Tag Archive for: Time

It’s J Premier Wicket time and again

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It’s J Premier Wicket time and again: When it comes to a cricket pitch, there’s not much that Richie Woodmason, owner of Willow Turf Care, doesn’t know about them – whether it’s playing on them or maintaining them!

One thing he is certain of, is that when he needs a grass seed that is going to germinate quickly and deliver hard-wearing results capable of withstanding the demands of the modern season, he turns to Johnsons Sports Seed. Following his own extensive research, it’s Johnsons J Premier Wicket that ticks all the boxes for Richie, seeing it employed on 41 of the 42 renovations he completed last season.

It’s J Premier Wicket time and again

It’s J Premier Wicket time and again

After moving to Australia to play cricket, Richie became involved in the grounds maintenance at the Perth club, swiftly taking on the role of Head Groundsman. On his return to the UK, he then adopted a similar role at his home club before a return trip to Oz saw him gain further experience of management in warmer climes. Back again, and positions at Gloucestershire Country Cricket Club and Trent Bridge were held, alongside the establishment of Willow Turf Care – conducting end of season renovations for facilities in and around the Gloucestershire area.

It was during his time at Trent Bridge that Richie took it upon himself to conduct some trials to establish the germination of various mixtures and assess the performance of various cultivars. He explains, “When we were conducting repairs, I’d line up four or five different mixtures and then look at things like the speed of germination, coverage and plant strength, and found that in our attempts to get a wicket back in six or eight weeks, that J Premier Wicket repeatedly outperformed the others.”

This knowledge has served Richie well, since he went full time with Willow Turf Care in March 2021. “I was armed with my go-to grass seed and found that, as new clients came on board, they were happy to take my recommendation. I’m now Head Groundsman at seven clubs and use J Premier Wicket at all of these, along with the numerous other sites at which I’m contracted. It continues to offer brilliant wear tolerance, disease resistance and coped well with the challenges of the hot and dry weather last summer.”

It’s J Premier Wicket time and again

It’s J Premier Wicket time and again

J Premier Wicket is formulated from four top-rated perennial rye cultivars that deliver proven, reliable performance and outstanding camera appeal. “We used it on all of our 42 square renovations except one last year, with the other one also using seed from another DLF brand, and couldn’t fault the results.” He adds, “Time is becoming the most important commodity due to the expectations on county club grounds staff. This means that finding something that works well, and works quickly, is crucial. For me, the J Premier Wicket mix backed up with fantastic technical support from DLF’s Ian Barnett and priced as it is, makes it unrivalled.”

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Save time, money and effort with Attraxor®

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Save time, money and effort with Attraxor®: In real terms, this can mean less frequent mowing, saving manpower, petrol, and associated machinery costs. The risks associated with mowing difficult or dangerous areas such as steep banks are also reduced.

Head Greenkeeper, Alan McWilliam, based at Portpatrick Dunskey Golf Club in southwest Scotland, has been using Attraxor® for the past 12 months on golf greens.

Save time, money and effort with Attraxor®

Save time, money and effort with Attraxor®

Alan said: “Once applied I was really impressed with the reduction of turf growth. It has made the management of the course so much easier, reducing the amount of maintenance required.”

By using Attraxor®, growth is redirected from vertical to horizontal, increasing the density of turf. It also causes the thickening of plant cell walls and epidermis, contributing to a reduced susceptibility to some turf diseases with its regular use.

Course Manager, Ronnie Montgomery, based at Loudoun Gowf Club in Galston also said that he has been using Attraxor for the last 12 months on golf greens and has noticed a marked difference in the quality of the playing surface.

Ronnie confirmed: “We have noticed a better playing surface. Turf density has improved along with it being easier to maintain consistent greens speeds. We have also noticed this year a reduction in Microdochium.”

To find out more about Attraxor®, visit https://www.agricentre.basf.co.uk/en/Products/Product-Search/Plant-Growth-Regulator/Attraxor.html.

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Show time for Star and Kaaspeed

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Show time for Star and Kaaspeed: The latest lithium-powered transport options for the UK’s holiday park and resorts will be at the Holiday Park Innovation and Resort Show as distributor Reesink e-Vehicles showcases STAR EV buggies and utility vehicles and a KAASPEED electric scooter.

For holiday park and resort owners and managers keen to see the latest lithium-powered options for quiet, efficient, practical, and economical transport around sites, Reesink is bringing options for work as well as transporting guests.

Show time for Star and Kaaspeed

Show time for Star and Kaaspeed

Dave French, Reesink e-Vehicles sales manager, says: “For venues that require vehicles to work near customers, it’s essential they deliver clean, green power. With these lithium-powered buggies and utility vehicles from STAR EV there are no fumes and no noise pollution meaning customers can work smarter – and by that we mean earlier and for longer. Meanwhile, the KAASPEED scooter provides the latest, most unique mode of eco-transportation for guests and staff.”

Bringing the ideal combination of on-board charging, a good mileage per charge and an extensive warranty – up to six years on the lithium batteries – from STAR EV at the show will be the Capella Work Machine, market-leading when it comes to towing capacity and the amount of payload they can handle, the Capella lifted which is ideal for off-road load carrying situations and the Sirius people carrier that has been designed specifically as a personal transportation vehicle and is being extremely well received by current customers.

Dave continues: “Whenever there’s the need to move anything, product or person, from A to B in the efficient and green way, the range from STAR EV is it.”

KAASPEED’s electric scooter is a lightweight, self-balancing, wide-wheeled scooter that provides a fun method of transport for multi-surface adventures. These scooters are cost-effective, especially as little maintenance is required.

Dave comments: “KAASPEED scooters are a great choice and suit any terrain, which is a real selling point. They make travel fun, different and exciting. They can be used on all types of surface thanks to having the choice of two types of tyres – the Scorpion tyre offers excellent traction for woodland and sandy surfaces, while the standard plain tread tyres are perfect for flat ground with turf protection.”

For whisper-quiet, electric transport options delivering all-day productivity, come see us at the Holiday Park and Resort Innovation Show on stand HP1230.

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Dennis PRO 34R a time saver for The Swans

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Dennis PRO 34R a time saver for The Swans: A fleet of ten Dennis PRO 34R rotary mowers has saved the Swansea City FC groundstaff a huge amount of time and made their working day more manageable according to Head Groundsman, Evan Davies. 

After working at the club for nearly a decade, Evan was appointed as the Head Groundsman in April 2021. He claims that his journey to this point has fully prepared him for the challenge ahead.

“The first 3 or 4 years were tough, especially when Swansea were in the Premier League,” said Evan. “The club has always demanded excellence from everyone, and I like to think this has brought the best out in me.”

Dennis PRO 34R a time saver for The Swans

Dennis PRO 34R a time saver for The Swans

Evan now oversees the maintenance of all three club sites – the Swansea.com Stadium, the first team Fairwood Training Ground and the Swans Academy which is situated at Landore. With a vast number of games and training sessions across all three sites, the grounds staff work around the clock to maintain the pitches.

Evan was keen to stamp his own mark and implement some of his own ideas and he quickly identified that a change in his fleet of rotary mowers could offer a significant benefit.

“It is essential that the cleaning of pitches is completed as quick as possible,” he said. “The only way to achieve this was with a rotary mower with a bigger cutting deck which had the ability to increase the speed. I quickly found that it was only the Dennis PRO 34R that would work in this respect. Therefore, one of my first purchases when I started the role was ten Dennis PRO 34R rotary mowers.”

Designed to help groundsmen achieve an aesthetically pleasing appearance and desired playing surface the Dennis PRO 34R is a 34” (860mm) rotary mower ideal for sports pitches and lawns producing the enviable ‘Dennis Stripes’ while a powerful vacuum flow collects debris quickly and efficiently.

The angle of the cutting deck and twin blades can be easily adjusted using a single ‘click adjuster’ ensuring the mower is suitable for changing conditions and meeting groundsmen’s requirements.

“The PRO 34R’s allow us to manage the working day so much better,” said Evan. “At the training ground, for example, three members of staff can clean three pitches in two hours with the Dennis PRO 34R’s. With our previous rotary mowers that would have been a full 8-hour day carried out by 6 members of staff. This has allowed us to focus more on other tasks such as divoting and repairing the pitches, all things which we wouldn’t have had time to do before.

“The presentation it offers is also first-class,” he continued. “Leading up to a matchday we like to give the pitch a rotary cut on the Friday or the Saturday because it helps to make the pattern stand out. The leaf itself seems a bit happier after being cut with a PRO 34. They are so easy to set with just a little pin drop. With other rotary mowers you just can’t get that precise height of cut.

Dennis PRO 34R a time saver for The Swans

Dennis PRO 34R a time saver for The Swans

“For cleaning, you’ve got the brush on it which you can use aggressively or use it lightly on the surface to pick the debris up – it is just a win-win for us. There are not many mowers that give you an outstanding clean, cut and finish.”

Evan is also of the opinion that the Dennis customer service equals the standard of the product.

“The back-up I receive from Jason Briggs at Dennis is quality. He keeps in touch and has been to visit all three sites. He is very comfortable around all the staff, and he provides us with a lot of knowledge on the machines, which is beneficial for the younger members of the team.

“I also like the fact that Dennis is always thinking ahead,” he continued. “Dennis is a company that always listens to customers and then in turn comes up with ideas and technology to make our working lives easier. It certainly takes the pressure off us.”

For further information or a no obligation demonstration, please contact Dennis 01332 824 777 or visit www.dennisuk.com

For more news, reviews and insightful views, you can follow Dennis on Twitter and Instagram @DennisMowers and like the company’s Facebook page – www.facebook.com/DennisMowersUK. You can also view the latest Dennis videos by visiting www.youtube.com/DennisMowers

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Getting stronger over time

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Getting stronger over time: For almost any product, there is an environment that provides its toughest test. If you’re making extreme winter clothing, and you get asked to supply your gear to McMurdo Station, the largest settlement in Antarctica, you’ll know it is going to get the best possible test.

Similarly if you sell bunker liners and you get asked to supply The Preserve GC, in Vancleave in southern Missssippi.

Getting stronger over time

Getting stronger over time

Designed by Jerry Pate and opened in 2005, The Preserve is attached to the Palace Casino Resort in nearby Biloxi. According to director of operations Stephen Miles, the course does 13,000 rounds in an average year, though the post-Covid golf boom means 2021 has been significantly busier. And, let us not beat about the bush: this part of the Gulf coast is the wettest location in the whole of the continental United States, averaging almost 70 inches (1780mm) of rain a year. And 2021 has been wetter still than that: club meteorlogist Jeremy Steven reports that the figure for this year is very close to 100 inches (2,540mm).

Fortunately for Miles and his team, back in 2014, The Preserve chose to rebuild its bunkers and line them with Capillary Bunkers technology. “Nine years after opening is not a long time to have to renovate, but the infrastructure in the original build of the course was simply not up to coping with our weather,” he says. “The bunkers were originally lined with fabric, but it was wearing out, and we needed a more resilient solution. I knew that concrete had the tendency to get stronger over time, and Capillary Bunkers was less restrictive in the conditions needed for installation than its closest rival. I was confident at the time that we had made the right choice and installed a product that would stand the test of time. And time has proved we made the right choice!”

“We have not had to repair our bunkers at all, and, incredibly, the original sand is still in them,” Miles says. “Since 2014, I have bought one truckload of sand, and that was for the bunker in our chipping green – which gets blasted out by players. Our bunkers have flashed sand faces, but our minimal washout issues only occur where water actually flows into the bunkers. When we get a big rain – and eight to ten inches of rain is not uncommon – we have to wait for the drainage infrastructure underneath the bunkers to catch up with the bunkers’ ability to move water. But it always does, and then the crew can prepare the bunkers for play again.”

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