Tag Archive for: Scout

Bernhard and Company backs Soil Scout Grandmaster Programme

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Bernhard and Company backs Soil Scout Grandmaster Programme: Following its recent announcement introducing Soil Scout’s real-time underground monitoring technology to the Northern American market, Bernhard and Company is supporting the launch of Soil Scout’s new Grandmaster Programme – a global ambassador initiative designed to recognise and connect the professionals shaping the future of turf management.

The Grandmasters Programme has been created to celebrate the individuals who keep the world’s finest playing surfaces alive. The front-runners whose expertise, innovation and leadership continue to move the industry forward beneath the surface.

Bernhard and Company backs Soil Scout Grandmaster Programme

Bernhard and Company backs Soil Scout Grandmaster Programme

Rather than a traditional ambassador scheme, the programme is built around human expertise, mentorship, and shared learning, bringing together leading turf professionals from different regions into a global community. Grandmasters will plan an active role in sharing real-world insight and experience, helping to advance understanding of soil conditions, root zone health and sustainable turf practices across the industry.

Participants in the programme will commit to long-term collaboration, allowing Soil Scout to work closely with them to track data, gather insight, and amplify authentic customer voices through global channels. In return, Grandmasters will gain early access to new technology, exclusive events, and opportunities to connect with like-minded professionals worldwide.

The first four confirmed Grandmasters include:

  • Brent Downs MG, CGCS – The Otter Creek Golf Club and Harrison Lake Country Club
  • Andrew Northeim – Columbus Crew
  • Rodney McKeown – Sentosa Golf Club
  • Janne Lehto MG, CGCS – Golf Hirsala Golf

Further ambassadors are expected to be confirmed in the coming months, including representatives from leading US venues, as the programme continues to expand.

“Following our introduction of Soil Scout to the North American market, it’s exciting to see the brand launch a programme that puts people, not just technology, at the centre of progress,” said Steven Nixon, Managing Director at Bernhard and Company. “The Grandmasters Programme recognises the professionals who are shaping best practice in turf management and creates a platform for them to learn from one another on a global scale.”

Jalmari Talola, CEO of Soil Scout, said: “This programme is about recognising the people who move our industry forward. These are professionals whose knowledge, curiosity, and leadership influence not only the surfaces they manage, but the wider turf community around them. By connecting them and supporting their work with real-time underground data, we’re creating a platform for shared learning and long-term progress.”

The launch of the Grandmasters Programme reflects a shared belief between Bernhard and Company and Soil Scout that meaningful progress in turf management comes from combining data-driven insight with real-world experience, collaboration, and mentorship.

Turf professionals in Europe and North America will also have the opportunity to learn more about Soil Scout and its technology at both BTME 2026 in Harrogate, England and the 2026 GCSAA Conference and Trade Show in Florida – at which Bernhard and Company will be showcasing Soil Scout.

To find out more about Bernhard and Company’s market-leading grinding machinery and solutions, visit: www.bernhard.co.uk

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Soil Scout launches Happi100

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Soil Scout launches Happi100: Soil Scout, a global leader in underground wireless soil monitoring, has announced the launch of its newest product, the Happi100 oxygen sensor. Commercially available for the first time anywhere, this wireless, real-time monitoring solution allows turf professionals to see the true impact of soil oxygen levels on plant root health.

Bernhard and Company is the industry-leader in fine turf management solutions, with expertise across multiple disciplines including engineering, agronomy and product design. Bernhard and Company is already synonymous with the Soil Scout brand, having installed the solution worldwide on numerous occasions, leading subsurface and moisture management solution, SubAir Systems. Bernhard and Company remains the official, exclusive distributor of Soil Scout products throughout the United Kingdom, which will prove influential in the launch of the Happi100 sensor.

Soil Scout launches Happi100

Soil Scout launches Happi100

“Healthy plant roots are not achievable without the presence of sufficient oxygen,” said Jalmari Talola, CEO of Soil Scout. “They can tolerate drought, they can cope in nutrient-poor soils, but oxygen uptake by roots is vital for plant respiration. Until now, we had no way to see if this process was under attack. Happi100 ends this today.”

Pairing soil moisture balance with oxygen readings enables precise irrigation adjustments, helping to maintain root health in environments where aeration is limited.

“When soil oxygen levels dip below 10% for just four hours, plant root hair death occurs,” said Soil Scout Head of Agronomy Johannes Tiusanen. “Happi100 gives early warning of this happening, making it easier to prepare for, monitor, and mitigate impact from events like adverse weather and over irrigation.”

Happi100 reads soil oxygen, moisture, and temperature from the same measurement point and seamlessly integrates with Soil Scout’s existing platform for a complete suite of underground trend data. This comprehensive approach allows professionals in sports turf management to make more prescriptive interventions.

“Initial readings have shown that parts of my green quickly rebound to optimal oxygen levels within hours of heavy rain, whereas other parts can take up to a week to recover,” said Winston Golf Head Greenkeeper Erwan LeCocq.

“I can now be more prescriptive in my aeration approach, significantly cutting down on the work needed to keep all my surfaces optimal.”

As part of Soil Scout’s larger vision to make previously unforeseen data available to everyone who works with soil, the company plans to continue developing innovative solutions that help professionals better understand and manage the soil beneath their feet.

To find out more, visit www.soilscout.com

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Bernhard and Company announces free Soil Scout sensor trial

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Bernhard and Company announces free Soil Scout sensor trial: Bernhard and Company, exclusive distribution partner for Soil Scout in England, Scotland, and Wales, has unveiled an opportunity for two UK football clubs to take part in a free trial of a state-of-the-art Soil Scout sensor system.

In early summer, Bernhard and Company will also roll out this opportunity for golf facilities around the distribution region.

Bernhard and Company announces free Soil Scout sensor trial

Bernhard and Company announces free Soil Scout sensor trial

To take part, grounds managers have to submit a case study as to how their stadium or training facility would benefit from the addition of Soil Scout sensors within their maintenance routine. The most interesting applicants will be selected to trial a Soil Scout system and learn how they can increase efficiency by using a data-driven maintenance approach.

Managing Director for Bernhard and Company, Steven Nixon, said: “We want to hear from grounds managers and football training facility maintenance professionals in England, Scotland, and Wales, to find out why they believe they’d benefit from data-led decision processes using Soil Scout.

“The end of the football season marks the perfect time to begin turf renovations ahead of the following campaign. So, there’s no better moment to look for new ways to become more efficient in maintaining your turf. This is a great opportunity to be one of the first to trial this cutting-edge technology.”

Soil Scout provides the most advanced, underground wireless soil sensor and monitoring solution for agriculture, golf, and sports turf maintenance professionals. Golf courses and sports stadiums worldwide, including iconic venues such as Wembley Stadium and Philadelphia Phillies, use Soil Scout to ensure the prevention of unnecessary watering while retaining nutrients in the turf and reducing maintenance costs.

To be in with a chance to trial a Soil Scout sensor system for free, football club representatives are required to submit a case detailing the reasons why their club would benefit from the enhanced data collection that comes with the Soil Scout sensor system. The deadline for submissions is 31st May 2024, and to submit an entry, visit: https://form.jotform.com/241203450845348

There will be two further sensor kits allocated to golf course managers as the summer season gets into full swing, enabling sporting venues to enhance their data collection and irrigation processes.

To find out more about Soil Scout sensors and how they can be applied across the turf management industry, visit: https://bernhard.co.uk/soilscout/

Bernhard and Company can be contacted on 01788 811 600 and info@bernhard.co.uk, or visit https://bernhard.co.uk for more.

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Pinewood Scout Centre lake reopened

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Pinewood Scout Centre lake reopened: Otterbine’s Air Flo 3 underwater ‘bubbler’ diffused aeration system is the safe solution for Pinewood Scout Centre in Croydon, bringing its lake back to life and reopening it for water sports after a period of closure due to poor water quality.

When Jim Clements, site manager and scout leader, took on Pinewood Scout Centre last year he made it his mission to reform the site’s grounds, and fixing the lake that hosts the centre’s watersport activities was the first step. With the water quality of the lake being key to keeping the scouts safe, the Otterbine Air Flo 3 aerator was the ideal choice to get the lake back into action.

Pinewood Scout Centre lake reopened

Pinewood Scout Centre lake reopened

When it came time to find an aeration solution, Jim was after two key things: a system that is safe and can access the bottom of the lake to increase circulation and oxygenation. Otterbine ticked both boxes.

“The lake doesn’t have a natural river feed so is dependent on rainfall and groundwater,” Jim says. “Getting oxygen into the bottom of the lake is critical and the thing I like with the Air Flo is that all the electrics are on the bank. There’s absolutely nothing in the water that could pose a risk to people using the lake.”

Otterbine’s Air Flo 3 is an underwater ‘bubbler’ diffused aeration system that is designed to aerate and circulate the water without disturbing its natural surroundings. But best of all for Jim and the scouts at Pinewood, is that the diffuser requires no electricity or moving parts near the water which makes the system entirely safe for swimming and for all of the centre’s water based activities.

Since installing the Air Flo 3 system, Jim says: “The circulation and improved oxygenation of the water has massively improved the quality in terms of clarity. I think it’s the best it’s potentially ever been.”

Getting the lake back into a safe and working condition is a relief all round after Jim was forced to cancel the scout’s water activity programme last summer: “We had an exceptional drought so water temperature was high, water levels were dropping and conditions were perfect for an algae bloom. It went toxic very quickly and I had to shut the lake. We couldn’t do any activities until I was able to get it back under control,” Jim recounts.

The best way to prevent algal blooms is to increase oxygen levels in the water, and Otterbine has the highest Oxygen Transfer Rates on the market – a key factor in Jim’s choice.

“When I took the site on last year, I had no background in lake management, so it’s been a great learning experience. Sometimes you’re presented with a problem and you have to find the best solution. Reesink has been fantastic. Any technical advice or any questions that I had on parts or suitability, they were just a phone call away.”

Thanks to this Otterbine solution, the Pinewood lake is ready to be used for a summer programme of activities, but it’s not just the scouts that are benefitting from the new system. Jim says: “We’re seeing a lot more fish and amphibians in the lake, and the marginal plants are all really thriving too.”

Cleaning up the lake area is just the first step in Jim’s grand plan: “Now the lake is in a stable condition the next stage is the surrounding woodland and making it far more accessible. Where previously it was overgrown, we’re removing a lot of the Rhododendron and replacing it with indigenous broadleaf species, making the whole site far more ecologically viable.”

To find out more about how the Otterbine range of aerators and fountains can help your lakes and ponds, contact Reesink on 01480 226800, email info@reesinkturfcare.co.uk or visit reesinkturfcare.co.uk.

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Soil Scout announces partnership with Bernhard and Company

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Soil Scout announces partnership with Bernhard and Company: Soil Scout are pleased to announce a new and exclusive distribution partnership with Bernhard and Company to supply our world-leading real-time, wireless soil monitoring solution to golf courses and sports turf facilities in England, Scotland and Wales. 

Bernhard and Company is the industry-leader in fine turf management solutions, and its team has considerable experience in the turf care industry, with expertise across multiple disciplines including; engineering, agronomy and product design. All of this, combined with unrivalled understanding of the development and maintenance of playing surfaces makes the company the perfect partner to take our business forward, with the support of Sales and Sports Turf Specialist, Nick Durkin.

Soil Scout announces partnership with Bernhard and Company

Soil Scout announces partnership with Bernhard and Company

Bernhard and Company are associated with some of the most prestigious golf clubs and courses around the world. Its expert teams support the DP World Tour, PGA Tour and the United States Golf Association by providing specialist tournament support for high profile competitions, such as the US Open, the Ryder Cup, and the Open Championship. The company’s machines are also used by more than 65% of the world’s top 100 golf courses.

Through this exciting new partnership, we will look to make certain that we service all our current clients with even greater efficiency whilst also creating lots of new opportunities with potential customers through this new and exclusive distribution channel.

Bernhard and Company are, of course, already synonymous with the Soil Scout brand, having installed the solution worldwide on numerous occasions on behalf of their partner, leading subsurface and moisture management solution, SubAir Systems. Most recently and successfully installing multiple soil monitoring sensors in all eight of the stadium venues for the 2022 Qatar World Cup.

Soil Scout CEO, Jalmari Talola commented; “Soil Scout continues strong international growth as a leading supplier of soil monitoring solutions. The UK represents the most significant market potential for professional turfs in Europe, and our goal is to help the industry operate more efficiently by making critical soil information available to all users.

“Bernhard and Company is well known all over the world for its leading turf health products and, above all, for its high-quality expertise in the industry. Bernhard has been our familiar partner for seven years, and last year’s successful collaboration at the 2022 World Cup contributed to strengthening the relationship.”

Jalmari continued; “We are very pleased to have Bernhard onboard as the Soil Scout UK distributor and bring the company’s 100+ years of experience to the Soil Scout family. This is an exciting opportunity and we are very much looking forward to getting to work with them!”

Soil Scout’s UK Sales and Sports Turf Specialist, Nick Durkin said; “I am very pleased to announce Bernhard and Company as our exclusive dealer for the UK. The industry leading experts have been providing the highest level of turf care machinery, support and education for many years.

“It’s extremely important we continue to align ourselves with like-minded partners who also value the importance of soil and plant health. We have been working with Bernhard for some time thanks to our relationship with SubAir Systems, and I am excited to continue growing this relationship and provide world leading turf management solutions together.” Steven Nixon, Managing Director for Bernhard and Company, added: “A partnership with Soil Scout was a very easy decision for us to make. We have been working together through SubAir Systems for many years now, and it feels like a natural evolution for us to add this product to our portfolio of turf health Solutions. We are very excited to be part of the continued business growth in the UK.”

Scott Purdy, Business Development Manager EMEA for Bernhard and Company, said: “Soil Scout has already done a great job developing its brand in England, Scotland and Wales. I am really looking forward to taking these conversations forward, and supporting customers with an additional way to understand their turf needs.”

The agreement starts with immediate effect, and for more information, Bernhard and Company can be contacted on 01788 811 600 and info@bernhard.co.uk, or visit Bernhard.co.uk for more.

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