Trent Bridge were held, alongside the establishment of Willow Turf Care – conducting end of season renovations for facilities in and around the Gloucestershire area.

It was during his time at Trent Bridge that Richie took it upon himself to conduct some trials to establish the germination of various mixtures and assess the performance of various cultivars. He explains, “When we were conducting repairs, I’d line up four or five different mixtures and then look at things like the speed of germination, coverage and plant strength, and found that in our attempts to get a wicket back in six or eight weeks, that J Premier Wicket repeatedly outperformed the others.”

This knowledge has served Richie well, since he went full time with Willow Turf Care in March 2021. “I was armed with my go-to grass seed and found that, as new clients came on board, they were happy to take my recommendation. I’m now Head Groundsman at seven clubs and use J Premier Wicket at all of these, along with the numerous other sites at which I’m contracted. It continues to offer brilliant wear tolerance, disease resistance and coped well with the challenges of the hot and dry weather last summer.”

It’s J Premier Wicket time and again

It’s J Premier Wicket time and again

J Premier Wicket is formulated from four top-rated perennial rye cultivars that deliver proven, reliable performance and outstanding camera appeal. “We used it on all of our 42 square renovations except one last year, with the other one also using seed from another DLF brand, and couldn’t fault the results.” He adds, “Time is becoming the most important commodity due to the expectations on county club grounds staff. This means that finding something that works well, and works quickly, is crucial. For me, the J Premier Wicket mix backed up with fantastic technical support from DLF’s Ian Barnett and priced as it is, makes it unrivalled.”

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It’s TinyLineMarkers® at the double for PGSD!

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It’s TinyLineMarkers® at the double for PGSD!: Recent rapid expansions have seen major investments for Hounslow-based contractors PGSD – the most recent of which is a second TinyLineMarker® from Origin Amenity Solutions (OAS).

So impressed with the accuracy and labour savings brought about by their original TinyLineMarker® Pro, a Pro X has joined the fleet to deliver efficient marking to schools and sports turf customers across the home counties.

It’s TinyLineMarkers® at the double for PGSD!

It’s TinyLineMarkers® at the double for PGSD!

“Due to the growth in business, we were finding that marking surfaces manually was becoming problematic in terms of both time and labour” explains Managing Director Mark Hooley. “Sports facilities and schools tend to work to extremely tight changeover timeframes and so, to meet requirements, we looked to technology to help.” Mark and the team researched the market extensively and found the TLM Pro to be extremely effective during trials. “We wanted something that was straight forward to operate and that would give us the precision we need when installing these lines. The TLM Pro met all of our requirements, and upon delivery in the spring of 2022, proved to be absolutely outstanding!”

The TLM Pro was shared between teams based in London and Hertfordshire before being joined by a new TinyLineMarker® Pro X in April 2023, giving the two PGSD schools’ teams their own marker for an even more efficient service. “Our operatives were blown away by the intuitiveness of the Pro but the Pro X is next level!” exclaims Mark. “The tablet has been upgraded and there are even more settings and stored markings – all easier to find and use. There is also a wealth of new features, simple things like the ability to manually flush out the system after marking which is a great addition.”

Robust and versatile, the TLM Pro X is the new fast and effective solution to marking – offering a 10L paint capacity and high traction, pro wheels making it suited to even the most demanding field painting jobs.

“Our two TLM’s have been out most days as we prepare sports grounds for the summer season. With the software, we can programme and mark out a 400m running track in 90 minutes compared to two operators spending a full day using string and tape measures… and getting even better accuracy! Once summer marking is complete, we’ll then have another busy season come August when we start putting down markings for football and rugby.”

“We’re delivering a superior product to our clients with these markers and, when combined with the simplicity of use and labour savings, makes the investment essentially cost-neutral.” Mark adds, “There is also plenty of support from Simon Hughes at OAS who has helped us at every stage of the process, including delivering all the initial training, and though we’ve not needed to call on him we know help is available at the end of the phone if we need it.”

Free demonstrations are being offered across the UK.  To book or enquire visit https://tinymobilerobots.com/tinymobilerobots-uk/

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Lantra supporting CRRU in its efforts to safeguard birds of prey health

Lantra supporting CRRU in its efforts to safeguard birds of prey health

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Lantra supporting CRRU in its efforts to safeguard birds of prey health: Lantra has taken major measures to support the Campaign for Responsible Rodenticide Use (CRRU) in its efforts to help safeguard the health of birds of prey, as worries continue over irresponsible rodenticide users.

As one of the leading awarding organisations for the land-based sector in the UK, Lantra is working closely with CRRU, industry partners and stakeholders to ensure birds of prey don’t fall foul of individuals not using rodenticides properly or safely.

Lantra supporting CRRU in its efforts to safeguard birds of prey health

Lantra supporting CRRU in its efforts to safeguard birds of prey health

CRRU has recently stated that concerns remain about rodenticides’ residues being found in birds of prey which is down to the actions of a small minority using the chemicals irresponsibly.

To support CRRU, Lantra, as a member of its training and certification group, has responded by upgrading its rodent management training courses.

Lantra Awards, has developed and launched the Ofqual-regulated ‘Lantra Awards Level 2 Award in Rodent Management’ to replace ‘Rodent Control on Farms’ and ‘Responsible and Effective Control of Commensal Rodents’ certifications.

This comprehensive course gives people the knowledge and tools to understand legislation governing rodent pest management, the importance of, and the reasons for, rodent management and the biology and behaviour of a specific range of rodent species.

It also stresses the importance of understanding integrated pest management and monitoring rodent activity.

The major move strengthens the existing stewardship regime by upgrading Lantra-assessed training courses into a Level 2 Award in Rodent Management.

David Fisher, Lantra’s Head of Industry Partnerships for the area, said: “As CRRU has recently reported, concerns remain with rodenticide residues found in birds of prey which is being linked to the actions of a minority of irresponsible rodenticide users.

“Lantra responded to calls from CRRU as a member of its training and certification group, to strengthen the existing stewardship regime. We have listened to industry concerns and have taken the relevant measures to respond.

“It is hoped that this and continued promotion of best practice and CPD will go some way to help reduce instances of poor practice to ensure that responsible users can continue to use professional rodenticide products as part of their integrated approach to rodent management.”

For farmers and pest control trainees, there are now seven courses in total, listed at www.thinkwildlife.org/training-certification/

In each case, passing the end of course exam yields a formal qualification/certification accepted at point-of-sale for professional use rodenticides under the UK Rodenticide Stewardship Regime, operated by CRRU.

Lantra will be exhibiting at PestTech, the Pest Control industry event on 9th November where the latest developments affecting the industry will be discussed. Details of the free to attend event can be found via the NPTA website, PestTech – NPTA

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