Tag Archive for: Partnership

SISIS partnership brings feel-good factor

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SISIS partnership brings feel-good factor: Waterhouses FC is the latest grassroots football club to benefit from the new partnership between Dennis, SISIS, Campey Turfcare and the Staffordshire Football Association.

This partnership will be a key component in the Football Association’s goal of improving a total of 20,000 grass pitches across England over the next decade.

SISIS partnership brings feel-good factor

SISIS partnership brings feel-good factor

Gareth Thomas, Commercial and Partnership Lead for Staffordshire FA, revealed how partnerships with such companies are integral to achieving this goal.

“We are measured by participation, so we are tasked by the government and the Football Association to get more people playing football,” he said. “The reality is, if clubs have not got good, quality surfaces to play on then people won’t want to play.

“Already we have seen a huge improvement from the clubs who have made the most of the funding by purchasing the right equipment. Working with the likes of SISIS helps to make our programme as impactful as it possibly can be.”

Waterhouses FC, based in North Staffordshire, plays a large part in the local community and is home to many teams ranging from Under 8’s upwards. The pitch improvement project has been driven by Waterhouses Parish Council and David Stone – Chairman, and Chris Hinton – Clerk to the Parish Council, explained why it was so important.

“Since 2008 the maintenance of the pitches has been down to the Parish Council, but with five villages within the parish, and with so much to do, it has been difficult to juggle everything,” said David. “As a result, the pitches suffered and now we want to improve them.

The facilities here are certainly worthy of that.”

Chris added: “From experience I’ve seen just how hard it is to find good pitches to play on when the bad weather hits. Quite often, teams will end up on a 3G pitch which costs a fortune. We quickly tuned into the fact that the FA is trying to improve this widespread problem.”

Through the programme, significant funding is available to support grassroots clubs, and part of the criteria involves a qualified pitch advisor visiting the site. Andy Jackson (Stoke FC Grounds Manager) visited Waterhouses FC and wrote a full report in which he recommended three pieces of equipment. One of those products was the SISIS Quadraplay.

The SISIS Quadraplay multiple-purpose, single-pass maintenance incorporates a mounted frame for up to four implements such as grooming rakes, spikers, slitters, rollers and brushes. The implements can be fitted to the mainframe in any order and can be independently adjusted to achieve the desired effect. Compact, robust, versatile and with the ability to carry out up to four operations simultaneously – the Quadraplay makes life a lot easier for many grounds persons, as Chris explained.

SISIS partnership brings feel-good factor

SISIS partnership brings feel-good factor

“The Quadraplay helps with the presentation of the pitch, it disperses the worm casts, it rolls the pitch and de-thatches it. Depending on weather, we plan on using it at least once a week – it will be invaluable to us.”

Gareth clarified why the Staffordshire FA will always be quick to recommend both the Quadraplay and SISIS in general.

“We don’t want clubs to buy equipment that they might only be able to use a couple of times a year,” he said. “The Quadraplay is ideal because it is versatile and can be used on a regular basis throughout the year. It is a product we are more than happy to put our name to.

“We know that all the products from SISIS are quality, but perhaps more importantly, the SISIS team are brilliant at ensuring grounds personnel know how the equipment works. They are always on the other end of the phone if you need them and if clubs aren’t too sure on when or how to use a product, a member of the SISIS team will be quick to visit and show them how.”

David admitted that the pitch improvement project has brought a feel-good factor to the community.

“The children, the families – all the local people that come here, will benefit from this,” he said. “The quality of the pitches will go up and the costs of doing it will go down, because we no longer have to bring in third parties.

“It’s really quite incredible to be honest.”

For further information or a no obligation demonstration, please contact SISIS on 01332 824 777 or visit www.sisis.com

For more news, reviews and insightful views, you can follow SISIS on Twitter or Instagram @SISISMachinery and like the company’s Facebook page – www.facebook.com/SISISMachinery. You can also view the latest SISIS videos by visiting www.youtube.com/SISISMachinery

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Kubota partnership benefits charity grounds

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Kubota partnership benefits charity grounds: The great outdoors brings together disabled and non-disabled children and adults to develop life skills and fulfil their potential at Thomley, a special place in rural Oxfordshire.

Founded in 1997 by parents of children with autism and other complex needs and registered as charity in 2001, Thomley’s eight-acre site near Thame delivers a programme of activities throughout the year from sports and outdoor play to creative pursuits and life skills.

Kubota partnership benefits charity grounds

Kubota partnership benefits charity grounds

In the grounds there’s a football pitch, playground equipment designed for the needs of disabled users, and one kilometre cycle track suitable for bicycles, tricycles and go karts. A new sensory garden has been created, and there are plans for a woodland area.

Kubota has a long term partnership with Thomley, and has recently installed its latest G261 ride-on rotary mower to help the three-man maintenance team keep this green and pleasant space pristine.

“Grounds maintenance is just one of our tasks, so having the Kubota mower makes a big difference,” explains David Francis, who heads up the team. “It takes about 10 hours to cut the whole grassed area, and there are different requirements according to its use.”

The football pitch, mini football and golf course fairways require the high level of presentation offered by the three-blade rotary deck, he points out.

“I tend to cut those areas first and then it’s a quick job to raise the deck and top some of the longer areas. We also like to cut paths through long grass for the children to enjoy exploring, or produce a tidy area for camping, so the choice of cut heights is very useful.”

David adds that the compact size of the G261 is handy to work in restricted areas around play equipment and other obstacles in the grounds. It also makes for easy secure storage in a container.

Revised and updated for improved transmission of power and smoother grass flow, the mower replaces the previous G series used at Thomley, and he comments:

“We can see that the mower has been improved with features such as the single joystick to control the cutting deck and collector and new pto clutch and we’re looking forward to getting to know it this spring. Our Kubota mowers have always been really reliable, and it’s so straightforward to do the daily checks. You can’t fault it.”

“We have supported the Thomley Hall Centre for several years now,” says Kubota Tractor Business Unit marketing manager Rob Edwards. “Thomley was identified though the employee forum several years ago as a deserving community organisation to support, and

continues to be a key partner in the programme of Kubota community support activities undertaken in the surrounding area to our Thame head office. We are very pleased to continue our association with the loan of the very latest G261 ride on mower.”

Operations manager Joe Kitchen, who co-ordinates the activities, running of the site and the work of staff and volunteers adds:

“We’re so happy to have our new Kubota mower. It’s a great resource and we take a lot of pleasure from how lovely the grounds look when they have been cut.”

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Sentosa GC’s partnership with Toro

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Sentosa GC’s partnership with Toro: Singapore’s world-renowned Sentosa Golf Club has announced a 10-year partnership with The Toro Company and local Toro distributor, Jebsen & Jessen. The formal agreement includes a complete fleet of Toro® golf course maintenance equipment and irrigation products, as well as landscaping tools, training, and on-site service and support.

This announcement marks the latest development in a long-standing relationship between Sentosa Golf Club and Toro. The club has utilized Toro’s proven technology for more than two decades, including support during globally televised events like the SMBC Singapore Open and HSBC Women’s World Championship.

Sentosa GC's partnership with Toro

Sentosa GC’s partnership with Toro

As part of the agreement, Toro will provide a total package of equipment and irrigation solutions to support all areas of maintenance at the club. The package includes a range of hybrid and electric equipment, as well as battery-powered landscape tools — all focused on reducing engine exhaust emissions and promoting overall sustainability.

Sentosa Golf Club also has 36 holes of Toro irrigation, including Toro INFINITY® Sprinklers and a Lynx® System including satellite technology, in addition to Toro Turf Guard® wireless soil monitoring to provide in-field data. The Lynx system provides precision water management with features designed to help reduce water usage.

Toro’s hybrid and electric equipment and water-saving irrigation systems align with the club’s dedication to sustainability. Named ‘World’s Best Eco-Friendly Golf Facility’ for the second consecutive year in 2021, Sentosa Golf Club is recognized worldwide for its commitment to the environment. The club pledged to become the world’s first carbon-neutral golf club by 2022 through initiatives to manage its carbon, water and waste footprint.

“We’re looking forward to bringing our fleet into the future with Toro and Jebsen & Jessen,” said Andrew Johnston, General Manager and Director of Agronomy at Sentosa Golf Club. “It’s important to us to work with partners who not only share our commitment to the environment, but also support our mission to consistently deliver a world-class playing experience. We treat every day like a tournament day, and we know we can expect that level of excellence from Toro.”

Beyond a new fleet of irrigation and course maintenance equipment, the partnership agreement includes support from the technical service team at Jebsen & Jessen and regional support from The Toro Company. An on-site Toro service manager will be based at the club, establishing a state-of-the-art workshop that will serve as a model for Toro.

Toro also plans to base a centre of excellence at Sentosa Golf Club to support and educate regional clients and staff on the latest products, technology and service developments. With this initiative, Toro joins The R&A and the Asian Tour in making Sentosa a key base in the region. Both The R&A and the Asian Tour have offices at the club.

The partnership agreement with Sentosa Golf Club comes as Toro begins its 108th year in the golf industry, bringing more than a century of expertise and innovative solutions to the partnership. “This is an historic opportunity for The Toro Company to partner with one of the most respected clubs in Asia and support their mission of carbon neutrality,” said Richard Olson, President and Chief Executive Officer of The Toro Company. “I’ve witnessed Sentosa Golf Club’s passion for the environment first-hand, and it’s an exciting time to work them on implementing the latest Toro innovations and technology.”

“Sustainability is not a new concept for The Toro Company,” Olson continued. “It’s deeply rooted in our purpose to provide customers with real solutions that are both environmentally responsible and operationally sustainable.”

“As the first industrial conglomerate in Southeast Asia to achieve full carbon neutrality, we take great pride in the fact that we share a common mission with Sentosa and Toro in reducing our impact on the environment,” added Philipp Hoffmann, Regional Director of Jebsen & Jessen Technology Turf & Irrigation. “We look forward to supporting the club as they provide world-class golfing experiences, as well as in their sustainability efforts.”

For more information about Toro’s complete portfolio of golf course maintenance equipment and irrigation products, please visit www.toro.com.

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KAR UK upbeat after new Hunter partnership

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KAR UK upbeat after new Hunter partnership: KAR UK has revealed its delight at the recently announced partnership between Hunter Industries and POGO and is looking forward to revealing more details at BTME 2022.

Hunter Industries has joined forces with turfgrass technology solutions leader POGO to bring new sensor and visual insight integrations to the best-in-class Hunter Pilot Network.

KAR UK upbeat after new Hunter partnership

KAR UK upbeat after new Hunter partnership

Hunter’s robust irrigation control system effectively balances watering demands with flow capacities to determine the most efficient watering cycles possible. Best of all, the highly intuitive software is fully customisable according to the daily irrigation management needs of the turf.

KAR UK, the leading wholesaler of irrigation equipment in the UK and an integral distributor of Hunter Industries irrigation equipment, has welcomed the news according to UK Sales Manager, Mike McDonnell.

“The new partnership signals exciting times and will help turf managers to make smart irrigation decisions that will ultimately result in healthier and better-quality turf.

“KAR UK is incredibly proud to work so closely with Hunter Industries and the team is looking forward to championing this unique new irrigation technology. We hope to see many of you at BTME where we will reveal more exciting details about the partnership and what benefits it will bring.”

KAR UK & Hunter Industries will be in the Red Zone 228 at BTME and will be showcasing a leading range of irrigation equipment that could make a significant improvement to your golf course.

To find out more about KAR UK please visit www.karuk.com

You can also follow KAR UK on Twitter @KARUK_LTD for much more news, reviews and insightful views

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Waterhouses benefit from FA partnership

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Waterhouses benefit from FA partnership: Waterhouses Parish Council has become the latest organisation to benefit from the partnership between Staffordshire FA and Campey Turf Care Systems with funding providing a SISIS Quadraplay, New Holland tractor and Trimax Striker.

The Staffordshire based parish council has taken advantage of funding from the Football Foundation as part of the Pitch Improvement Programme and was awarded the remaining 25% of money as a grant from Staffordshire Moorland District Council as part of its Sports Village Programme.

Waterhouses benefit from FA partnership

Waterhouses benefit from FA partnership

Waterhouses Sports field is equivalent to three full-sized football pitches, and hosts Waterhouses FC amongst other senior and junior teams, and provides a grass area for other parish activities.

According to Waterhouses Parish Council Clerk Chris Hinton, the benefits will be two-fold with the trio of machines in place. First, he believes regular specified maintenance will increase the quality of the pitches, whilst doing the work themselves will save money on contracting costs.

“We are very genuine in our gratitude to the funders and to the Staffordshire FA who glued everything together. We are very keen to use the advice of John Campey at Campey Ltd and Andy Jackson from Stoke City,” Chris begins. “I think we’ve received great advice which we’ve followed and I’m really pleased for everybody that they are going to have much better facilities.

“In years gone by, the senior pitch was one of the best in the area. When it was first installed, it was funded by the local quarry, and they put in very good drainage, which made a massive difference. Over the years since then, the pitches haven’t received any real treatment, apart from basic mowing and rolling and a little annual dressing and seeding etc.

“The programme we have in place now started in the summer of 2019, when I became aware of the pitch improvement scheme and capital grants to help buy the equipment you need to tie it all together.

“When the grant became a reality, we were required to get quotations, and Campey were one of the first people we turned to because we were advised that they are experts in the field. After going through the process, we definitely wanted to make sure the equipment we got was fit for purpose, and with their advice, we fulfilled that brief.

“Before, the maintenance was on a contract with a local sub-contractor who did a good job, but it would be done at times when weather permitted and not necessarily when we asked for it or be exactly what we needed.

“Now we can mow the pitch more frequently, to a more specific level depending on the weather and the needs, and if we want to, we can put the Quadraplay on and slit, scarify or brush. It’s going to make a massive difference to the surfaces, and we’ll save money because we’ll either use our local Lengthsman or volunteers.”

Staffordshire FA Partnerships and Communications Officer Gareth Thomas added: “We’re delighted that Waterhouses Parish Council has embraced the support available to them. Campey’s ongoing support for our programme is ensuring that we can meet our objectives of improving as many natural turf pitches as possible across Staffordshire, and we look forward to supporting more grassroots clubs and organisations going forward.”

With maintenance under the parish’s control, the target is now to restore the ground’s reputation, which used to be renowned for its quality. Improvement works commenced in the 2021/22 preseason with ShockWaving to relieve compaction and a series of recommendations via the Pitch Improvement Programme, which should see a further improvement in quality from the start of next season and beyond.

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