Tag Archive for: practice

Hayling Golf Club Practice Area Survives Rare Tidal Event

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Hayling Golf Club Practice Area Survives Rare Tidal Event: Just two weeks after the installation of a high walled, revetted practice bunker by synthetic bunker experts EcoBunker, renowned south coast links course Hayling Golf Club suffered an unprecedented tidal event that put their investment at immediate risk.

“Water resources are very limited on Hayling Island and we don’t have any irrigation on the practice ground,” explained Graeme Roberts, course manager at Hayling Golf Club. “That made EcoBunker the obvious choice for our practice bunker as it would maintain its visual appeal and playability with very limited maintenance.”

Hayling Golf Club Practice Area Survives Rare Tidal Event

Hayling Golf Club Practice Area Survives Rare Tidal Event

However, in early December, just two weeks after the practice bunker was completed, Hayling experienced spring tides and off-shore winds that led to the highest sea levels seen in many years. The unprecedented tides pushed 20 to 30 tonnes of shingle against, and through, the boundary fence, creating a slipway for sea water to run straight into the practice area.

“Over two consecutive nights the teeing and bunker practice area was completely underwater. Sediment was spread across the whole area and our new practice bunker filled up with sea water. By the time the tide had receded on the second morning, we had significant damage across the area from the sea water, including damage to the new turf that had been laid around the bunker,” continued Graeme.

“Remarkably, despite such a significant event, the only evidence that sea water had been in the bunker was the silt deposited on the liner and a sediment line where the water had reached. With a quick brush of the face and a clean of the liner, the bunker was as good as the day it went in.”

EcoBunker CEO and inventor of synthetic bunker technology, Richard Allen commented, “We have lots of evidence from our Floridian customers that EcoBunkers have stood the test of hurricanes, storms and weather events. But I’m not sure we’ve ever heard of a bunker being completely under water for two nights! This was a huge challenge for Graeme and his team, so I’m delighted that our EcoBunker technology withstood the test and was one less thing for Graeme and his team to worry about.”

Less than two weeks after the tidal event, with a quick refresh of their EcoBunker and a significant clear up of the practice area, Graeme and his team are making great progress towards providing members and visitors with the practice experience that they have invested in.

For more information on EcoBunker please visit www.ecobunker.co.uk

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Irrigation and water management expert launches advisory practice

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Irrigation and water management expert launches advisory practice: Stuart Tate, one of the golf industry’s leading irrigation and water management experts, has launched a design engineering and technical advisory practice, Irrigation Professionals Limited.

Based in Ringwood, UK, Stuart and a number of specialist associates will assist clients with strategic planning for water usage, provide water sourcing and water engineering solutions, and deliver practical support and education for those operating, maintaining, upgrading and replacing golf course and sports turf irrigation systems.

Irrigation and water management expert launches advisory practice

Irrigation and water management expert launches advisory practice

Stuart has 35 years’ design engineering and specification expertise. In a career dedicated to the golf sector, he has led the way in the design of total system solutions and the implementation of new technologies. With a focus on sustainability and a hands-on approach to the management of individual projects, he is a trusted resource for golf course operators, architects, irrigation consultants, contractors, distributors, agronomists, and course managers around the world. In his most recent role as European Golf Specification Manager for Rain Bird, he also delivered greenkeeper education for a number of membership organisations, ensuring end-users’ knowledge keeps pace with technological developments and best practice in irrigation management.

Speaking about his new venture, Stuart says there is a need for specialist support in the sector.

“Water is essential for turfgrass health and performance and water scarcity is a pressing issue, yet irrigation remains a grey area in the golf and sports turf industry’s understanding. We will provide the links between water sourcing, efficient design, the latest water saving technologies and education, to give organisations and turf professionals clarity and confidence in their approach to managing this precious resource.”

To contact Stuart and to find out more about the services available, call +44(0)7956 497999, email info@irriprof.com or connect with Stuart on LinkedIn.

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Elite Practice Zone at Gleneagles

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Elite Practice Zone at Gleneagles: Huxley Golf is proud to have created an all-weather feature for the PGA National Academy for Scotland at Gleneagles, the iconic Scottish hotel and global luxury destination, that will uphold its reputation as one of the world’s most sought-after practice and coaching facilities for years to come.

The Academy’s new practice tee and short game area deliver optimum training facilities because Huxley Golf’s unique surfaces enable year-round play for the benefit of PGA professionals and players alike.

Elite Practice Zone at Gleneagles

Elite Practice Zone at Gleneagles

PGA National Golf Academy Manager, Matthew Reid, said: “Here at Gleneagles, we combine leading instruction with unrivalled practice facilities to give golfers of all ages and abilities the opportunity to enjoy the sport and grow their game in the most comprehensive and desirable surroundings. Huxley Golf’s elite golf surfaces are a key component of us being able to deliver this service. Silent and comfortable underfoot, they look, feel and play just like natural turf, yet so much more hard-wearing.”

Huxley Golf installed a practice tee measuring approximately 170ft (52m) x 12ft (3.6m) and two short game area tees of approximately 24ft (7.3m) x 6ft (1.8m) each. Both were created using Huxley Golf’s celebrated Premier Tee Turf 2.

The company’s Scotland & North East England Area Manager, Hugh Fraser, explained: “Premier Tee Turf 2 was the perfect solution for Matthew’s team at Gleneagles. With exceptional pile density, it sets the perfect stage and provides a superb all-weather playing surface. Its unique construction enables balls to be played straight off the surface or from a tee and, because no filler is needed, there’s very little maintenance needed to keep it in tip-top condition all year round, just as visitors to this iconic venue expect.”

Gleneagles’ reputation as a sporting paradise has flourished for over a century. Boasting three championship courses, the resort offers an unbeatable golfing experience for a broad spectrum of enthusiasts, from novices through to the finest players in the world.

The Huxley name has been synonymous with premium all-weather golf surfaces and products. Endorsed by the UK’s leading golf organisations as well as many legendary golfers and celebrities and their coaching teams, the Hampshire-based company’s artificial golf surfaces are in use all around the world at top-flight courses, resorts, and training academies. Across Scotland, Huxley Golf has also recently created practice areas for the Royal Burgess Golfing Society of Edinburgh, Gullane Golf Club and The Honourable Company of Edinburgh Golfers Muirfield.

For more information visit www.huxleygolf.com

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Lantra and Hozelock-Exel to promote best practice

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Lantra and Hozelock-Exel to promote best practice: A new initiative between leading land-based training body Lantra and sprayer specialists Hozelock-Exel aims to raise operator awareness of the mechanics of knapsack sprayers to improve performance and longevity of equipment.

Raising operator awareness of the importance of sprayer maintenance is a key priority for both Lantra and Hozelock-Exel in what is a drive to reverse the throwaway culture endemic in the industry.

Lantra and Hozelock-Exel to promote best practice

Lantra and Hozelock-Exel to promote best practice

Units available to trainers include the Berthoud 16l capacity Vermorel 2000 Comfort, the 20l Cooper Pegler CP3 Evolution and giant telescopic lances, particularly helpful for arb applications.

David Fisher, Lantra Head of Industry Partnerships, says: “It’s only by working closely with industry experts, including manufacturers like Hozelock, that Lantra is able keep in touch with current industry requirements and trends and tailor our training appropriately.

“Our Instructors, who are key in ensuring relevant industry comment is fed into our development process, are particularly impressed with the Hozelock cutaway units that help demonstrate functionality so comprehensively, and discussions have also highlighted an opportunity for potentially including a maintenance module to some of sprayer courses – a great example of effective partnership in practice”

Continuing the theme, Hozelock UK National Account Manager Allan Wainwright said: “Sprayer lifetimes can be considerably extended by operators ensuring they complete checks regularly, especially before storing sprayers for winter and preparing them for work in spring.

“Contractors should avoid viewing professional sprayers as items disposable as soon as there’s a hitch. The more operators know about how sprayers work, the more likely they are to be able to diagnose and rectify any functionality issues.”

Hozelock-Exel is committed to a programme of product support for trainers and instructors nationwide to extend knowledge of knapsack and compression sprayers.

Lantra instructor Doug Price commented: “As a freelance instructor, constantly moving from place to place, I can feel a bit isolated. But the background support I receive by being part of the Lantra team makes me feel less of a `lone wolf`.

“Their industry links are invaluable,” he added, “and this latest initiative with Hozelock-Exel is a prime example of the backing Lantra provide and the mutual respect both have for each other’s brand.”

Allan concluded: “I believe that Lantra’s network of fully qualified trainers will be able to inject know-how of sprayer function in a way that will allow students to engage more completely with what are vital products in the groundscare sector.”

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Knapsack sprayer best practice

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Knapsack sprayer best practice: A new initiative between leading land-based training body Lantra and sprayer specialists Hozelock-Exel aims to raise operator awareness of the mechanics of knapsack sprayers to improve performance and longevity of equipment.

Raising operator awareness of the importance of sprayer maintenance is a key priority for both Lantra and Hozelock-Exel in what is a drive to reverse the throwaway culture endemic in the industry.

Knapsack sprayer best practice

Knapsack sprayer best practice

Units available to trainers include the Berthoud 16l capacity Vermorel 2000 Comfort, the 20l Cooper Pegler CP3 Evolution and giant telescopic lances, particularly helpful for arb applications.

Robert Tabor, Chief Operating Officer for Lantra Awards, stressed the importance of maintenance to the effectiveness of spraying and sprayer lifetimes: “It’s only by working closely with industry experts, including manufactures like Hozelock, that we’re able keep in touch with current industry requirements and trends and tailor our training appropriately.

“Our Instructors are key in ensuring relevant industry comment is fed into our development process.  Discussions between our Instructor, Doug Price, and Allan of Hozelock, have highlighted an opportunity for potentially including a maintenance module to some of sprayer courses – a great example of effective partnership in practice”

Continuing the theme, Hozelock UK National Account Manager Allan Wainwright said: “Sprayer lifetimes can be considerably extended by operators ensuring they complete checks regularly, especially before storing sprayers for winter and preparing them for work in spring.

“Contractors should avoid viewing professional sprayers as items disposable as soon as there’s a hitch. The more operators know about how sprayers work, the more likely they are to be able to diagnose and rectify any functionality issues.”

Hozelock-Exel is committed to a programme of product support for trainers and instructors nationwide to extend knowledge of knapsack and compression sprayers.

Lantra instructor Doug Price commented: “As a freelance instructor, constantly moving from place to place, I can feel a bit isolated. But the background support I receive by being part of the Lantra team makes me feel less of a `lone wolf`.

“Their industry links are invaluable,” he added, “and this latest initiative with Hozelock-Exel is a prime example of the backing Lantra provide and the mutual respect both have for each other’s brand.

“As an instructor, I’m excited with the link-up and am only too happy to promote such reliable and effective knapsack sprayers.I look forward to christening mine soon.”

Allan concluded: “I believe that Lantra’s network of fully qualified trainers will be able to inject know-how of sprayer function in a way that will allow students to engage more completely with what are vital products in the groundscare sector.”

www.lantra.co.uk

www.cooper-pegler.com

www.berthoud.fr/en/

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