Tag Archive for: Natural

Versatility when managing natural turf areas

Versatility when managing natural turf areas: Managing a property with a huge variety of habitats and landscapes, sports fields, a golf course, formal gardens, lakes, woodlands and heathland areas, is the responsibility of Mark Dodd, the grounds and Gardens Manager at Wellington College in Crowthorne, Berkshiire. He and his team require different management techniques when maintaining the divesre areas on the 410-acre site.

To assist with this complex management puzzle, he has purchased a package of equipment from his local dealer, RT Machinery Ltd, which includes a 4520 all-terrain compact tractor unit, with attachments that includes a 72-inch Finishing deck, a Tough Cut deck and a Stump Grinder.

Versatility when managing natural turf areas

Versatility when managing natural turf areas

“We initially hired-in a machine with a Tough Cut deck to work on the banks clearing scrub on our 9-hole golf course, but quickly appreciated the opportunity the versatility of the machine could provide across the estate,” he said.

“Unfortunately for our Golf team, the machine is used almost exclusively by the Grounds team and that’s simple down to its versatility. The Finishing deck was initially purchased for use on our formal lawns, as it leaves a very pleasing stripe and presentation is very important here at Wellington.

“We used to cut our pitches with a ride-on cylinder mower, but the quality of cut from the Finishing deck is excellent and now we use it extensively on our winter pitches. The light footprint of the machine is another factor and we can continue our maintenance regimes, even in inclement weather.

“We hosted the Women’s Rugby Under-18 Six Nations Festival in April, which included three back-to-back matches over 10 days. It’s a quick turnaround and we cut the main pitch with the Ventrac and finished with our Dennis hand mowers.

“The design of the Ventrac has been well thought through; maintenance is easy and the mounting system allows for a quick and easy exchange of attachments. Add to this the responsive support from our dealer, RT Machinery, and we have a package that we are delighted with.”

Mark Dodd heads a team of 16 across three departments: Grounds, Gardens and Golf. He has been in his current role for the past two years, having joined Wellington in 2015. Prior to this he spent seven years at Benenden School and three years at Epsom College as Head of Grounds & Gardens.

www.priceturfcare.com

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BTME in natural environment

BTME in natural environment: The British and International Golf Greenkeepers Association (BIGGA) has launched registration for its annual exhibition, which returns to the Harrogate Convention Centre in January 2022.

The BIGGA Turf Management Exhibition (BTME) is Europe’s premier trade exhibition for the golf and sportsturf industry and takes place on Tuesday 25 to Thursday 27 January.

BTME in natural environment

BTME in natural environment

Registration has today (Friday 8 October) opened for the event, which is free to attend and will feature a line-up of more than 150 exhibitors spread across four halls in the Harrogate Convention Centre. An unrivalled networking opportunity, BTME brings together many of the leading names in the sportsturf industry, with a number of exciting events and initiatives yet to be announced.

For more information about BTME 2022, head to the new, dedicated BTME website, https://www.btme.org.uk.

The launch has coincided with the unveiling of the Continue to Learn 2022 education programme. Taking place from Sunday 23 to Wednesday 26 January 2022, BIGGA’s world-leading learning programme features a spectacular range of professional development opportunities, each year providing the equivalent of more than two hours’ education for every golf club in the country. As such, Continue to Learn and BTME are considered among the most influential events in the golfing calendar.

BIGGA members can find out more about Continue to Learn and begin booking their education experience today by heading to https://www.btme.org.uk/continue-to-learn.html.

On the opening evening of BTME, BIGGA will be hosting the Welcome Celebration, an informal event that celebrates the achievements of BIGGA members throughout the previous year.

Announced at the Welcome Celebration will be the winners of the BIGGA Awards 2022 and nominations are being invited for each of the following categories:

  • Outstanding Contribution of the Year sponsored by Bernhard and Company
  • Greenkeeping Project of the Year sponsored by Baroness
  • Championship Greenkeeping Performance of the Year sponsored by Origin Amenity Solutions

The BIGGA Awards recognise that high performance levels from a dedicated and knowledgeable team are essential to the success of any golf course or championship. The Greenkeeping Project and Championship Greenkeeping Performance awards are an opportunity to showcase a team’s successes, both in the redevelopment or renovation of a course or through the hosting of a major event. Meanwhile, the Outstanding Contribution award celebrates a member of the association who has done exceptional work to support fellow BIGGA members, the industry or the wider community.

This year there are some brilliant prizes on offer in each of the three categories. More information and the nomination form can be found on the BIGGA website.

BTME 2022 and Continue to Learn 2022 take place from 23 to 27 January 2022 at the Harrogate Convention Centre in North Yorkshire.

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