Tag Archive for: Just

Data Access is Just a Click Away with Turfkeeper

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Data Access is Just a Click Away with Turfkeeper: For the last 18 years Course Manager Geoff Smith has been spending hours meticulously setting up and inputting into an array of spreadsheets to help him manage the greenkeeping staff and grounds at the beautiful Abridge Golf Club in Romford, Essex.

‘All my spreadsheets were stored on a USB stick which I guarded with my life. It recorded everything I needed to manage all areas of the golf course including budgets and provided the necessary evidence and reports to justify everything we did. It didn’t bear thinking about if it was to ever get lost!”

Data Access is Just a Click Away with Turfkeeper

Data Access is Just a Click Away with Turfkeeper

Geoff joined the Abridge 18-hole, par 72 Championship golf course in 1996 and knows the greens better than anyone. He was a customer of Rigby Taylor, Headland Amenity and Symbio for around 12 years before they merged in 2021 to form Origin Amenity Solutions (OAS). “I love working with Origin, it’s been around 15 years now, and can’t praise them highly enough. They have great reps and some fantastic products. I put nearly all of my business through them.”

The course was first designed, in 1962 by renowned maestro of English Golf, Henry Cotton, whose outstanding feature was that both loops of nine holes started and finished at the clubhouse. It is considered one of the finest in the county and is an Open Regional Qualifying Course. It has held various Essex tournaments and was host to the PDC EuroPro Tour event in 2022. Geoff uses a combination of non-biological and biological products as part of an Integrated Turf Management programme. “The OAS reps work with me to choose products that complement each other well and ensure the very best outcome.  We have around 750 members and our course and greens are expected to be in the best possible condition free of disease”, adds Geoff.

In 2023 Geoff was persuaded to trial the OAS TurfKeeper web-based digital platform which is designed to replace all manual spreadsheets and ledgers. He had a demonstration from Kevin Scarce, Turf Keepers Product Manager and whilst impressed was reluctant to move away from his trusted spreadsheets.

With greenkeepers and turf professionals facing mounting pressure to justify every decision they make, from equipment purchases to project proposals, and with costs soaring and resources dwindling, the need for data-driven insights is critical. TurfKeeper is being used in many golf and sports clubs across the UK and is equipping turf managers and greenkeepers with the tools they need to maximise resources, streamline decision-making, and manage turf maintenance.

Geoff implemented Turfkeeper in July 2023 and after a couple of hours of training set about entering his information into the system. Geoff considers himself “Old school” and wanted to try it alongside his existing spreadsheets. “I shouldn’t have worried, it’s such a user-friendly system and works brilliantly. I love it and dropped my spreadsheets at the end of 2023. I now use Turfkeeper exclusively for all my data.”

At the heart of TurfKeeper lies a robust suite, from staff management to inventory control, task planning to budgeting. TurfKeeper provides greenkeepers with a central hub to oversee every aspect of their operations. “I use it for everything”, adds Geoff, “It’s only as good as the information you put into it though, so I spent a few days inputting – staff wages, hours, stock information, budgets, maintenance programme, etc and now it’s so easy to pull off the information I want.  That’s the beauty of Turfkeeper. It gives you graphics and pie charts to show to management or the Greens Committee – everyone loves a picture – it’s so easy to understand and takes no time to produce.”

Abridge Golf Club is set in 240 acres of beautiful parkland with some of the finest views over the Essex countryside. It’s a close-knit club and its members and a Greens Committee are encouraged to interact, question, and offer their suggestions. Geoff has a wealth of knowledge and is held in high esteem, but he does enjoy knowing he has data at his fingertips that he can show to back up his decisions or support his capital requests. His members requested the tees be cut by hand for a better finish. In seconds Geoff had a report that showed the extra labour required to achieve this and the associated cost that management needed to sign off on additional staff recruitment.

Geoff is supported by a team of nine, there are currently 2 other people in his team with access permissions to the system, his deputy Ben Scrivener and first assistant Jamie Blagdon. They both assist Geoff with stock control, applications and help assist with planning tasks in Geoff’s absence. Geoff now spends 30-45 minutes to plan for the week and month ahead, rather than the couple of hours previously.  “I use TurfKeeper for everything but primarily organising tasks for the greenkeeping team, stock control, and budget control.”

One of the most significant benefits of TurfKeeper is its ability to save time and resources. By automating repetitive tasks and eliminating manual paperwork, Geoff can focus his efforts on strategic decision-making and turf maintenance. “I am delighted with TurfKeeper, it has saved me hours of labour and I only have one platform to enter information into and extract data from. The team likes it because they can view the full picture, they know what is planned for everyone for the weeks and months ahead. I can’t recommend it highly enough.”

If you would like a free no-obligation 30-minute demonstration, call 07850 638 508 or visit www.turfkeeper.com

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Milwaukee Tool is just getting started

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Milwaukee Tool is just getting started: Global manufacturer of heavy-duty power tools, accessories and hand tools for professional users worldwide, Milwaukee Tool, has expanded its range of outdoor power equipment (OPE) to help provide industry professionals with a one-stop shop of the tools they need to complete the job at hand.

First launched in 2017, Milwaukee Tool’s OPE range has grown to feature more than 60 tools and cordless solutions, and the manufacturer is continuing to develop equipment to meet the demands of its customers, with the latest releases including updates to its range of lawn mowers, blowers, pole saws, hedge trimmers and more.

Milwaukee Tool is just getting started

Milwaukee Tool is just getting started

Rhys Adams, national sales manager OPE commented: “Thanks to our extensive OPE range, professionals have access to a singular battery platform with the right tools to ensure they can get the job done with ease and efficiency. To further support our customers, we’ve invested heavily in the development of our leading battery powered equipment, ensuring the needs of the end user are put first, each and every time.”

Among the products launching this year is the M18 FUEL DUAL BATTERY SELF PROPELLED LAWN MOWER with a 46cm (M18 F2LM46) steel deck and blade design. Following the successful launch of its flagship 53cm (M18 F2LM53) lawn mower in 2022, Milwaukee Tool has expanded the range to provide users with a more compact, 46cm option suitable for a range of grass types. Furthermore, the 46cm lawn mower provides gardening, landscaping and agriculture professionals with more manoeuvrability, allowing them to reach tighter spaces for a best-in-class cut.

It is joined by not one but two M18 FUEL HEDGE TRIMMER options to provide a range of solutions for professionals in the gardening, horticultural and landscaping sectors. The first features a double sharpened 45cm (M18 FHET45) blade which allows users to cut through branches up to 19mm thick. Meanwhile, the 60cm (M18 FHET60) option can tackle branches up to 20cm thick – providing a powerful yet flexible solution to achieve a cleaner cut, every time.

To help professionals reach new heights, the M18 BUSHLESS TELESCOPIC SHEAR (M18 BLTS) allows users to expand the tool from 2.1 metres up to 3 metres 2.1m up to 3m, with the power to cut through branches up to 4.4cm thick in those hard-to-reach places. The shear’s retractable branch hook not only helps users keep a compressed profile for better access but also provides a sturdy solution for pulling down tangled branches with ease.

Further expanding the range’s telescoping capabilities, Milwaukee Tool has developed the M18 FUEL TELESCOPING POLE SAW 30 CM (M18 FTPS30) to achieve precise cuts in higher tree areas. Providing users with powerful cutting performance and balance, even when extended to up to 400cm, the pole saw can achieve powerful cutting performance due to a chain speed of 25.4m/s, high torque and a 30cm cutting length for fast and effective results.

Rhys added: “We’re excited to be expanding this range in 2024, to bring even more solutions to tackle the challenges our customers are facing at work every day. With these new releases, landscaping, horticultural and agricultural professionals can utilise their existing Milwaukee Tool battery platforms to guarantee that the same level of power and performance is achieved across their complete tool set.”

More products are set to join the range later this year including a DUAL BATTERY BACKPACK BLOWER and a third-generation release of its M18 FUEL BLOWER, as well as a variety of new attachments for Milwaukee Tool’s M18 FUEL OUTDOOR POWER HEAD WITH QUIK-LOK.

To find out more about these products, or to discover the full range of outdoor power equipment available from Milwaukee Tools click here or visit https://uk.milwaukeetool.eu/.

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GreenMech QuadChip turns more than just heads

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GreenMech QuadChip turns more than just heads: The two teams that make up South Wales Tree Services need fight no more over their turntable QuadChip 160P from GreenMech, as now, they have two!

So impressed with the 360o versatility and chipping performance of their first machine purchased eight years ago, Owner Alex Terry took delivery of a second unit in September 2022 improving not just efficiency but the safety of his crews when working in domestic areas.

GreenMech QuadChip turns more than just heads

GreenMech QuadChip turns more than just heads

Alex has run a fleet of GreenMech woodchippers since he established South Wales Tree Services in 2014, with the two QuadChip machines sitting proudly alongside a Safe-Trak 19-28 which tackles some of the larger, commercial projects. “We’ve got the versatility on our fleet to undertake jobs of all sizes, with the SAFE-Trak ideal for site clearances where we can chip on location – taking the machine to the material, and not the material to the machine” he explains.

Smaller hedge and tree works or domestic situations where access is more restricted is where the turntable feature of the QuadChip units comes into its own. “This is the main benefit for us. It means that when we arrive outside a property, we only have to turn the chipper in the desired direction – not perform any awkward manoeuvres that compromise both time and potentially the safety of my team operating in or near the road.”

GreenMech’s QuadChip 160P features powerful twin vertical feed rollers which offer exceptional pull and crushing capacity for timber and brash of up to 6”, with consistent processing quality provided by their patented Disc-Blade chipping technology. “We loved our first QuadChip which is the reason that, with demand for it on the rise, we purchased a second unit and this one is even better! The chipping performance is efficient, running off four blades now compared to two on the older model.”

“The service from GreenMech is another thing that has always impressed us. We try and test other brands but forever settle on the GreenMech because in our opinion the build quality is better, the price is competitive and the after sales support from their technical team has always been first class.” Alex adds, “GreenMech were also able to accommodate supplying our latest machine in our corporate colours so while we now have the two QuadChip units, there’s still a fight between the two teams as everyone loves the smart new orange machine!”

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Trencher Hire service just the job

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Trencher Hire service just the job: A Toro TRX-16 pedestrian trencher – supplied with operator – dug-out 400 metres of trenching in challenging land conditions in just one and a half days to the delight of customer Steve Stringfellow.

Steve, who lives in a remote farmhouse in Lincolnshire, wanted to lay a new water line from his house to the main water main, as the old existing iron water pipe ran across the farmer’s field and during ploughing often got damaged.

Trencher Hire service just the job

Trencher Hire service just the job

He commented: “We expected some problems with the property being built in 1850. The ground is fairly heavy clay agricultural land, with lots of trees and other obstacles within it. My initial reaction was to get a JCB for the job, but realised that this would have caused a great deal of disruption. I also calculated that around 84 tons of sand would have been needed to backfill the trenches, which would have proved costly both in terms of buying the sand and the labour needed to do the work.

“One of my colleagues, who had used Trencher Hire UK in the past, recommended them. When I contacted the Operations Manager Steve Kingdom, he ran through a few options open to me and I selected a Toro TRX-16 with operator.

“Not only was the trencher cheaper to hire than a JCB but, with its narrow-gauge cutter, could access areas a digger couldn’t. In addition, the narrow neat channels created by the Toro meant that probably only 30 tons of sand would be needed to backfill afterwards – saving both material and labour costs compared to a digger.

“The trencher operator Paul was brilliant and cracked on with the job straight away, but was also honest and upfront highlighting patches of ground where he could not get the Toro through and had to find another path.

“The new 32mm water pipe has been re-routed, but did have to pass over the old one and Paul was able to dig down without damaging it.

Most of the trenching was dug-out to a depth of 650mm and 100mm wide, but in some places adjustments were needed to be made because of large rocks and other obstacles. This meant that in some areas he only dug down to a depth of 500mm, or even as low as 400mm.

“I could not fault the service from Trencher Hire – it was ‘spot-on’. They arrived on time, did the job that they agreed to do and with no excess costs.

To find out how Trencher Hire UK call help, contact us on: 0121 751 9319, or email: team@trencherhire.com or visit our website: www.trencherhire.com

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More than just sand

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More than just sand: Colin James, Head Groundsman at Leyton Orient, claims that the products are just part of the overall package from Mansfield Sand.

“I’ve been at Orient for 14 years and have been using products from Mansfield Sand the whole time,” said Colin. “It is a product and a company that I can always rely on.”

More than just sand

More than just sand

Colin uses Mansfield Sand’s Fibre Reinforced rootzone for his end of season renovations which is an 80/20 sand soil rootzone blend and polypropylene fibre reinforcement product that is particularly advantageous when grass cover has been reduced due to heavy usage and wear during the winter period. It is incorporated into the existing fibre rootzone to compensate for any material removed during renovation, whilst maintaining the required pitch fibre content to provide a firm, stable divot-free environment.

“I like the fact that it is mixed together for me at the Mansfield Sand depot and comes straight to the stadium ready to use,” said Colin. “It is a mix which continues to work for us season after season.”

All the products are produced at the company’s Two Oaks Quarry, which has been in operation since 2015 and has the most up-to-date and advanced equipment currently in the industry. From winter sports pitches, golf courses, bowling greens and all amenity turf areas – Mansfield Sand has a solution for all no matter what the product.

How much Fibresand Colin uses can vary year to year as he explains.

“We went a couple of years where we had no renovation work on the pitch due to a change of club ownership – so during that period no fibre was put into the pitch,” he said. “That meant that the following season we had to top it up a considerable amount, so It does vary, but we very much take the advice from Mansfield Sand.

“Gary Cunningham and Sharon Morris from Mansfield Sand will come to the stadium throughout the course of the season to take some samples to see how much fibre is in there. When it comes to the renovation, myself, Gary and Sharon, and the contractor will all put our heads together to come up with a solution and work out how much Fibresand we need to apply.

More than just sand

More than just sand

“It is a great product and has never let me down in all this time. It’s essential for the pitch.”

Colin, who has been in the grounds management industry for just over 25 years, was also quick to praise the back-up he receives from Mansfield Sand.

“It is not just a case of buying sand from the company,” he said. “I find that I can always pick their brains – so if I’ve got a problem with my pitch, or just want to talk about any ideas then I find that they are people I can ring up and talk to and ask advice.

“They are knowledgeable and have a great amount of experience in the industry – you can certainly rely on Mansfield Sand.”

For more information visit www.mansfield-sand.co.uk

You can also follow the company on Twitter – @MansfieldSand and Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/MansfieldSandSportSurfaces/

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