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Echo RP-1250 proves the perfect driving range partner

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Echo RP-1250 proves the perfect driving range partner: In just a few short weeks, an Echo RP-1250 from GroundTech has successfully streamlined the driving range operation at Kingsway Royston’s Golf Centre.

Operations Director James Watts explains how their new autonomous range-picker is working seamlessly with the club’s existing washer set-up and has resulted in up to 20 hours of labour being reallocated around the course every week!

Echo RP-1250 proves the perfect driving range partner

Echo RP-1250 proves the perfect driving range partner

Located on the outskirts of Cambridge, Kingsway Royston is a family-focused golfing destination offering a 9-hole golf course and Toptracer driving range alongside foot golf, pitch and putt, 18 holes of Jurassic Links Adventure Golf, Jamaica Blue café and AF Golf store. Like many, Kingsway has enjoyed a major boost in footfall post-COVID – good for business, but placing additional strain on their maintenance partners of nearly three decades, Turf Care Leisure.

To address the challenge, James engaged with GroundTech’s Marcus Glover to explore options. “I’ve been in the industry for many years and it’s been really interesting to watch the developments and refinements within the robotic arena” he explains. “Echo is well-established and well-proven so I had no doubt the technology, paired with the expert support and service from GroundTech, was going to be the perfect partner for our 30-bay driving range.”

The RP-1250 is capable of collecting up to 20,000 golf balls per day, silently and in all weathers. Optimised via GPS to target high density areas, balls are safely and efficiently collected and returned to a designated drop-off point – in this instance, a custom-fabricated holding tank designed and supplied by GroundTech. “It’s fitted seamlessly into our existing washer and Range Servant automated management system, and has reduced the time taken to clear the driving range from three or four hours every day to just one.”

James emphasises, “The time-saving is massive for us. Being able to redistribute close to 20 hours of labour every week enables us to focus our efforts on other projects and course improvements which has obviously been very well received by our customers.” He adds, “The service we’ve had from Marcus and GroundTech has been excellent throughout – everything from helping us provide a business case for the purchase, through to installation in early August and supporting us and our team through the initial set-up and induction period.”

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Baroness does the triple with top ranked ‘Notts Triangle’

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Baroness does the triple with top ranked ‘Notts Triangle’: It’s not just an NG postcode that Coxmoor, Hollinwell and Sherwood Forest Golf Club’s share, nor the fact that they all rank in England’s Top 100…. They also all swear by their respective mower fleets from Baroness!

A range of hand mowers, fairways mowers and greens triples have clocked up almost 20 years of loyal service across the three clubs, with all citing it’s the outstanding quality of cut that keeps them among the top golfing destinations in the county.

Baroness does the triple with top ranked ‘Notts Triangle’

Baroness does the triple with top ranked ‘Notts Triangle’

Aspiring to always improve on the high standard heathland course at Coxmoor Golf Club is Course Manager Ben Cumberland and his team of nine. After initially ‘dipping a toe’ and purchasing their first Baroness hand mower seven years ago, they now run four LM56 and four LM66 pedestrian mowers, three LM315’s and two LM551’s for fairways making Baroness the dominant brand of mowing equipment at the club. “Some clubs will opt for equipment purely based on a badge. For us, we prioritise quality of cut above everything else and with Baroness, it’s just exceptional!” Ben explains. “The fleet is ensuring our turf is presenting well and is the healthiest it can be but more than that the build quality of the mowers themselves and the blades require so little maintenance, that any downtime has been significantly reduced.”

Baroness has been present at Hollinwell Golf Club since 2018 – the same year Shaun Bullin joined the team before taking over as Course Manager earlier in 2025. One of the original LM2700 fairway mowers remains in the shed, joined by an LM56 for tees, LM331 for surrounds and approaches, two LM315’s and, most recently, two LM551 fairway mowers. “Over the years, the cut quality from model to model has remained remarkably consistent. While they’ve never been uncomfortable, we’ve noticed our new machines have really stepped up on operator comfort which has scored massive brownie points with the team.” Shaun continues, “We’re partway through a big sward conversion programme so the finesse of the Baroness cylinders plays a big part in supporting our efforts to promote the finer grass species.”

Completing the ‘Nott’s Triangle’, a Baroness LM315 and LM551 fairway mower, four LM56 and two LM66 hand mowers are keeping maintenance on course at Sherwood Forest Golf Club. “It was during the COVID pandemic that we were first introduced to Baroness in our hunt for a new fairway mower” says Deputy Head Greenkeeper Keir Taylor. “Where lead times for other brands were ludicrous, we were able to get our hands on Baroness in good time – and what a decision that turned out to be! The build quality, the cut quality and all-round operator experience is fantastic. The maintenance, in particular the need to grind the blades, is straight forward and is needed much less often than we’re used to with other brands” he adds.

Ben, Shaun and Keir also note the fantastic advice and support from James Robson and the wider team at Henton & Chattell. “The back-up with every machine is excellent. If we have a question you can guarantee it’ll be answered quickly and easily either over the phone or in person” Keir says. “The team are always friendly and, alongside Andy Darley from Baroness, they’ve together been a great help and support in my step up to the head role” Shaun concludes.

For more information on the full Baroness range of mowers and implements for fine turf, visit www.baronessuk.com

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ZLine bunkers at The Rose

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ZLine bunkers at The Rose: The Rose is a new golf club, located close to the city of Athens in Georgia, due to open in 2026, and being developed by two-time All American and 2001 Walker Cupper Nick Cassini and his brother Dimitri, and designed by Oklahoma-based architect Tripp Davis. And The Rose’s bunkers are being lined using the ZLine system, which Davis has used on several of his recent projects.

“We are now grassing the course, and will be doing so until into the fall,” says Davis. “And the bunkers are being lined at the moment as well. Our team have been trained by ZLine in how to install the product, and they’re hard at work doing so.”

ZLine bunkers at The Rose

ZLine bunkers at The Rose

The Rose will be private, and a healthy number of members have already been enrolled. “It is a beautiful site, fairly open,” says Davis. “200 of the 300 acres we are using for the golf course were harvested for pine trees, so we have mostly cleared lesser quality hardwoods and volunteer underbrush. The land has a Shinnecock feel to it, with really nice rolling contours. It will have 105 acres of turf and 195 acres of thinner native grasses near play and what we are calling our ‘heathland’ areas of native grass and small indigenous shrubs more out of play. The developers want the course to be in the style of early American classics, so the sand lines on the bunkers are very high. When you have a high sand line, you need to be sure that the sand will hold on the bunker faces, and ZLine holds extremely well. Additionally, the bunker sands used in Georgia need to drain quickly to perform well, and ZLine drains better than any other bunker liner product I have come across.”

“The course has turned out really well, and I can’t wait to see it finished – I think members and their guests will love it,” he says. “And the ZLine bunkers will play a significant role in that.”

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The MENA Turf Show to Launch in Dubai

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The MENA Turf Show to Launch in Dubai: The turf industry is set to converge in the Middle East as The MENA TURF SHOW launches on 17th April 2026 at the prestigious Park Hyatt Dubai. Supported by VIYA GOLF, and as the region’s first dedicated event for golf, sports turf, and landscaping innovation, the show will provide a vital platform for professionals to connect, discover new technologies, and share expertise. 

From golf course superintendents to sports venue managers and golf course architects, THE MENA TURF SHOW promises insights and solutions tailored to the unique challenges of the Middle East’s climate. Attendees can look forward to expert-led sessions covering topics such as sustainable turf practices, sports field construction and maintenance, R&D agronomy insights and golf industry future trends.

The MENA Turf Show to Launch in Dubai

The MENA Turf Show to Launch in Dubai

“The Middle East is investing heavily in world-class golf courses, sports facilities, and green spaces,” said Nick Brown, Export Sales Manager at Campey Turf Care Systems. “The MENA TURF SHOW will serve as a vital hub for innovation and collaboration, helping industry leaders shape the future of turf management across the region.”

“Sustainability and innovation are key to managing turf in extreme climates,” said Babiker Khateeb – Commercial Director Polyclean Turf Division UAE. “The MENA TURF SHOW is the perfect platform to bring education that can transform how we care for sports surfaces and landscapes in this unique environment.”

THE MENA TURF SHOW has been made possible by the sponsorship of Campey Turf Care Systems and Polyclean Turf Division UAE, whose support underscores the importance of bringing cutting-edge turf solutions to the region.

Held at the scenic Park Hyatt Dubai at Dubai Creek Golf & Yachet Club, the event will blend cutting-edge technology with practical insights for maintaining high-quality turf and landscapes in extreme conditions. Further details on registration will be announced soon.

For updates,

• visit www.themenaturfshow.com or follow:
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/MiddleEastNorthAfricaTurfShow
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/themenaturfshow
• LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/the-mena-turf-show
• X (Twitter): www.twitter.com/themenaturfshow

Connect. Discover. Grow. See you at The MENA Turf Show in Dubai on 17 April 2026.

For the latest industry news visit turfmatters.co.uk/news

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MM50 Delivers the Perfect Pitch

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MM50 Delivers the Perfect Pitch: For Adam Rowlands, owner of Turf Doctor Specialists Ltd, maintaining high-quality cricket surfaces is about using the right tools for the job – and when it comes to seed, MM50 from MM Seed is his go-to solution.

Based in West London, Turf Doctor Specialists Ltd has been operating for over a decade as a limited company, but Adam brings with him more than 30 years of hands-on experience in the industry. As specialists in the maintenance and renovation of natural turf, the company works across a wide range of sports surfaces, from football and rugby pitches to bowls and tennis courts – but cricket remains one of their key focus areas.

MM50 Delivers the Perfect Pitch

MM50 Delivers the Perfect Pitch

 

Adam began using MM50 four years ago after switching from another seed that wasn’t quite delivering the results he needed. It was through working with Agrovista Amenity that MM50 was recommended, and since then, he’s never looked back.

“It was originally recommended to me by Agrovista Amenity, and I gave it a go,” says Adam. “I found it to be a much more robust, hard-wearing option compared to the bent and fescues I’d used in the past – and the results speak for themselves.”

MM50 is now used by Turf Doctor Specialists Ltd across six cricket squares and two bowling greens during the renovation window from early September to mid-October. Adam also applies it to six grass tennis courts, where durability and rapid recovery are equally important.

What sets MM50 apart, in Adam’s view, is its performance under pressure. Cricket squares face intense wear and tear during the season, and MM50’s dense, fine-leaved ryegrass blend stands up to the challenge.

“The colour is good, germination is reliable, and the recovery is solid,” he explains. “It handles the demands of a busy cricket season really well. In my opinion, it’s the perfect seed for cricket.”

MM50 Delivers the Perfect Pitch

MM50 Delivers the Perfect Pitch

MM50 is specially designed for end-of-season renovations and mid-season repairs on cricket squares. Its blend of Chloe, Alison, Singapore and Etienna perennial ryegrass cultivars offers exceptional shoot density, tolerance to close mowing, and fast recovery which is important when pitches are used through the season. MM 50 is also treated with HEADSTART® GOLD, a seaweed-based seed treatment which helps ensure rapid and even germination, helping grounds professionals like Adam get the best possible results even in challenging conditions.

“It just works,” says Adam. “And I have to give credit to Chris Turpie from Agrovista Amenity – his customer service is unbelievable. I don’t think you can get better support than that.”

For professionals looking for a proven, hard-wearing, and dependable seed for cricket square renovation and repair, MM50 continues to deliver outstanding results – season after season.

For further information, please contact MM Sports Seed on 01386 791102 or visit the company’s website www.mm-seeds.co.uk.

You can also follow the company on X: @MM_Seed.

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