Tag Archive for: Project

Kings Lynn GC completes phase 3 of EcoBunker Project

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Kings Lynn GC completes phase 3 of EcoBunker Project: Faced with the challenges of sandy soil and bunker erosion, Kings Lynn golf club has employed synthetic bunker experts EcoBunker to meet their ongoing maintenance challenges. Now in the third phase of a 40 bunker renovation project, the team and members at Kings Lynn are already enjoying the benefits that the EcoBunker system brings to their course.

“We’re a sandy course which can cause real structural problems with the bunkers,” said Michael Fahy, Deputy Head Greenkeeper at Kings Lynn. “Our bunker walls erode very easily, and we have had several occasions where they’ve collapsed completely. With EcoBunker we are getting that strength and integrity along with a sharp looking finish. The members love the looks and the playability, and the team love how easy they are to maintain.”

Kings Lynn GC completes phase 3 of EcoBunker Project

Kings Lynn GC completes phase 3 of EcoBunker Project

With a mix of high wall and low edged bunkers, and several significant height transitions leading into greens, the bunkering at Kings Lynn poses a variety of maintenance challenges. But whatever the type of bunker – all of which EcoBunker offer ultra-low maintenance solutions – the local surroundings pose consistent challenges across the course.

“We have a real problem with soil erosion and rabbit scraping and burrowing, which quickly contaminates the bunker sand,” continued Michael. “To counter this, we have fitted EcoTec bunker liners alongside the synthetic walls to create a fully closed system. This requires virtually no maintenance and eliminates all contamination. Previously we could spend half a day picking out stones, weeding walls and topping up sand on a single bunker, but now we simply brush the faces, knock the sand off and strim the top edge. We’re saving time and budget with every bunker we replace.”

Now in the third phase of renovations, all Par 3’s have been completed and the team is moving on to those bunkers next most in need of attention. Having been trained by EcoBunker during the first installation, Michael and his colleagues, Tim Race and Mason Bernstein, use the EcoBunker system to renovate the bunkers themselves and plan the schedule of work accordingly.

“We re-build a few bunkers each winter, knowing that by the time we get to the last phase, the first EcoBunkers we built will still have many years life left in them, even though it could be a 10 year project. The club are investing for the long term which makes so much more sense than the continual rebuilding and patching of the traditional bunkering on the course.”

For more information on how EcoBunker can help meet the challenges faced at your course, visit www.ecobunker.co.uk

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SIS Pitches announces major project

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SIS Pitches announces major project: SIS Pitches, the team behind the World Record-breaking Kingdom Arena pitch, has announced it is set to deliver a major project in Saudi Arabia.

SIS Pitches, which produces premium hybrid, synthetic and natural pitches for an array of sports, has announced its partnership with Aramco Stadium in Al-Khobar, Saudi Arabia. The project reflects the brand’s commitment to delivering high-quality sports facilities in the region.

SIS Pitches announces major project

SIS Pitches announces major project

As part of the project, the SIS Pitches team will design and build a hybrid grass football stadium pitch, complete with an SIS Air classic vacuum and ventilation system, and two natural grass training pitches. Works will also include associated irrigation and drainage and pitch accessories. With design development completed to be completed by January 31st, the stadium and training pitches should be finalized in 2026.

The project will benefit from the proximity of SIS Pitches’ local turf farm in Saudi Arabia, guaranteeing a quick supply of high-quality, locally grown grass. Grass from Saudi farms will be installed specifically for the Aramco Stadium works and is due to be operational from April 2025.

David Ball, Managing Director at SIS Middle East, said: “A year on from the Kingdom Arena, our flagship project for the region, we’re thrilled to be able to announce another major project.

“Demand for high-quality sports surfaces in the region has skyrocketed in recent years. This project will be the perfect opportunity for us to help support Middle Eastern sports and showcase our wide offering – from pitch design and construction to irrigation and ventilation – across a range of disciplines, including football and cricket.

“We’re looking forward to unveiling our design for the Aramco Stadium very soon.”

SIS Pitches made its first foray into the Middle East in Dubai, UAE, in 2011. After recognizing a growing appetite for high-level professional sports – and the resulting increased need for cutting-edge surfaces – the brand established a dedicated SIS Pitches office in Saudi Arabia in July 2023.

Within weeks of establishing the Saudi Arabia office, the team at SIS Pitches undertook one of the world’s most ambitious sporting infrastructure projects to complete the Kingdom Arena – the world’s first fully indoor hybrid pitch, famously built in just 21 days – in partnership with Sela.

For more information on SIS Pitches, visit sispitches.com/uae/

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St Andrews Links Trust recognised for Best Sustainability Project

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St Andrews Links Trust recognised for Best Sustainability Project: St Andrews Links Trust won the prestigious Best Sustainability Project at the Scottish Golf Tourism Awards in association with Luxe Scot in recognition of its outstanding work in driving sustainability and climate action. 

Sustainable golf featured prominently at the 11th awards ceremony, held last night (Thursday 21st March) at the five-star National Trust for Scotland’s Culloden Battlefield Visitor Centre.

St Andrews Links

St Andrews Links

 

Supported by the GEO Sustainable Golf Foundation, the international not-for-profit dedicated to helping accelerate sustainability and climate action in and through golf, the Awards judging panel shortlisted five outstanding projects from across Scotland.

The finalists of Askernish Golf Club, Carnoustie Golf Links, Machrihanish Dunes Golf Club, Royal Dornoch Golf Club and St Andrews Links Trust demonstrated outstanding commitment and impacts across the sustainable golf framework of fostering nature, conserving resources, taking climate action and strengthening communities.

However, it was the work that St. Andrews Links Trust do on renewable energy, dune restoration and wildlife conservation, especially the scale and extent of their collaboration with universities and various external agencies, which caught the eye of the judging panel.

Alan Grant, Director, Partnerships and Engagement, GEO Sustainable Golf Foundation, said: “Congratulations to St Andrews Links Trust on an inspiring project, and indeed to all the finalists for the collective drive and ambition from so many across golf in Scotland to protect and promote nature, contribute to the circular economy and increase the social value. Their actions are a shining example to clubs across Scotland and beyond.”

VisitScotland, the national body for the development and promotion of tourism in Scotland, has significantly boosted golf’s efforts in sustainability and climate action through its partnership with GEO Sustainable Golf Foundation. The ongoing partnership continues to establish connections and alignment between VisitScotland’s responsible tourism goals, and the sustainability activities being carried out through the leading golf tournaments in Scotland as well as club engagement.

Paul Bush OBE, VisitScotland Director of Events, said: “We all recognise the importance of protecting our magnificent courses and landscapes, which make Scotland such a unique destination. Congratulations to St Andrews Links Trust on winning Best Sustainability Project at the Scottish Golf Tourism Awards for their working on bringing sustainability and green tourism to the home of golf.”

Scottish Golf shares the same vision, offering ongoing encouragement and support to clubs. Through their partnership with GEO Foundation, all clubs in Scotland can freely get involved, adopting the new Sustainable Golf Pledge, utilising the free OnCourse support programme, and accessing annual reports of key data and practices, and carbon footprints, and attaining certification for sustainable golf.

Andrew Baptie, Head of Club Services at Scottish Golf said: “Sustainability in golf has long been on the agenda for Scottish Golf, and with the support of GEO Foundation we’ve been able to provide tangible assistance to golf clubs who are looking to progress their ambitions in this area. We all appreciate the scale of the golf estate across Scotland, and how it can be harnessed for positive change. It’s wonderful to see sustainability work in golf clubs recognised and celebrated as it becomes key to ensuring our clubs continue to thrive in the future.”

The Scottish Golf Tourism Awards play a pivotal role in promoting sustainable practices within the golf tourism industry, inspiring clubs worldwide to embrace environmental and social impact. By acknowledging and celebrating these achievements, the awards aim to encourage continuous innovation and progress towards a more sustainable future for golf tourism in Scotland and beyond.

Other award winners on the evening included Royal Dornoch, Gleneagles and Durness among others.

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BIGGA appoints dedicated project manager

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BIGGA appoints dedicated project manager: The British & International Golf Greenkeepers Association (BIGGA) has appointed an experienced project manager to oversee the implementation of the innovative First Green initiative and to create an online resource centre that will showcase careers in greenkeeping to a wide audience.

Jennifer Bledge has spent over a decade working in information governance roles within education. She is a former parent governor of Sandwich Infant School and is a qualified teacher. Jennifer also has experience of developing relationships with various stakeholders across education, which will prove vital as BIGGA seeks to engage with other organisations to successfully implement its outreach programme.

BIGGA appoints dedicated project manager

BIGGA appoints dedicated project manager

At BTME 2023 in January, BIGGA announced it would be adopting the Golf Course Superintendent Association of America’s (GCSAA) successful First Green initiative. First Green transforms golf courses into STEM classrooms and Jennifer will oversee the development of a UK-specific toolkit that will aid in the roll out of this scheme.

She will also lead in the development of a digital careers in greenkeeping resource centre that is aimed at school leavers, graduates, second careers and golfers. Supporting this, she will liaise with ex-military and public services careers services, the National Careers Service, various charities and universities with related degree courses.

Jennifer has an existing understanding of the greenkeeping industry as her husband James Bledge is Royal Liverpool Golf Club’s course manager and is preparing to host The Open in July this year.

BIGGA Chief Executive Officer Jim Croxton said: “The appointment of a workforce recruitment project manager for BIGGA stands to be one of the most important strategic decisions the association has made in some time. It represents a fundamental shift in how we approach the challenges our industry faces and I hope gives confidence to our members that we are aware of the various issues relating to staff welfare, recruitment and retention and are addressing these head on.

“Jennifer was the outstanding candidate for this role and given her decades of experience working within education, I am thrilled she has joined the team. I look forward to sharing updates about the various projects she will be working on in the coming years with our members and the wider golfing public. There is a long way to go, but with the appointment of a talented project manager in Jennifer, I am confident we have taken a vital first step.”

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FairWays Foundation could fund your next project

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FairWays Foundation could fund your next project: The FairWays Foundation is not-for-profit organisation dedicated to supporting and promoting conservation, stewardship and education within the turf industry and beyond.

The foundation supports environmental projects; both big and small by granting funds to successful applicants globally. The projects funded help to preserve the environment we live and work in whilst also encouraging education and stewardship; not only within our own industry but also within wider communities. The FairWays Foundation believes that environmental stewardship is not an initiative; it is a long-term investment into our future and the future of our industry.

FairWays Foundation could fund your next project

FairWays Foundation could fund your next project

Since being founded in 2019, The FairWays Foundation has granted over $440,000 to 29 projects across the USA, Canada and UK. Now in its 4th grant cycle, The FairWays Foundation is currently accepting applications until April 30, 2023.

Projects that have been funded to date include a Great Salt Lake Field Trip program, the expansion of the Irvine to Girvan Nectar Network, an on-course vegetable garden to serve the golf club restaurant, the installation of bat boxes, restoring an agricultural field to prairie, invasive specied removal, canal bank restoration and more. It does not have to be a golf-related project to be considered.

On average, golf courses range in size between 100 to 190 acres. With nearly 7,000 golf courses in Europe alone, that is a lot of nature to have a potential impact on. Golf courses have the opportunity to make a positive impact within their communities by providing shelter to wildlife, supporting native wildlife and plants, promoting positive stewardship to the public, and more. However, The FairWays Foundation understands that a lot of those things require additional time and resources that are not always feasible within a course’s budget. That’s exactly why The FairWays Foundation was created. The foundation funds projects and activities that impact communities within the turf industry for the better. Some examples of this are conservation-based projects, community education, and the enhancement of environmental stewardship practices.

Conservation-based Projects

These projects can be described as work that would conserve or safeguard the environment and natural resources on course or within the community. Please note that course-based projects that would be considered capital improvements to the course are excluded from funding.

Examples of Conservation-based-Projects:

  • Pollinator Gardens
  • Wildlife and Habitat Management
  • Bird Boxes
  • Duck Houses
  • Bug Houses
  • Composting Vegetative Waste

Community Education

An important part of safeguarding the environment is educating others on how and why they should do so. Golf courses are full of learning opportunities for this and the foundation wants to help provide the resources needed in order to spread environmental knowledge around the course and community.

Examples of Community Education:

  • Monitoring Nest Boxes with a Local Scouting Group
  • Environmental Workshops at Your Local School or Library
  • Engaging Members in an Ongoing Wildlife Species Inventory

Environmental Stewardship Practices

The large footprint of a golf course helps to maintain green spaces for native flora and fauna, and offers incredible potential for positive environmental impact. While regular maintenance practices may be implemented in an environmentally conscious manner, other beneficial projects may fall beyond the scope of what the annual budget would allow.  The FairWays Foundation can help provide funds to implement projects and practices that promote greater environmental stewardship.

Examples of Environmental Stewardship Projects:

  • Installing Natural Buffer Strips Near Waterways
  • Management of Native Negation
  • Heather Management
  • Creating Rain Garden Wash Pad Area
  • Creating/Maintaining Wildlife Corridors

The above are just a few examples of what The FairWays Foundation can fund. All are welcome to submit grant applications for projects that fall within these over-arching categories during the grant submission period which opens annually between February 1 and April 30. Questions or concerns regarding the foundation or how to apply for grants can be directed to the foundation team at info@thefairwaysfoundation.com.

Matt Foster, CEO & President of Aquatrols and President of The FairWays Foundation said, “We understand making a difference locally takes tremendous grit from a local champion.  It might be a green keeper or parks manager or a program volunteer.  Regardless, without their will, these projects would never move forward.  Our message to those individuals out there with a wish for a healthier environment is The Fairways Foundation can help with the way to get there.”

For news and to learn more, follow The FairWays Foundation on Twitter: @TheFairWaysFdn

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