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John Wells to become BIGGA president

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John Wells to become BIGGA president: A Master Greenkeeper with more than four decades of experience across the world has accepted the nomination to become President of the British and International Golf Greenkeepers Association (BIGGA) in 2026.

John Wells, 66, has immediately stepped into the role of BIGGA President Elect, supporting current President Ronnie Myles for the remainder of his term. He will be formally appointed BIGGA President at the association’s Annual General Meeting, taking place online in January.

John Wells to become BIGGA president

John Wells to become BIGGA president

As BIGGA President, John will act as an ambassador for the association, representing BIGGA at events across the UK and overseas. He will also join the Board of Management, using his extensive experience to help guide the association in its mission to support and develop greenkeepers and turf professionals.

John was so surprised to be offered the presidency that he was initially in disbelief. He said: “I was quite taken aback when I received the call from Ronnie Myles to ask if I’d consider the position. At first, I thought it might be a wind-up from some mates! But once I realised it was genuine, I was over the moon. I’ve been on Cloud Nine ever since.

“It’s a tremendous honour and I am delighted to have the opportunity to give back to an industry that has given so much to me. I’m a firm believer in education and that is something I am keen to champion during my spell as President,” he said.

John’s greenkeeping journey started at Welwyn Garden City, where his early promise was recognised as he ascended to the role of Head Greenkeeper at just 20 years of age. He spent 16 years there before moving to Brocket Hall, where he oversaw major course developments.

He achieved Master Greenkeeper status in 1995 and left Brocket Hall in 2010, with John’s 18 years there having also seen him posted to Cyprus, Russia, France and beyond to oversee projects. His final port of call was South Herts Golf Club, where he retired in 2023.

“We are delighted that John has accepted the Board’s invitation to serve as President for 2026,” said BIGGA CEO Jim Croxton. “John has had a lengthy and storied career in greenkeeping and has always been a highly engaged member of BIGGA.

“As only the 10th member at the time to earn the Master Greenkeeper designation, he exemplified high standards, and his knowledge and expertise are still in strong demand after his retirement from full-time course management.

“I am looking forward to spending time with John throughout his presidency year at the various events we attend and within the boardroom, where his experience and wise counsel will be an undoubted asset.”

Throughout his career, John has been a passionate advocate for education and mentoring. Many of the team members he trained have gone on to become course managers themselves, while others now work around the world. He continues to support and advise greenkeepers through consultancy work and his close involvement with BIGGA.

“Education has always been at the heart of BIGGA, and that’s something I care deeply about,” he said. “When I started out, there were very few training opportunities. The development of structured education within the association has transformed the profession, and I’m proud to have seen that evolution firsthand.”

Although retired from full-time course management, John remains heavily involved in the sport. He consults at a 36-hole course near his Hertfordshire home, looks after two cricket squares, and travels regularly to visit his son, Harry, who is Golf Course Superintendent at Dubai Creek Golf Club.

“I’ve been lucky enough to work in some incredible places, but what I’ve always enjoyed most is helping others succeed,” he said. “To be invited to serve as BIGGA President is a huge honour, and I’ll do my utmost to represent the association and its members to the best of my ability.”

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Top Results at Woolley Park Thanks to the Redexim

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Top Results at Woolley Park Thanks to the Redexim: Woolley Park Golf Club in Wakefield has long been a family-run facility built on pride, passion, and constant improvement – and Course Manager John Rowbottom believes one piece of machinery has raised their maintenance standards more than most: the Redexim Top Brush 6000.

Introduced in 2020 as a solution for everything from disease control and surface preening to pre-cut preparation and top-dressing integration, the Top Brush 6000 has since become a fixture at forward-thinking turf facilities around the world. And since investing in one of the first units in 2022, Woolley Park Golf Club has never looked back.

Top Results at Woolley Park Thanks to the Redexim

Top Results at Woolley Park Thanks to the Redexim

“We jumped in with both feet,” says John. I’d seen it advertised when it got launched and thought, that’s a piece of equipment I need to look at. We’d just come out the other side of losing chemical control for worms, which I appreciate is the right way to go – but it was a big problem for us, and Redexim solved it better than anyone.”

Initially purchased to tackle the frustrating and unsightly problem of worm casts on fairways, the Top Brush quickly proved itself a versatile, season-round asset.

“I was thinking purely autumn and spring use pre-mowing to clear worm casts, reduce mess and prevent damage to machinery,” he explains. “But it’s turned out to be far more than that. The level of presentation we now get on a day-to-day basis is unreal. It’s not just helping with the problem – it’s improving how the course looks.”

With its three independently adjustable poly brush units and a 6-metre working width, the Top Brush 6000 can quickly and evenly sweep large areas, removing moisture, worm casts, surface debris and more. The result? A clean, healthy sward with improved airflow and reduced disease pressure.

“We’re running it on the fairways at least two out of the three times a week we cut them. It stands the grass up beautifully before mowing, helps us remove moisture, and just lifts the overall finish of the course.”

The Top Brush 6000 is designed for turf managers who need performance without compromise. The hydraulic brushes can be rotated in either direction, meaning operators can choose whether to brush with or against the direction of travel – ideal for tasks like leaf clearance or removing pine needles in tree-lined areas.

At Woolley Park, where 27 holes are spread across historic deer parkland, this flexibility has been key.

“We’ve even run it across tees where possible, although it’s mainly the fairways where it shines,” John says. “It’s really helped increase sward density through gentle brushing, and it even improves recovery after top dressing.”

Despite its size, the Top Brush 6000 was built with usability in mind. Its folding wings allow for compact storage, while easy adjustments and intuitive controls mean any team member can use it with confidence.

“When we brought it in, I got the lads a new tractor to run it with. Now, it’s just part of the routine – any of the team can jump on it and go. It’s simple in its operation, and that’s one of the best things about it.”

The Rowbottom family has deep roots in both agriculture and golf. The club was founded in 1995 after John’s grandfather decided to diversify from farming – despite never having played a round of golf in his life.

“We’ve been farming here since 1922. In the mid-90s, Granddad just plucked the idea of a golf course out of thin air. None of us played, but farming wasn’t in a great place, and diversification was being encouraged so he went for it. It was a huge leap, but it worked.”

Today, John runs the greenkeeping operation, while other family members help manage the business. The club continues to invest heavily in its machinery and course infrastructure, working closely with suppliers like Redexim.

“We’ve had Redexim kit on site in some form or another for years. But the Top Brush 6000 has probably stood out more than anything we’ve had before. It solves multiple problems in one go, and you can’t argue with results like that.”

Whether it’s the improved presentation, increased machine longevity, or the ability to tackle worm casts without chemicals, the Redexim Top Brush 6000 has become an invaluable part of Woolley Park’s turf care toolkit.

“It’s one of those machines where you look back and think, how did we manage without this? It’s paid for itself in time, results, and in how it protects the rest of our machinery. It’s helped us push the golf course forward and that’s what it’s all about.”

For more information, visit https://www.redexim.com/uk/ 

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Kubota to showcase ‘one stop shop’ at SALTEX

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Kubota to showcase ‘one stop shop’ at SALTEX: SALTEX will once again provide the perfect platform for Kubota UK to showcase a comprehensive range of professional groundcare equipment when the show returns to The NEC on the 12th and 13th November. Visitors to stand E060 can expect to find products from the RTV, compact tractor and mower portfolios, with Kubota’s expanded zero-turn range promising to be one of many highlights.

Combining exceptional manoeuvrability with first class cut quality, Kubota will be bringing not one but THREE zero-turn mowers to SALTEX! Launched last summer, the Z4-541 is a 54” petrol model which boasts outstanding versatility, ease of operation and a large chassis to deliver excellent productivity to the pro-consumer market. From the diesel range, the well-established ZD-1211 provides comfort and fast working with excellent fuel efficiency, meeting all the needs of the commercial operator.

Kubota to showcase ‘one stop shop’ at SALTEX

Kubota to showcase ‘one stop shop’ at SALTEX

Last but not least, the Kubota ZE-481 delivers the performance and precision required of a professional zero-turn mower, in a sustainable, battery-powered package. With zero emissions at the point of use and significantly reduced noise output, the ZE-481 allows grounds teams to work in noise-sensitive environments such as schools, hospitals and public parks without disruption.

Also taking centre stage in the SALTEX Community Sports Zone will be the Kubota EK1-261 HST. Easy to operate and built with capability in mind, the EK1-261 HST is perfectly suited to grassroots sports facilities – offering Kubota reliability and back-up support in an entry-level set-up that promises unbeatable return on investment.

Complementing these will be a selection of Kubota compact tractors and utility vehicles from the RTV range. Kubota will also be joined on stand by representatives from Terrako – Kubota’s new online ordering software for genuine parts – and Baroness, making E060 a ‘one stop shop’ for high performance power and implements suited to all applications and every grounds maintenance professional.

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GKB to celebrate 10 Years in the UK at SALTEX

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GKB to celebrate 10 Years in the UK at SALTEX: GKB Machines are pleased to be returning to SALTEX in what is a special year for the company as they celebrate 10 years of their UK operation. Stand A080 promises to encapsulate the very best of innovation, growth and partnerships from the last decade – including the new Deep Clean for synthetic surface maintenance which will be making its global debut.

While GKB Machines was founded in 1946, the dedicated UK division was only established in 2015, which makes the growth and the success of GKB in the UK grounds management industry even more impressive! Under the stewardship of Tom Shinkins, GKB has gone from strength to strength, with equipment from their natural and artificial portfolio finding homes with professionals at all levels – from grassroots facilities to elite venues around the country.

GKB to celebrate 10 Years in the UK at SALTEX

GKB to celebrate 10 Years in the UK at SALTEX

At SALTEX, one of the latest additions to that range will be on show in the form of the new Deep Clean. A core part of the GKB synthetic maintenance range for many years, the Deep Clean has been enhanced and redeveloped in collaboration with SMG. The next generation machine will be available in 1.2m, 1.5m and 1.8m working widths and will offer improved cleaning and maintenance performance on all types of synthetic surface.

Developed with grassroots facilities in mind and showcasing the very best in GKB engineering, visitors can also expect to see the GKB Combitool. Providing the perfect partnership of versatility and efficiency, the Combitool features four attachment slots which can be quickly and easily tailored to the needs of any facility. Suitable for natural and hybrid surfaces, operators can rake, roll, slit and brush in a single pass making it ideal for community clubs and smaller venues looking for professional results at an accessible price.

See the range first hand and celebrate a decade of turf maintenance excellence with the GKB Team with a stop by stand A080 when SALTEX returns to The NEC this November.

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Campey to launch Imants Recycling Dresser® 1.3 at SALTEX

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Campey to launch Imants Recycling Dresser® 1.3 at SALTEX: Campey Turf Care Systems will unveil the new lightweight Imants RECYCLINGDRESSER® 1.3 on stand C050 at SALTEX 2025, alongside their range of industry-leading maintenance solutions and product specialists.

Designed specifically for use with smaller tractors, the latest Imants RECYCLINGDRESSER® 1.3 brings the proven benefits of recycling dressing to facilities that previously lacked the horsepower for larger models. By re-using and redistributing existing soil across the playing surface, the machine offers a cost-effective, sustainable approach to turf care that reduces both labour and material inputs.

Campey to launch Imants Recycling Dresser® 1.3 at SALTEX

Campey to launch Imants Recycling Dresser® 1.3 at SALTEX

Key updates include a new rear flap for faster material breakdown and drying, plus smart folding legs that double as protective side bars for easier transport and storage. The process aerates soil vertically and horizontally, eliminates compaction, boosts biological activity, and extends fertiliser effectiveness.

Visitors to the Campey stand C050 will have the chance to see the new Imants RECYCLINGDRESSER® 1.3 up close. With decades of combined knowledge across renovation, aeration, and sustainable practices, the Campey team will be on hand to offer tailored advice and guidance.

Other products worthy of a mention include the Foley Air2G2 pedestrian aerator which laterally injects air blasts to loosen up compacted soil immediately but without any disruption to the surface of the turf or the roots below. With frequent use, the Air2G2 336 creates surfaces that are healthy, firm, and ready for play immediately after treatment.

Next is the compact yet efficient Campey™ Seed Shot™.  Perfect for targeted seeding post-game, depositing a precise quantity of seed into the soil for optimal germination rates, and the equally useful Vredo Turf Buddy specially designed for overseeding areas where it is not possible to work with large machines and perfect for small repairs on sports fields and golf courses. The Vredo Turf Buddy uses the tried and tested double disc system which consistently delivers over 96% germination rates.

We will also be at the GMA Community Sports Zone, highlighting equipment including the New Holland Boomer 35 Tractor, Imants Mini RotoKnife, and Martin Lishman Nano Sprayer for Grassroots use.

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