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ISEKI raises the game for village club

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ISEKI raises the game for village club: An ISEKI compact tractor is helping to raise the standard of football pitches for a local village club, based in Northamptonshire.

Deanshanger Colts & Girls were established in the summer of 1989. The club has approximately 260 children aged 6-15 and features adult teams as well. The teams play their home games at Deanshanger playing fields where there are five pitches.

ISEKI raises the game for village club

ISEKI raises the game for village club

Mark Pether is the man responsible for maintaining the pitches and he revealed how a much-needed Football Foundation grant finally enabled them to purchase their own maintenance equipment.

“Over the years we have never had our own equipment, and this has been a bit of an issue,” he said. “It was decided 12 months ago that we would use the Football Foundation grant and look to invest in some equipment to take care of the pitches.

“When we started looking for the equipment, we reached out to a local dealer called RT Machinery. We explained what our situation was and what we were trying to achieve, and they suggested the ISEKI TM3267.”

The ISEKI TM3267 compact tractor is a versatile 25hp diesel compact tractor with a F8/R8 mechanical transmission. The ISO-mounted operator’s platform combined with ergonomically positioned controls ensures operator comfort during extended working periods. The 3-point linkage has a lift capacity of 600kg or 800kg when fitted with the high-capacity lift kit.

It also features, as standard, a rear-PTO, two double acting valves, mid-PTO, two double-acting auxiliary valves, weight frame and a choice of AG or Turf tyres. The TM3267 is available with an optional front loader.

Further benefits include:

  • Excellent performance coupled with high efficiency
  • ISO mounted operator platform for reduced noise and vibration
  • Power: 18.9 kW (25.3 hp)
  • Drive System: Mechanical or HST

Mark, who uses the TM3267 at least twice a week, explained the impact it has already made at Deanshanger playing fields.

“We’ve been using it for 12 months and the quality shines through this ISEKI machine,” he said. “Never have there been any issues and it starts first time every time.

“It is powerful, and flexible enough to give us options to use all the equipment across the pitches. The size of the TM3267 is also very beneficial. We are quite confined here in terms of space at Deanshanger, but we can easily lock it away in our own container.”

Mark was also quick to praise the service he receives from ISEKI dealer RT Machinery.

“The guys at RT Machinery have been absolutely fantastic. When they delivered the ISEKI machine, they gave us a full brief on how to use the machinery and they are always there to support us if ever we need them.

“I would recommend the ISEKI TM3267 to anybody,” he continued. “In fact, I have already been recommending it to quite a few local clubs nearby.”

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Singing the praises of an Agrovista tank-mix

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Singing the praises of an Agrovista tank-mix: A tank-mix designed by Agrovista Amenity is helping to control the weed population at the Singing Hills Golf Club in West Sussex.

Singing Hills features 27 holes in three loops of nine holes, allowing golfers to play any combination. Designed by Richard Hird, this parkland course, with its gently undulating fairways, spectacular water holes and the Sussex Downs as a backdrop, is one of the county’s top golf venues.

Singing the praises of an Agrovista tank-mix

Singing the praises of an Agrovista tank-mix

Course Manager Mark Lunday and his Deputy Tom Granite have improved the course each year and are proud of the fact that golf can be played all year round without the need of temporary greens. However, the course does have somewhat of an Achilles heel according to Tom.

“We have suffered here for years with a really bad weed problem on our fairways and green surrounds,” he said. “In the past we have trialled all the different herbicides you can think of at different rates; we’ve tried it with wetters, stickers, pH adjusters and have done everything we possibly can but have not been successful.”

“Following the unsuccessful trials, we spoke to Joseph Dormer from Agrovista Amenity and he put together a special tank-mix,” added Mark. “We trialled it on two fairways and it worked well so we then chose to spray the entire course.”

The three-way tank-mix which Joseph Dormer recommended consisted of Praxys (2L/ha) – a systemic, post-emergence herbicide, containing clopyralid, florasulam and fluroxypyr which combines three active ingredients and two modes of action; GoGreen Select (25L/ha) which is a complex iron sulphate for rapid greening; and Evolution Xtra Soluble (20kg/ha) – a stabilised urea product which is a cost-effective nitrogen source giving 2-3 months longevity. The mix is applied with water at a rate of 320L/ha.

ALS Contractors were brought in to spray the Agrovista Amenity tank-mix on all 27 fairways and green surrounds with a view of controlling the troublesome weeds while also improving the condition and health of the turf.

Mark and Tom were suitably impressed with the process from start to finish.

“Singing Hills is such a large site, and we physically can’t get round to do the spraying,” said Tom. “Therefore, we needed the professionals to come in and get it all done in one morning rather than us trying to do a little bit at a time, and not get anywhere. The process went really well – the guys knew exactly what they were doing, and we couldn’t ask for more.”

“It is down to Agrovista Amenity’s scientific research that has enabled us to control the weed population at Singing Hills Golf Course,” said Mark. “Hopefully we will continue to see a lot more vigour and colour on our fairways, therefore enhancing the golf course.”

There is also a video with Joseph Dormer and the team from Singing Hills Golf Club which can be viewed by clicking here.

For more information about Agrovista UK, visit www.agrovista.co.uk/amenity

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ISEKI mower collects the leaves at Wellingborough

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ISEKI mower collects the leaves at Wellingborough: After demonstrating a variety of different ride-on mowers, Steve Mackey, Head Greenkeeper at Wellingborough Golf Club, found the one he was looking for in the ISEKI SXG323+. 

“We don’t have ties to any company, and we never will,” said the straight-talking Steve. “We simply buy what does the job and the ISEKI mower does the job for us.”

ISEKI mower collects the leaves at Wellingborough

ISEKI mower collects the leaves at Wellingborough

Steve is the man in charge of the 18-hole, par 72 rolling parkland course situated at the 18th century Harrowden Hall in the heart of Northamptonshire. The course, which hosts several premier PGA & county golf events, is positioned amongst five acres of beautifully maintained gardens and woodlands. It is partly for this reason that Steve was looking for a new ride-on mower.

“With it being a parkland course and with a vast number of trees, we get a lot of fallen leaves on the formal gardens and on the course,” he said. “Therefore, we needed a mower that could collect them quickly and efficiently through the season. In addition, we needed it for other work on the course such as collecting debris from scarifying tees, approaches, and general other tasks.”

“We demonstrated several different machines and found that the ISEKI ride-on mower was the best operator-wise for everybody that works here. It did a better job than its competitors and quite simply it was the best out of the lot.”

The ISEKI SXG Range is the ultimate in cut and collection mowers and the newly designed SXG323 + offers power, performance, and unsurpassed productivity. A 48” (1.22M) mower deck with wider overlapping provides a superior quality of cut while the large capacity, high torque 1123cc diesel engine is powerful and fuel efficient.

The new ergonomic design, increased leg room and dial-in height of cut adjustment all provide excellent operator comfort and the automotive-style instrument panel gives clear information, including a fuel gauge. Furthermore, the SXG323+ performs exceptionally even in the wet conditions, allowing you to work without the weather restricting you.

“Whether it be dry or wet, it does a good job every single time,” said Steve. “It is so comfortable, straight-forward to use and it is easy to change the height of cut with the dial rather than messing about with pins. This machine has no gimmicks and I like that.

“The high tip is very handy because we can collect leaves or debris and then put them straight into a trailer. It saves a lot of transport and time.

“We’ve not had one single issue with it, and never had any blockages,” he continued. “We do all our own maintenance and servicing, and it is easy with this machine – every component it very much accessible.

“Ultimately this ISEKI ride-on mower is well-built, bullet proof and it performs – and that is what I look for in machinery.”

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The need for FEED

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The need for FEED: The Lawn Association team are feeling a little Maverick today when it comes to discussing feeding lawns.  Some say that grass only needs food once per season, but if our Top Gun grass nutrition training has taught us anything, it is to have a 12 month feeding programme ready.  Grass is a plant and grows all year, so it shouldn’t be a surprise that is likes a good feed too!

But why feed?
When we mow, we are removing the leaves of the grass which store food, hence we need to provide additional nutrition. The ratio of the three key elements in grass (Nitrogen, Phosphorus & Potassium) change at different times of the year.  This is why feeding is important at various times in different seasons.

The need for FEED

The need for FEED

Which lawn food should you choose?

Feeding your lawn is part of the bigger picture of sustainable and sensible lawn care.  However many fertilisers require washing in order to activate, so waiting for the rain is due before applying makes sense. However, using organic feeds such as ‘True Grass’ which is produced from recycled food waste, ensures that your lawn is fed in the most sustainable way possible, without the risk of scorching!

How often should you feed?

If you are using a product such as ‘True Grass’ you can feed your lawn as and when you think it needs it at practically any time of the year (Feb to Nov). The benefit of True Grass is that it’s as much a soil conditioner as a feed so by using a product like this you are feeding the plants and the soils at the same time. Plus it is naturally rich (selected food waste products used) in amino, fulvic and humic acids.  Most fertilisers used are either chalk carriers or worse still, polymer coated only feed the grass (and compost bin) and have no benefit to the soils.

As with all aspects of good, sustainable modern lawn care, working with, not against nature, is your best option.  By doing this you will achieve the lawn that is top notch and perfect for you!

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The Turf Tank UK Roadshow

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The Turf Tank UK Roadshow: Turf Tank is taking robotic line marking on the road with five dates across England, starting at Manchester University on 7th July.

The roadshow will also visit Bournemouth and Leeds universities on 12th and 19th July, Liverpool Football Club’s LFC Academy on the 20th, and finish at Surrey University on the 26th.

The Turf Tank UK Roadshow

The Turf Tank UK Roadshow

Live demonstrations will take place, including the Turf Tank One’s set-up, programming and operation along with the base station. Any questions can be answered during every stage, and lunch and refreshments will be provided during the demonstration, with games and prizes also on offer.

Having already completed two dates in Belfast during May, Turf Tank UK Country Manager, Matt Murray, is looking forward to welcoming people to the roadshows in England.

“Over two days in Belfast, meeting people and showing them what the robot can do was fantastic,” Matt explains “I think the real benefit of people coming to a location similar to their own is they can see how the robot can work for them, how it can handle their conditions and ultimately, how seamless the process is.

“It’s also an excellent opportunity to ask any questions they might already have about robotic line marking, how the GPS side of things works or anything that comes up during the day.

“We like to keep it fairly informal, and everything is based outside on the turf, so it’s a solid four-hour session that people get a lot from.”

Free online registration is now open for every venue, and alex@turftank.co.uk or matt@turftank.co.uk can answer any questions regarding the events.

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