Tag Archive for: To

Major industry players return to SALTEX

/in , , /by

Major industry players return to SALTEX: The Grounds Management Association (GMA) is excited to welcome back some of the biggest names in the industry to SALTEX 2025, Europe’s cutting-edge grounds management show. 

Returning to the NEC Birmingham this autumn, SALTEX will once again be the place where the entire sector comes together to see the latest innovations and get hands-on with the products shaping the future of grounds care.

Major industry players return to SALTEX

Major industry players return to SALTEX

Visitors can look forward to seeing the likes of Kubota, ISEKI UK & Ireland, SIHTL, Milwaukee, SGL, Husqvarna, ICL, Ransomes, Dennis & SISIS all back on the show floor – brands trusted by thousands of grounds professionals across the UK and beyond. Their return shows just how important SALTEX is as a platform where conversations happen, and deals are made.

Frank van Beusekom, Chief Commercial Officer, SGL says: “SALTEX provides an invaluable platform for us to connect with grounds professionals and volunteers, share our latest innovations, and demonstrate how our technology and services are helping sports venues around the world achieve exceptional pitch quality. We’re excited to engage with the industry, exchange ideas, and continue pushing the boundaries of performance and sustainability in turf care.”

From cutting-edge machinery to sustainable solutions and smart technologies, the returning exhibitors are ready to show what’s new and what’s next. If you’re maintaining elite stadiums, grassroots pitches, caring for green spaces or local community parks, you’ll find real-world solutions from the companies who know the job inside out.

Sarah Cunningham, Director of Commercial, Membership and Events, said: “We’re delighted to welcome back the industry leaders who continue to set the standard for innovation and quality. Their continued commitment to SALTEX shows how much value they see in being here – it’s where the industry meets face to face and builds relationships that make a real difference.”

Whilst the returning brands will once again be at the heart of the exhibition, new names like Boston Seeds, Boughton Loam, and Oasis will be making their debut at SALTEX 2025. They’ll bring fresh thinking and even more choice for visitors looking to source new products and services.

With hundreds of exhibitors already signed up and ready to showcase their latest innovations, SALTEX 2025 is shaping up to be an unmissable two days for anyone working in grounds care. This year’s show will feature the ever-popular Learning LIVE programme with headline speakers already confirmed, alongside the all-new machinery workshop with Tom Stidder, offering practical, hands-on guidance.

Combined with exciting new show features set to be announced in the coming weeks, SALTEX is designed to give visitors valuable time away from the day job and ideas they can take straight back to their own roles.

SALTEX 2025 takes place at the NEC Birmingham on 12-13 November. Register for FREE at www.saltex.org.uk and be in with a chance of winning a Cramer Tools All Terrain Lawn Mower ATM53A, complete with charger and battery, worth £2,240!

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

Get all of the big headlines, pictures, opinions and videos on stories that matter to you.

Follow us on Twitter and Instagram for fun, fresh and engaging content.

You can also find us on Facebook for more of your must-see news, features, videos and pictures from Turf Matters.

Royal Troon tunes Toro to perfection

/in , /by

Royal Troon tunes Toro to perfection: One year after The Open Championship returned to Royal Troon, the club continues to raise the bar in turfcare excellence, with the help of Toro’s technology and Reesink support.

Since the excitement of the tournament, Course Manager Billy McLachlan and his team have focused on rebuilding, recovery, and long-term improvements. With the crowds gone, infrastructure dismantled and grass beneath repaired, attention has turned to machine performance and precision.

Royal Troon tunes Toro to perfection

Royal Troon tunes Toro to perfection

“Hosting The Open again was a great experience and bigger than ever, with over 250,000 visitors,” says Billy. “I’ve got a great team, and the support from Toro and Reesink was first class.”

In the build up to the tournament, Head Mechanic, Davy Mclelland, began adjusting the club’s Toro fleet daily, testing settings like height-of-cut and cylinder speeds to achieve the best possible finish.

That attention to detail has continued since The Open, and is now part of daily practice: “Davy is a brilliant mechanic,” says Billy. “He’s measuring factors like height of cut and cylinder speed; if the speed is too fast, for instance, you’re not giving the blade enough time to make contact with the leaf.

“It all comes back to a simple question: What’s the best way of cutting and how can we do that? We’ve benchmarked data for all these settings, so we know what’s working, why it’s working, and how to adjust our cutting methods accordingly.”

As Reesink’s Product Specialist, Alastair Black, explains, this level of precision is rare: “Most clubs adjust settings a few times a season. But Troon is doing it on an almost daily basis, and the results show.

“We run training courses to help clubs like Troon get the most out of their Toro cutting units. Factory settings are a great starting point. But understanding how to tailor them to your turf can take your surfaces to another level.”

Troon’s mechanical team has also attended Reesink’s Turfcare Mechanics course, which Billy says is integral to the job: “Training is everything. We already had the machines running well, but learning from the experts took our results even further.

“To be good at this job, you’ve got to keep your eyes and ears open – and always be willing to learn,” he concludes. “That’s one thing that will always be a vital part of Troon, our team, and our success.”

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

Get all of the big headlines, pictures, opinions and videos on stories that matter to you.

Follow us on Twitter and Instagram for fun, fresh and engaging content.

You can also find us on Facebook for more of your must-see news, features, videos and pictures from Turf Matters.

Green-tech to Exhibit at GLAS 2025

/in , , /by

Green-tech to Exhibit at GLAS 2025: Green-tech has confirmed it will be exhibiting at GLAS 2025, Ireland’s leading trade event for the horticulture, landscape, and sports turf sectors.

The team will be on Stand F3, showcasing the company’s extensive range of landscaping and tree planting products and inviting visitors to stop for a chat and expert advice.

Green-tech to Exhibit at GLAS 2025

Green-tech to Exhibit at GLAS 2025

With thousands of landscaping products available, including specialist soils, urban tree planting systems, irrigation, fertilisers, and wildflower seeds, Green-tech supports contractors, landscape architects, and specifiers with reliable solutions for successful soft landscaping projects.

Green-tech’s presence at GLAS 2025 reflects its growing commitment to the Irish market, following the launch of its dedicated depot in Derry in 2023. This investment enables faster delivery times, improved local availability and tailored support for projects across the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland.

Richard Gill, Sales Director at Green-tech, commented, “GLAS is always a fantastic event for us. It gives us the opportunity to meet with our Irish customers and showcase some of the innovative solutions we supply across the landscaping sector. With our Irish depot, we are well-positioned to offer improved service levels to customers across the region. We are looking forward to another busy and productive show.”

At last year’s GLAS, Green-tech won the Best New Product Award for their TreeParker urban tree planting system. This modular system is designed to support healthy tree growth in hard landscapes and urban environments. This year, they are hoping to be a strong contender for the Supplier of the Year award. People can vote online at – Supplier of the Year Award – GLAS IRELAND

Visitors to Stand F3 will have the opportunity to view a selection of Green-tech’s most popular and innovative products, meet the team and discuss their upcoming projects in more detail.

Registration for GLAS 2025 is free, via the official GLAS website – Home – GLAS IRELAND

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

Get all of the big headlines, pictures, opinions and videos on stories that matter to you.

Follow us on Twitter and Instagram for fun, fresh and engaging content.

You can also find us on Facebook for more of your must-see news, features, videos and pictures from Turf Matters.

BIGGA announces ICL Continue to Learn Scholars 2026

/in , /by

BIGGA announces ICL Continue to Learn Scholars 2026: Each year, Premium Partner ICL invites five BIGGA members to attend the education programme at BTME, with the latest cohort representing golf clubs across the UK – from the west of England to the east of Scotland. 

The two organisations recognise that the valuable career-development opportunities provided by the multi-day event are not available to every greenkeeper, with the cost of education, travel and accommodation proving an obstacle. The scholarship seeks to provide a level playing field for ambitious members who would otherwise miss out.

BIGGA announces ICL Continue to Learn Scholars 2026

BIGGA announces ICL Continue to Learn Scholars 2026

“We’re pleased to continue supporting greenkeepers with the Continue to Learn Scholarship,” said Ed Carter, Business Manager UK for ICL Turf & Landscape. “Access to education is key to raising standards across the industry, and we want to help more BIGGA members develop their skills and progress in their careers.”

Adam Mitchell, of Tehidy Park Golf Club, was delighted to be selected and is eager to make the most of the opportunity.

” I am looking to use the courses available to improve my management techniques of both turf and of staff, which in turn should allow me to perform my role as Course Manager with more efficiency.  I look forward to learning from some well respected industry figures and making new friendships and connections with like-minded people”.

The scholarship provides the five candidates with three nights in a hotel and a comprehensive education package worth approximately £500.

To earn an ICL Continue to Learn Scholarship, BIGGA members must demonstrate a commitment to developing their own professional abilities by engaging with BIGGA’s Continuing Professional Development scheme.

Whether through in-person learning, reading this magazine, or by accessing resources on the association’s website, BIGGA members can enjoy thousands of learning opportunities, all aimed at improving their professional abilities.

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

Get all of the big headlines, pictures, opinions and videos on stories that matter to you.

Follow us on Twitter and Instagram for fun, fresh and engaging content.

You can also find us on Facebook for more of your must-see news, features, videos and pictures from Turf Matters.

All-female Grounds Team to Take Centre Stage

/in , , /by

All-female Grounds Team to Take Centre Stage: This September, a landmark moment for Rugby will take place at the Twickenham Stadium as an all-female team of grounds professionals will prepare the pitch for the Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025 Final and Bronze Final, marking a historic first for the sport.

Led by the Grounds Management Association’s (GMA) NextGen group, alongside England Rugby and Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025, the initiative aims to champion female representation in the sector and promote the diverse career pathways that grounds management has to offer.

All-female Grounds Team to Take Centre Stage

All-female Grounds Team to Take Centre Stage

Applications are now open for women working in the industry to join the 15-strong matchday team. These professionals will be responsible for managing the playing surface in the lead-up to, and during, two of the most high-profile fixtures in the women’s rugby calendar – both broadcast live on the BBC on Saturday 27 September 2025.

With women still underrepresented in the grounds management sector – making up less than 10% of the professional workforce – this initiative directly tackles the need for greater visibility, inclusion and long-term workforce sustainability.

Jim Buttar, Head of Grounds and Technical Operations at Twickenham Stadium, and GMA Board Member said: “We’re really proud to be hosting this initiative at Twickenham Stadium and to support the team delivering the pitch for such a major occasion. It’s no secret that our industry needs greater visibility and diversity, especially around female representation, so to see an all-female grounds team leading on one of rugby’s biggest stages will be a huge step forward. It sends a clear message about the opportunities that exist in grounds management, and we’re excited to play a part in that.”

It builds on the momentum of recent GMA initiatives designed to spotlight including the all-female grounds team that prepared the pitch at the Emirates Stadium for the Women’s Super League North London Derby between Arsenal and Tottenham in March 2024.

Geoff Webb, CEO of the leading membership organisation representing grounds personnel in the UK, the Grounds Management Association, says: “We’re incredibly proud to work with England Rugby and Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025 to champion visibility and representation of our industry and the career opportunities that it presents. With women’s sport growing rapidly, it’s time the teams behind the scenes reflect that progress too. We want this to inspire more opportunities for women to consider careers in grounds management and to increase awareness of what a great opportunity a career in sports turf management offers, and to see that anything is possible.”

The opportunity is open to women across the sector with relevant experience, and successful applicants will take part in pre-event training and preparation ahead of matchday.

If you’re working in grounds care and want to be part of this once-in-a-lifetime moment, register your interest here. 

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

Get all of the big headlines, pictures, opinions and videos on stories that matter to you.

Follow us on Twitter and Instagram for fun, fresh and engaging content.

You can also find us on Facebook for more of your must-see news, features, videos and pictures from Turf Matters.