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The Best Golf Course in the World

The Best Golf Course in the World: Scott MacCallum chats with Andy Johnston, the man who has steered Sentosa Golf Club to the top of the golfing tree.

It’s just after Christmas so I’m guessing that your quizzing skills are still fairly sharp. So here’s one for you.

The Best Golf Course in the World

The Best Golf Course in the World

Which of these golf courses is the odd one out? The Old Course, St Andrews; Augusta National, the Serapong Course at Sentosa Golf Club, Singapore; Shinnecock Hills, New York, or Carnoustie?

The Answer?

None of them! They have all been voted The Best Golf Course in the World by the World Golf Awards.

Of course, Serapong is also the only course among that elite group not to have hosted a Major, and the only one in Asia, but it’s my quiz and I decide the answers!

Seriously though with The Old Course having won the category each of the first five years following the Awards’ inception in 2014, Carnoustie was the next winner, then Augusta National who retaining the title the next year, before its American cousin, Shinnecock.

The triumph of Sentosa Golf Club, the first Asian winner, late last year, did raise a few eyebrows. Not least from the Club’s own General Manager and Director of Agronomy, Andy Johnston.

“Best golf course in the world. I mean, Holy Smoke – really? I was pinching myself,” recalled Andy.

The Best Golf Course in the World

The Best Golf Course in the World

“I was floating of Cloud Nine, and still am,” added the American, who, as a golf course architect, first became associated with the club when he was brought in to do some remodelling work in 2014, and never really left.

He was also blown away by the reception he received from the Sentosa team when he arrive back from the airport having collected the Award.

“It takes a world class team to make a world class club and when you talk about the best in the world the greeting I got from 80 plus of them was pretty special.”

Being the first Asian golf club to win the award, and following in such illustrious company is significant.

“It shows that the growth of Asian golf is gathering pace and how much more progress we are making. It also shows that we are getting to the point where we are becoming competitive within that ‘Big Boy’ fraternity.”

So what it is about Sentosa Golf Club, and the Serapong course in particular, that has enabled this huge geographic breakthrough? Who better to tell us, than Andrew himself.

The Best Golf Course in the World

The Best Golf Course in the World

“It’s one of those tracks that touches your soul. As soon as you head off to the 1st tee you are thinking that this is something special – you know immediately that it is special. Then when you get to the 2nd you get a peek at what’s coming. Hit the 3rd and you have the entire world in front of you. You’re looking down on the town three kilometres away and you are on an elevated spot which sits over the entire bay. You see the ship yards down below you and, downtown, all the sky scrapers. The next five or six holes are all different, and each one memorable. The whole course has a unique playing strategy and you can’t wait to play it again and again.

“You just can’t get enough of it,” enthused Andy.

But that wasn’t always the case for the Serapong, and Sentosa Golf Club, founded by the then Prime Minister of Singapore and which celebrates its 50th birthday this year.

“Back in 2005 the Serapong wasn’t even the best course in town, never mind the world, but at the time I was working on a project in Beijing when I got a call from a friend of mine saying that Sentosa was looking for an architect. They weren’t looking at a huge project just some fairly small tweaks so I jumped on a plane and made a pitch to the Green Committee.

“I must have made a really compelling case because we signed an agreement, almost on a napkin and I got to work the next day.”

With the project completed, six months later the club called Andy to say that he was still the club’s architect and that they wanted to renovate the Serapong fully and was he interested. Was he ever!

“I literally got on a plane that night and came over. The club had a new business plan and wanted to get into hosting tournaments,” said Andy.

The course had been designed originally by Ron Fream and was built on 80% reclaimed land.

“Ron did an unbelievable job because he tracked the course when it was basically still in the ocean. I’ve seen pictures of him in a boat pointing out a green. How he was measuring, in the  life of me, I have not a clue.”

But while the course was excellent, it had really small greens which couldn’t take the traffic and while the bunkers were ok they didn’t support modern day golf strategy.

“So we made some significant changes to the course’s personality. That’s when the course started to get going to where it is today. We introduced massive greens with subtle undulations, we increased the bunkering and made these huge tees so we could take the traffic and have surfaces fit for championship golf. That’s when the engine really got running,” said Andy, who added that they now cut the tees to the same height as the greens.

The tees are Platinum Paspalum, because it recovers quickly from divot damage, with the rest of the course Zoysia.

The Best Golf Course in the World

The Best Golf Course in the World

It wasn’t an overnight success, however, and from 2006 to 2010 it was a difficult time for the club. Then, with 60 days to go until a Singapore Open, and having just lost their Superintendent, Andy took another phone call from the club asking for help.

“The previous General Manager called me and asked that, as nobody knew the property as well as me, would I help them out.

“I have an agronomy background – of all the skills I have, design, operation, agronomy, agronomy is the thing I really excel at, and ultimately we were able to pull a rabbit out of a hat On the Monday pro-am we were running at 13 on the stimp. Singapore had never seen speeds faster than that.

“We’d exceeded everybody’s expectations when it came to conditioning and I just never went home after that, and I hadn’t meant to stay!” he revealed.

And not only that, in addition to his role of Director of Agronomy he found himself General Manager when his predecessor left.

“I didn’t mean to become GM. I was just told that I was going to be GM, even when I told them I didn’t want to be GM. Even today I hate being GM… kind of!” he added with a smile.

But it is still the golf courses, there is also the 18 hole Tanjong course, rather than the food and beverage side of things, which rocks his boat.

“I’m the first person here every morning at 5.30 and that has never changed in the 14 years I’ve been here. I get every morning started with the crew and work closely with our Superintendent, Irishman Rodney McEwan.

“I couldn’t have a better sidekick, if I could call him that. He takes it personally and it means something to him. No matter what I dish out to him it gets done and it’s quite incredible how he does it.”

And it’s not an easy gig maintaining a golf course on the equator.

The Best Golf Course in the World

The Best Golf Course in the World

“I’ve worked in every corner of the world and I think this is the most challenging. We have every disease known to man sitting in the soil 365 days a year, just waiting for the right conditions to flourish.

“Everything is full on. Most of the world goes through the seasons and there are times when you have to work hard and there are heavy growth periods but there are also off periods and simpler windows. It never stops here for us. Every day is full on.

“To put it in a UK context. August is probably the most difficult time of the year for you, because it is the hottest and the most humid. Guys are chasing hot spots and there are disease pressures coming out of their ears. Every day is August for us and our aim is to be thinking ahead of Mother Nature. That’s the goal. If you can be ahead of Mother Nature you will win.”

With two golf courses and the surrounding grounds to maintain Andy has an agronomy team of 75.

“It sounds a lot but if you break it down it’s probably comparable with a South Florida course. We have 25 guys on each course, there are eight mechanics, four in the admin office, then there is a small landscaping team of six or seven. So it’s not as big as it sounds.”

So how does he keep everyone motivated to achieve the standards that takes a course to Best in the World status?

“We have something called the 10 Five Star Touch points. In at number eight is ‘Earn Your Five Stars Every Day’. I say this to the team on such a routine basis that they are sick of me.

“No-one gives a rat’s ass about the awards we’ve won – and they have won a plethora of huge awards including World’s Best Eco-Friendly Golf Facility three years in a row – after that day. They measure us by the experience they have had on that day. So every morning I tell them to wake up and earn their five stars.”

Having reach the pinnacle what now for Sentosa Golf Club?

“The Chairman asked me the same thing not long ago and I said that the runway was still very long and we still had a lot to that we could do. We may not win awards like this every year but we are attempting to build a brand and it is extremely important that we can continue to expand upon that and deliver the best service possible and produce the best conditions possible.

“The ceiling is unlimited on what we are going to achieve.”

Key to that is Sentosa’s position on the planet.

“When you look at Asia, albeit Singapore is a small city state, we are in the best spot. We have the best airport, which is a hub where everything comes in and out. It is the safest city in Asia. You don’t have to worry about that when you get here whole at the club we are surrounded by 17 high end hotels. We have everything at our fingertips to continue to grow.

“We are no longer just a great golf course. We are a brand, and that is what I want to continue to develop.”

And with the attraction of playing the best course in the world, golfers will be swarming around Sentosa like bees to the honeypot and spreading the name of Sentosa to all their golfing buddies.

Green-tech adds another team member to the BASIS Register

Green-tech adds another team member to the BASIS Register: Green-tech, which is celebrating its 30th anniversary this year, reinforces its commitment to investing in its people and the industry by sending another team member on the rigorous BASIS training course.

Jamie Peacock from the sales team has successfully completed and passed the BASIS Certificate in crop protection (Amenity Horticulture) and has been added to the BASIS Professional Register, strengthening the company’s in-house expertise.

Green-tech adds another team member to the BASIS Register

Green-tech adds another team member to the BASIS Register

This course provides training and certification for sellers of agrochemicals and those advising on their use in amenity. It means Green-tech has even more people available to advise their groundsmen, greenkeepers, and landscaper customers working in the amenity sector.

The BASIS Certificate in Crop Protection for Field Sales and Technical Staff (FSTS) was established in 1978 and has been approved by Ministers to meet the requirements of Schedule 2 of the Control of Pesticide Regulations for certification of those involved in the sale, advice, and supply of pesticides.

Jamie is now proficient in the choice and application of professional chemical products, with the know-how to protect people, animals, and the environment. He can advise on weed, disease, and pest control. He is also competent in the application, safe use, handling, transport, and storage of Pesticides.

Green-tech’s Head of Sales Dean Jackson comments, “Green-tech sells a wide range of chemicals.  The advice we give must be correct and most important current.  This qualification has enhanced and broadened our in-house expertise which will naturally benefit our customers. Jamie is now better placed to help and direct our customers on their choice of professional chemical products. He has a wealth of industry and product knowledge and will help a customer decide the most appropriate product for their project. This is quite rightly, a tough course as the standards set by BASIS are high, but Jamie has worked hard and I am delighted for him.”

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The R&A to exhibit at BTME

The R&A to exhibit at BTME: The R&A Sustainable Agronomy Service will be at the upcoming BTME show; where it’ll showcase how The R&A is contributing to a brighter, more sustainable future across golf venues, globally.

The R&A Sustainable Agronomy Service is a fully encompassing offering for golf venues to seek expert course support, receive advice on the delivery of best practices surrounding sustainable agronomy operations and gain comprehensive strategies for implementing changes.

The R&A to exhibit at BTME

The R&A to exhibit at BTME

“We are pleased to be able to attend BTME for another year, where our team will proudly be on hand to answer any questions on what we do. An exciting start to the show will be the opening breakfast keynote, recounting the agronomic and greenkeeping stories of The 151st Open and 2023 AIG Women’s Open – of which both trophies will be present!” comments Alistair Beggs, Head of Agronomy

“We hope many industry professionals will be able to join us, getting the chance to see the trophies up close, whilst chatting all things sustainable agronomy.”

During the event, the team will be located at stand 408 and will offer a host of opportunities to find out more on the R&A Sustainable Agronomy Service available to all. Furthermore, they will also welcome partner industry experts in sustainable water management for golf courses, as well as golf & nature, to their stand; giving attendees the chance to find out more information.

Dr. Tom Young, Associate at The Environmental Partnership, will be on the stand Tuesday 23rd between 2pm and 4pm to discuss sustainable water management, and how the collaboration between the two powerhouses in their respective industries are working together. Marie Athorn, from the RSBP, will also join Sophie Olejnik from OleoEcology to discuss golf & nature, including how the RSPB-R&A partnership is in place to provide guidance for golf courses to support the environment.

The stand itself will be one to revel in, with attendees also getting the chance to view unique greenkeeping heritage, exclusive to The R&A World Golf Museum. During the show, a number of impressive items will be displayed, each telling a story of how critical keepers of the green were to the game. The breadth of items on display will demonstrate how far golf course management has evolved, and The R&A has a unparalleled history to showcase this.

To enquire about The R&A Sustainable Agronomy Service, e-mail sustainableagronomy@randa.org

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ECO 135TT is the solution for Pro Axe

ECO 135TT is the solution for Pro Axe: After four years of hiring woodchippers, with ‘mixed’ experiences, the time was right for Dan Snaith of Pro Axe to invest in a machine to call his own – that being an ECO 135TT from GreenMech.

Opting for the turntable model, the ECO 135TT has brought new-found convenience to day-to-day operations, not just available when he needs it, but rotatable to be exactly where he needs it too!

ECO 135TT is the solution for Pro Axe

ECO 135TT is the solution for Pro Axe

Dan has used various makes and models of woodchipper during his two decades in the industry, half of those operating under DS Grounds Maintenance – recently rebranded and relaunched as Pro Axe. “We undertake all manner of domestic and commercial tree-works for customers across South West Wales, which had put a lot of pressure on an aging GreenMech we previously had at our disposal” explains Dan. “We’ve therefore been relying on hire centres for the last few years which was unreliable and inconvenient to say the least!”

“I got in touch with Martin Lucas at GreenMech who responded quickly and arranged a demonstration of the ECO 135TT for the following week with our local dealer Powercut. The whole process was seamless and as soon as I saw the machine, I was sold!”

Defined as entry-level but delivering an impressive 5” chipping capacity, GreenMech’s ECO 135 range is ideal for a wide range of arb and landscape applications. The road-tow ECO 135TT model features a 24hp Loncin engine and full 360o turntable for powerful performance and unbeatable manoeuvrability.

“For me, this was one of the main selling points – it’s lightweight, easy to transport and when we arrive on site we can simply turn the ECO 135TT to face in any given direction, improving efficiency and safety for the operator especially when working at the roadside. Being petrol powered has also resulted in a reduction in our fuel spend, giving us chipping power that I’d say is on par with a larger 6” machine in a unit that’s close to half the size.”

“I was also impressed with the fast delivery, we waited only a few weeks before Powercut installed the machine with us in early October.” Since its delivery, the ECO 135TT has proven a versatile addition to the team. “It’s been out every week, and has tackled everything we’ve put through it – including hedge brash which the GreenMech seems to mulch through no problem. Overall, I couldn’t be happier.”

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Suståne proves the key for consistency

Suståne proves the key for consistency: A programme based around Suståne 5-2-4+Fe organic slow-release fertiliser is working wonders at Linköping Golf Club in Sweden – delivering enhanced consistency in plant health and growth for Head Greenkeeper Andreas Bergqvist and his team.

Now into their second year of pursuing a more natural approach to enhancing soil biology, not only are the greens performing better, the additional strength has seen improved resistance to Anthracnose.

Suståne proves the key for consistency

Suståne proves the key for consistency

Andreas has been in charge of the maintenance of the picturesque parkland course for the last five years, but has been at the club since 2001 as a deputy where he first gained experience of products from the Suståne range. “My approach to plant health is very much to work with nature and feed from the bottom up, rather than the top down” he explains. “We’d been using Suståne for a number of years, but when I took over I further reduced artificial inputs in favour of upping our Suståne programme to get better structure into our push-up greens.”

The current plan consists of 8-10 week applications of Suståne 5-2-4+Fe between the months of April and September; the long-lasting sources of organic nitrogen promoting greater root development and good colour. “The main benefit we’ve found is that you don’t get the flush of growth like you do with synthetic fertilisers. It keeps the greens consistent in terms of playability and means that we’re employing fewer mechanical practices such as verti-cutting to keep on top of rapid growth which, in turn, brings benefit for surface quality and health.”

“Prior to using Suståne we would also commonly see outbreaks of Anthracnose around the course. This appears to have decreased significantly, and when we do get a patch we can target treat with some additional 5-2-4+Fe and it’s seemingly resolved within a couple of days.”

He continues, “One of the biggest issues we face here in southern Sweden is drought. The Suståne product being naturally-derived means that we can apply when we need to, and not when the rainfall forecast is in our favour. The boost to root development also means we’re finding that the grass is more tolerant to the hot and dry conditions which means we’re well-placed to deal with the changing climate moving forwards.”

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The Future…

The Future…: With Turf Matters celebrating its 10th birthday thoughts go to 10 years down the line and what life will be like in the mid 2030s. Scott MacCallum was given a glimpse into the future by Husqvarna and JCB.

In many ways, 2014 seems like ancient history. Back then, we saw Scotland voting to remain as part of the United Kingdom; Brazil were tonked 7-1 in the semi-final of a World Cup… held on home turf in Brazil, and Conchita Worst, sporting a very fine gown and a very fine beard, won the Eurovision Song Contest for Austria.

The Future…

The Future…

It was also the year that Turf Matters was launched, and this issue represents the 10th anniversary of the magazine.

With so much, good and bad, occurring over the last 10 years, it led to me to ponder where we might be 10 years from now. Could we be being picked up from the pub in our driverless car; might we have all our mail and deliveries dropped down to us from drones, while might we all have chips inserted in our wrists, thus removing the need for all money, keys and forgettable passwords?

But what about our industry? What are some of the things that we might expect when the 20th anniversary Turf Matters drops to you from your friendly drone… Hang on… will we still have printed magazines in 10 years’ time?

Now I don’ t have a crystal ball but I have been lucky enough recently to attend two events which shed some considerable light on what developments are being made towards 2034 and beyond. A quote which is attributed to either science fiction writer Arthur C. Clarke or Bill Gates, and raised in Paris, and tweaked slightly for our needs is also worth re-stating.

“We tend to overestimate what can be achieved in two years but underestimate what can be achieved in 10.”

Husqvarna’s Living City 2023, held in the wonderfully nostalgic Jardin d’Acclimatation, in Paris, was a two day look into the future, while a couple of weeks later I was one of a select group of journalists invited to attend a briefing at JCB’s Headquarters, in Staffordshire, to look at the extraordinary progress they have made in hydrogen power.

What I discovered was that 10 years is well within the scope of some amazing advances in technology and thinking. Looks like Arthur or Bill might have been spot on.

Living City 2023, saw 160 people attend for 13 different countries and covered a range of topics from global change and how that was impacting cities – the temperature rise in northern hemisphere cities is four degrees against a global rise of one and a half degrees – to how biodiversity 10 years down the  line will be increasingly seen as the lifeline for the future of the planet.

Paris has a target to be the greenest city in the world by 2030 while London Mayor Sadiq Khan has promised to plant two million more trees in the city. New York has a policy of every missing tree having to be reported

One speaker was Douwe Snoek, a renowned Dutch landscape architect, who told the audience that we had been building our cities all wrong. Douwe will be featured in the next issue of our sister publication, Landscaping Matters, but in essence he said that too much influence had been given to the car and future cities should give limited access to the car.

The Future…

The Future…

Opening the Conference Yvette Hensall-Bell, President Global Professional for Husqvarna, revealed that more than one million species were at risk of extinction if the status quo was maintained and said that the company had set up a Biodiversity Advisory Board, pulling together some of the finest minds on the subject to work on finding solutions and lobbying Governments.

They also presented papers on how there will be a return to quietness, with the removal of the brute force of engines and all the toll that puts on the body.

Gent Simmons, Vice President Global Product Management & Development – Professional, spoke on the need for sustainability in all areas, even citing safety trousers which currently tangle in a chainsaw to bring it to a sharp stop, at the overall expense of the trousers. Building sensors into safety trousers would instantly bring the chainsaw to a halt and not damage the trousers.

“It is about encouraging customers to move from more of a business model approach to a more sustainable one and adding customer value is how this is achieved,” explained Gent, adding that no new project at Husqvarna progresses now, until it is proven to be fully sustainable.

“No project will be started without a plan to have fossil independence,” said Gent, who added that the philosophy at Husqvarna is to encouraged engineers not to make “new stuff” but to make “stuff better”.

Gent’s closing words were that his greatest wish was to return nature’s balance, something which we’d lost over recent years.

So what else?

Well, we’ve had robots for a number of years now which have become adept at cutting lawns or amenity areas before heading back to their base to recharge.

Well how about, in 10 years’ time, a team of robots which will carry out a range of different turf management practices – aeration, chemical application etc – silently in the middle of the night?

And these robots won’t need to be guided by satellite or guide wires, they will be using AI to work autonomously able to identify where they can and cannot go and, in a golf environment, know the difference between fairway, greens and bunkers.

The robots will arrive in a mini vehicle which will act as their recharging base while they are on site.

With the current recruitment crisis within the industry, it will allow human staff to get on with important jobs during their regular working hours.

For more remote working Husqvarna’s R&D has given thought and provided solutions to the challenge of powering chainsaws and the like for a full working day. Among those was a fully kitted out vehicle with recharging points and storage for all manner of spare batteries and equipment itself.

Much of the pathway to progress revolves around battery power, something which Husqvarna believes will be essential for hand tools for the foreseeable future, and which is make more possible by innovative ways of recharging and supplying sufficient batteries for an entire day’s work. It is worked that is being mirrored at many of the most innovative hand tool companies in the world including Stihl and Pellenc, both of whom are well advanced with their own battery power development work.

Interestingly, however, they believe that hydrogen is the ultimate fuel to provide fossil independence. The problem for the hand tool industry is that currently a hydrogen powered hand tool would need to be six times larger than they are at present.

That obvious limiter to progress does not stand in the way of JCB, whose range of vehicles are sizeable enough to cope with a hydrogen engine.

The Future…

The Future…

How do they know? Well they’ve built one and it is already powering prototype JCB’s at their testing quarry a few miles from their Headquarters.

In fact, a fully fledged hydrogen engine was not the first option considered when viable alternatives were being assessed by the JCB engineers. Further up that list were indeed, battery and hydrogen fuel cells, which initially ticked a lot of boxes and where thought be a quicker route to zero carbon fuel.

While extensive research determined that battery is still the optimum non-fossil option for smaller vehicles, including in that category, domestic cars, it is not practical for equipment with an operating weight of over six tonnes.

JCB’s chief innovation and growth officer, Tim Burnhope, one of the most decorated engineers in the country, explained that with domestic cars now averaging 8,000 miles a year, a drop from the pre Working from Home era of 12,000 miles, battery power remains more than a viable option.

“At JCB, we believe that it is important to use the right technology for the right application. For low power applications, close to built infrastructure, and potentially with additional demands on product such as noise, and where fume extraction is an issue, battery-electric technology is applicable,” said Tim

“These machines tend to be more compact, due to the nature of the work, and while are on-site all day, generally only work a couple of ‘power hours’ in a day. An example of this in the turf and landscaping industry would be electric ‘golf’ buggies, which have been commonplace for many years due to their low power application, low noise and proximity to charging infrastructure.”

For huge excavators, which in countries like India car run for 22 hours a day, lifting and emptying fully loaded buckets every 21 seconds, batteries wouldn’t cut the mustard.

The Future…

The Future…

“For larger machines and equipment, the job site tends to be more remote, building the infrastructure need (e.g. utilities, road, rail, and housing) for the first time. As such fuel needs to be mobile and fast to replenish to enable machines to operate whenever and wherever they are needed to. Hydrogen is a zero carbon fuel, which can be brought to machines and refuelled in a matter of minutes – making it an ideal future fuel for construction and agricultural machines.”

The example Tim gave was of a busy quarry with 100 excavators. The required recharging points would mean that power would require to be drawn from a considerable distance at a current installation cost of £1 million a mile. Of course, when the quarry was drained of resource the expensive recharging infrastructure would be redundant.

“Continuing down the battery power route would also mean that net zero by 2050 would not be achieved, as predictions suggest that it would stop at around 10%,” explained Tim.

The hydrogen fuel cells also had similar success-limiting deficiencies.

“We worked at developing a machine which would work for 16 hours a day, not even the 22 hours that is required in places like India. However, even that would require £400,000 worth of fuel cells – 4.3 times the cost of an existing excavator, and it would weigh 10,000 kilos.”

Machines must also have a resale value to make them viably options for customers and having been worked at such a rate they wouldn’t be an attractive proposition without a hugely expensive replacement battery pack.

“Hydrogen fuel cells were therefore too complicated, not robust and too expensive,” explained Tim.

And so it was that during a break in Covid lockdown in 2020 a team of JCB engineers  sat down with Lord Bamford, JCB’s Chairman

“It was July and Lord Bamford laid down his Chairman’s Challenge. He wanted us to produce a hydrogen engine by Christmas,” recalled Tim.

Now, rather than leave the meeting with spinning heads and a desire to find the nearest darkened room in which to lie down, the team of engineers got to work and met the Challenge. Not surprising when you appreciated the desire and ability of the JCB engineers to the push the envelope. The world’s fastest diesel vehicle, as driven by Andy Green, sits in the corner of the factory floor. It achieved a speed of 365 mph on in Utah, USA, in 2006,  if you are interested.

The engine they produced has the same dimensions as that used in fossil fuel-operated JCB machinery, so can be fitted into the same chassis while they have the same level of performance.

It is a huge breakthrough and JCB is now just the first of at least 130 hydrogen development programmes going on around the world at some of the biggest companies in a range of different usages so progress will undoubtedly intensive.

The one challenge which is still to be met satisfactorily is refueling.

An extensive nationwide set of hydrogen filling stations is a long way off so a solution for the early adopters of hydrogen powered machines had to be found.

JCB have come up with, and built, a mobile hydrogen filling vehicle which would travel around an area refilling hydrogen machines thus ensuring that down time for those valuable workhorses is minimised.

That may be a useful option for operators of a large fleet of machines or those who tap into a refilling service but the dream of freely available hydrogen filling stations is still a little time away.

So, that question of where will we be when Turf Matters celebrates its 20th birthday…

“The landscape in 10 years’ time will certainly be a growing mixture of both technologies; where the line is between the two will be highly dependent on application, location and cost,” predicted Tim.

Overall the glimpse into the future, as offered by both Husqvarna and JCB, is extremely interesting and shows that the landscape of our workplace, and life in general, will be markedly changed. Husqvarna’s work on battery development and holistic lifestyle changes and JCB’s progress on ensuring that large vehicles will emit steam rather than fumes should assist in achieving, or getting close to, nett zero

Many thanks to Husqvarna and JCB for inviting Turf Matters to two extremely interesting events

Time saving solutions the focus for GKB at BTME

Time saving solutions the focus for GKB at BTME: Time is a precious and ever-decreasing commodity when it comes to completing operations around the golf course. That’s why the multi-functional Sandfiller will be taking centre stage on the GKB stand, when they return to BTME in 2024.

The GKB Sandfiller is designed to tackle the problem of surface drainage and aeration on sports turf and golf courses, especially on greens. A true multi-tasker, the Sandfiller scarifies and simultaneously backfills with sand, or a combination of sand and seed, in a single pass. Delivering the perfect conditions for excellent root growth and optimal plant health, the Sandfiller can be operated by one person, where other similar methods demand more time and labour.

Time saving solutions the focus for GKB at BTME

Time saving solutions the focus for GKB at BTME

Tried and tested by contractors and courses up and down the country, the heart of the Sandfiller utilises the principles of GKB’s much-praised Combinator – carbide blades effectively slitting the surface and creating channels to be easily refilled with dried sand and leaving a clean, play-ready finish in its wake.

Alongside the Sandfiller on stand 644 will be the equally versatile Combiseeder. Four working widths of Combiseeder are available, all equipped with twin spiked rollers which create 1500 holes per square metre, and two brushes to ensure seed is accurately deposited into the pockets for optimal germination conditions. Facilitating routine overseeding quickly and efficiently, the GKB Combiseeder proves an effective tool in retaining sward density and preventing weed, annual meadow grass or moss ingress as more chemical remedies are removed from the market.

The Sandfiller and Combiseeder are just two of a broad portfolio of quality-built maintenance solutions from GKB Machines, further details of which can be found by speaking to the technical team on hand across the three days in January.

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Campey looks forward to the SFMA Conference

Campey looks forward to the SFMA Conference: Campey Turf Care Systems is set to exhibit at the 33rd annual STMA conference and exhibition between the 22-25th January 2024.

This year’s event is taking place at Daytona Beach, Florida and will feature Campey’s latest synthetic, hybrid and natural turf grooming products and the Martin Lishman Micro-Spray.

Campey looks forward to the SFMA Conference

Campey looks forward to the SFMA Conference

The key aim of the Micro-Spray is bringing versatility to the groundsman’s armoury. A narrow footprint allows it to fit through most gateways and passageways to tackle hard to reach spraying areas.

A new 150-litre tank version Micro-Spray is available in 2024, with all the current options of a 2.5m six nozzle or 3.5m eight nozzle three-section folding boom and the perfect combination of power, control and responsive handling, with the added benefit of a larger tank. It is suited to all types of sports grounds, golf courses and landscaping work. The comprehensive yet easy to use control box gives the operator more control over the sprayer with changeable motor direction to either walk behind or in front of the sprayer, 12 motor speeds, bout marker selection, a battery level indicator and optional hand lance.

Spray application rates, operating speed, and the pump pressure can be accurately and quickly controlled by the operator, as well as the adjustable boom height and independent shut-off nozzle bodies. All of these features come together to make a versatile sprayer that provides the same exceptional results time and time again regardless of where you’re working.

Other leading products on the Campey stand will be the Campey® Uni-Scratch, UNIRAKE©and the Campey® LM3010 liquid transfer line marker.

The Uni-Scratch is ideal for the professional and effective maintenance of natural and synthetic grass surfaces. The machine has been developed to infill or refill when installing or looking after synthetic grass carpets. It can also be used to remove organic matter on natural grass hybrid carpet pitches when carrying out annual renovations. The Uni-Scratch moves on four supporting rollers, which are adjustable in height to allow the most appropriate working depth. The rotors can be equipped with springs or linear brushes in PPL, with rear linkage to tractors of at least 30hp.

The UNIRAKE© serves a similar purpose by removing organic matter. Still, users can adjust the severity of grooming to remove a varying amount of organic matter or simply stand the sward up to encourage growth. Altering the severity of grooming is quick and easy and can be done in no less than 30-seconds.

Line marking is made simple with the Campey® LM3010 liquid transfer marker. What sets this line marker apart from the rest is that it only marks the leaf/plant and not the soil. This means that when greening out the lines for re-marking, it is easy to remove existing colours and re-line with greater precision and less time.

It is a simple, durable and easy to operate liquid transfer line marker. Marking material is transferred from the 30ltr hopper to the 10cm wide marking wheel by a grooved rubber roller which allows marking up to post or flag. It has pneumatic tyres and an adjustable flow rate giving even and accurate lines. The tubular steel handles can also be adjusted for operator comfort.

Many professional sporting clubs in the UK and Europe have the line marker, such as the Salford Reds. In the United States, sports facilities, including the Philadelphia Union Soccer PPL Park stadium and the New York Mets, a professional baseball team at its Citi Field stadium in Queens, use it regularly.

Throughout the week-long event, Campey product specialists will be available to give advice on machinery and answer any turf related questions.

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Explore the world of CRF with ICL at BTME

Explore the world of CRF with ICL at BTME: Located in Hall 2, the ICL Stand (224) will serve as a vibrant hub of knowledge and practical advice, offering attendees a chance to network and enjoy a coffee brewed by expert baristas.

Visitors to the stand will have the opportunity to learn more about the many benefits of using Controlled Release Fertilisers (CRF) and will also be able to pick up a copy of the new ProSelect grass seed brochure in which they can learn about the new and improved mixtures that are ideal for golf courses, sports fields, turf growers and landscape contractors.

Explore the world of CRF with ICL at BTME

Explore the world of CRF with ICL at BTME

ICL has been a long-standing supporter of BIGGA’s Continue to Learn education programme and will be playing a significant role in the 2024 edition. This year, five greenkeepers will embark on the ICL Continue to Learn Scholarship 2024, receiving a generous package of three nights’ hotel accommodation and 15 hours of training and development within the educational programme.

Furthermore, ICL will host a series of informative seminars:

Turf nutrition masterclass

ICL’s Henry Bechelet, Technical Manager UK and Ireland, and Dr Andy Owen, International Technical Manager, will update and upgrade your knowledge on how good nutrition can support healthy turf surfaces and significantly improve your golf course.

Monday 22 January, 09.00 – 12.30

What’s in a soil analysis?

For this seminar, Dr Andy Owen & Henry Bechelet explore soil sampling, the interpretation of soil analysis results, and their practical application in annual golf course management.

Monday 22 January, 13.00 – 17.00

The power of water: Wetting agent trials and technology

This seminar will detail how golf course managers can utilise the latest wetting agent technology to unlock the power of water for turf management, to provide the best quality playing surface. It will illustrate key findings from the latest in-depth research trials at leading UK golf course venues and independent trial stations carried out by ICL.

Thursday 24 January, 10.00 – 10.45

Please contact ICL on 01473 237100 or visit www.icl-growingsolutions.uk and icl-growingsolutions.ie if you are in Ireland.

For more news and insightful views, you can follow ICL on Twitter @ICL_Turf

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FSI embark on new chapter in the UK

FSI embark on new chapter in the UK: FSI Stump Cutters, leading manufacturer of high-quality stump grinders, are pleased to announce a strategic expansion in the UK market with the establishment of FSI Stump Cutters UK Ltd – a wholly owned subsidiary of the Danish manufacturing company.

The move signifies FSI’s commitment to strengthening their market position and providing a more streamlined, localised service to meet the requirements of end users.

FSI embark on new chapter in the UK

FSI embark on new chapter in the UK

A prominent name in the UK arb industry for over a decade, FSI are widely recognised for their high-quality, reliable range of stump grinders – especially the popular collection of handlebar stump grinders which set the industry standard for processing efficiency and have therefore been market leading in their category for many years.  The strategic decision taken to work directly with carefully selected distribution partners facilitates new growth opportunities, streamlined communication between the UK and head office and enhanced support, training and development for those providing sales and support to operators old and new.

A key component of the new distribution strategy is the introduction of Lee Hatton, who brings a wealth of arboriculture, groundcare and agricultural knowledge and experience to his new role of Sales Director for FSI Stump Cutters UK. Lee is a passionate and dedicated sales professional having spent the last six years with leading machinery dealers Lister Wilder and is committed to building and supporting the new network of FSI partners around the country.

On his new role, Lee commented “My passion for the industry, coupled with my extensive experience in machinery sales will drive our efforts to provide top-notch service. I look forward to working closely with our valued partners, providing them with technical and practical support where required, to ensure that FSI remains the preferred choice for stump cutting solutions.”

FSI Stump Cutters Managing Director Kim Schmidt adds, “We are thrilled to deepen our roots in the UK with this new subsidiary and are delighted to welcome Lee on board to help us achieve that. Our commitment has always been to provide exceptional quality and service. By establishing a closer connection with local partners, we aim to elevate the level of support and expertise available to owners and operators throughout the UK and reinforce our position as a leader in the arboriculture industry.”

Further details on the new nationwide network of distribution partners will be announced over the coming weeks.

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