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Toro UK to Launch Dedicated Dealer Hub at GroundsFest

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Toro UK to Launch Dedicated Dealer Hub at GroundsFest: Toro U.K. Limited is set to unveil a brand-new Dealer Hub at GroundsFest 2025, taking place 9th – 10th September at Stoneleigh Park. Purpose-built for its dealer network, the hub will serve as a central meeting point for strategic updates, early product previews, and meaningful conversations about the season ahead.

Positioned within Toro U.K.’s significantly expanded stand, featuring the full breadth of the Toro® and Hayter® ranges, the Dealer Hub underscores the company’s commitment to supporting its nationwide dealer base.

Toro UK to Launch Dedicated Dealer Hub at GroundsFest

Toro UK to Launch Dedicated Dealer Hub at GroundsFest

“GroundsFest is the ideal opportunity to reconnect with our dealers in person,” said Craig Hoare, Sales and Marketing Manager, Toro U.K. Limited. “This year, we’re putting our dealers front and centre. Offering early access to new-season materials and a dedicated space to talk opportunities, challenges, and everything in between. The Dealer Hub is our way of saying: we’re here, and we’re listening.”

In addition to the Dealer Hub, visitors can explore Toro and Hayter’s latest innovations across the residential, landscape contractor, and grounds care sectors, including:

  • Walk-behind and zero-turn mowers.
  • The latest Harrier® Pro and 60V Hayter models.
  • Toro Revolution™ battery-powered tools.

Dealers visiting the hub will benefit from:

  • Early-release product information and campaign previews.
  • Exclusive co-branded sales materials and POS tools.
  • Direct access to Toro and Hayter’s commercial and marketing teams.
  • Light refreshments in a relaxed, business-friendly setting.

Invitations are on their way to existing dealers. To help us plan accordingly, we kindly ask all invitees to RSVP directly to Toro U.K. upon receipt.

GroundsFest is free to attend and combines live demonstrations with an industry-led exhibition, educational sessions, and entertainment. Toro U.K. Limited invites all dealer partners and professional users to visit the stand, discover the latest product developments, and see how Toro continues to support the turf care industry, every step of the way.

To register for GroundsFest, visit: www.groundsfest.com

To explore the full Toro and Hayter range, visit: www.toro.com/en-gb | www.hayter.co.uk

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Seaton Carew Improves Turf Quality Thanks to Hunter

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Seaton Carew Improves Turf Quality Thanks to Hunter: Seaton Carew Golf Club, a historic championship course and the 10th oldest in England, has recently undergone a transformative upgrade with the installation of a state-of-the-art Hunter irrigation system, supplied by KAR UK.

Course Manager Tom Coulson, who took charge of Seaton Carew in 2020, has spent over 20 years in greenkeeping, driven by a passion that started as a junior golfer trying to improve his local course. Recognising Seaton Carew’s potential, Tom knew that with the right plan, the course could be elevated to an even higher standard.

Seaton Carew Improves Turf Quality Thanks to Hunter

Seaton Carew Improves Turf Quality Thanks to Hunter

However, one of the biggest hurdles standing in the way of that vision was an outdated irrigation system.

“It was immediately clear that one thing holding Seaton Carew back was the existing irrigation system, which was not fit for purpose,” Tom explained. “There was a 100% correlation between poor examples of turf and little to no irrigation coverage. For Seaton Carew to progress, it needed a fully functional modern irrigation system, especially now considering how busy golf courses are all the time.”

After a careful evaluation process and with guidance from KAR UK & Hunter, Seaton Carew selected the Hunter GT-885 sprinklers for its fairways, greens, and surrounds. This was installed alongside completely new main pipework and cabling. The club have implemented a phased in-house installation of I-20’s and GT885’s on tee boxes, with a 5-10 year plan to reconfigure, level, and irrigate them.

Additionally, grass pathways were enhanced with Hunter MP rotator sprinklers, allowing the club to gradually move away from the astroturf that previously lined the pathways.

Before any of this could be implemented, a new pump set was installed in 2022. Sized specifically for the new system, this pump set was integrated with the existing setup and laid the foundation for irrigation upgrades.

To ensure a smooth and efficient installation, Seaton Carew partnered with Arden Lea Irrigation, a company with an impressive track record of previous installations.

“Arden Lea was chosen because their previous client list was the ideal reference, but it was their honest communication and ability to phase the work while keeping the course fully functional for members that made them a perfect fit,” Tom noted.

The new Hunter system has already delivered significant improvements.

“The key benefit is having the ability to irrigate and control turf conditions across the course, rather than just in certain parts,” Tom explained. “Water is now applied more accurately, reducing waste and ensuring better turf health. The turf has responded superbly—recovery has been quicker, and the system is now used to prevent damage and aid divot recovery.”

The upgraded pipework has also resulted in a much higher flow capacity, reducing run times and allowing irrigation to take place during optimal conditions, such as the short, low-wind periods at night – a critical factor for a links course.

Additionally, the Hunter GT sprinklers have proven superior in real-world conditions, outperforming other systems by delivering a higher bulk water jet that carries through light winds to hit its target effectively.

KAR UK played a pivotal role in the project’s success, providing expert advice, technical support, and high-quality Hunter products from the outset.

“Our experience working with KAR UK was very positive,” Tom said. “Wesley Henshaw from KAR UK provided support from the very start, demonstrating the quality of the Hunter product even before any official agreement was made. The software training, database creation, and hardware management were all provided seamlessly, which made the entire process very free-flowing.”

“I would definitely recommend KAR UK to other golf clubs looking to improve their courses by upgrading their irrigation facility. The quality of the product, combined with their support throughout the process, makes them an excellent choice.”

With the new Hunter irrigation system fully operational and a phased plan in place for continued improvements, Seaton Carew Golf Club is well-positioned to maintain its status as one of the finest links courses on the east coast.

For more information, please visit www.karuk.com

You can also follow KAR UK on X and Instagram @KARUK_LTD for much more news, reviews and insightful views.

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Green-tech to Row 500 Miles for St Leonard’s Hospice

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Green-tech to Row 500 Miles for St Leonard’s Hospice: After raising an incredible £30,000 for five charities in 2024, the Green-tech team is coming together again to make a splash! This time, they are picking up the oars and hoping to row their way to charity success.

The team has taken on an ambitious challenge of rowing 500 miles in just 5 days, to raise vital funds for St Leonard’s Hospice, their chosen charity for 2025.

Green-tech to Row 500 Miles for St Leonard’s Hospice

Green-tech to Row 500 Miles for St Leonard’s Hospice

This means, starting Monday 9th June:

  • 5 full days days
  • 8 hours of rowing each day (from 8am–4pm)
  • A gruelling 100 miles to cover daily

This challenge will be a test of teamwork and personal endurance to support a charity that provides outstanding care for people with life-limiting illnesses and their families across Yorkshire.

Green-tech is well known for backing industry events and initiatives and for supporting the local communities it serves. Each year, a member of the team nominates a charity close to their heart. That charity becomes the focus of the fundraising efforts for the year, with staff coming together to support it through a mix of team challenges, fun events, and donation drives.

Last year, their impressive ‘£30k for 30 Years’ campaign brought together the whole Green-tech community from colleagues and customers to suppliers and family, to support five fantastic charities. That same spirit of generosity and energy is powering this year’s rowing challenge.

Marketing Director Kate Humes explains, “We are proud to be a business that gives back to our industry and local communities. Green-tech’s commitment to giving back goes beyond fundraising. The business actively supports the industries we serve through on-site training, backing industry initiatives, and engaging in community support. We firmly believe in getting involved and making a difference.”

St Leonard’s Hospice provides exceptional care for people with life-limiting illnesses and support for their families. Green-tech is proud to support the hospice and help ensure it can continue its vital work. Help them raise some much-needed funds. Donate using this link – https://www.justgiving.com/page/green-tech-stleonardshospiceyork

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GKB Sandspreader proves tough to beat

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GKB Sandspreader proves tough to beat: What’s top of the priority list when it comes to purchasing a topdresser? For Gavin Playford of Royal West Norfolk Golf Club it’s build quality, which is why he opted for an SP100 from the GKB Sandspreader range.

So impressed when he first saw the machine on display at The Doe Show 2025, Gavin placed the order there and then – without even having a demonstration!

GKB Sandspreader proves tough to beat

GKB Sandspreader proves tough to beat

Nestled between the beach and salt marshes, the traditional links course at Royal West Norfolk has been under the stewardship of Gavin for the last 39 years. Currently assisted by a team of six, Gavin outlines that the club opt for a ‘little and often’ approach to topdressing. “Depending on conditions and available resources, we try to dress the greens every two to four weeks which not only benefits plant health but helps to keep the golfers on side compared to less frequent, heavier applications.”

“Over the years we’ve used a various makes and models of dresser but were struck by the build quality of the GKB machine as soon as we saw it at The Doe Show back in February. We had the opportunity to have a really good chat with GKB’s Tom Shinkins and discussed opting for the electronic controls to enhance consistency and make setting the distribution rates much easier. Nothing was too much trouble, and just a few weeks later the SP100 was delivered by Eddie Jack of Ernest Doe, just in time for renovation season.”

The GKB Sandspreader range features four different hopper capacities and trailed or mounted models for ultimate versatility on every surface. With an existing John Deere ProGator in the shed, Gavin opted for the mounted SP100 with its 1.0m3 hopper and up to 10m working width.

“The hopper is slightly bigger than our previous topdresser which has given us some noticeable productivity gains and the electronic controls have definitely made adjusting the rates much easier.” He adds, “Along with topdressing greens, we’ve also used the SP100 to apply compost to the fairways which worked very well! Overall, the team have been very impressed.”

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How to Stop Surface Compaction Killing Your Turf

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How to Stop Surface Compaction Killing Your Turf: In drought conditions, compacted turf is your worst enemy. It seals the surface, blocking irrigation water from reaching roots, and accelerating turf stress. Then when it does rain, you get a surface full of puddles that eventually evaporate off with little benefit to the turf roots. 

Regular surface aeration is therefore crucial, and GreenTek has a wide range of specialised equipment to help with this.  Here we will look at the various options in detail.

How to Stop Surface Compaction Killing Your Turf

How to Stop Surface Compaction Killing Your Turf

Sarel Rolling

This is a long-proven technique, using spiked rollers to prick through the turf surface and enable entry of air, water, wetting agents, and nutrients into the root-zone.  GreenTek offers three Sarel-Roller options:

Triplex mounted

The Thatch-Away Supa-System units take a wide range of interchangeable turf maintenance attachments including Sarel-Roller Cassettes.  The three separate units give a working width of 1.5m, which combined with the greensmower’s speed and manoeuvrability makes this the most popular option for the majority of golf clubs.

Tractor mounted

Some golf clubs, and also other sports clubs, prefer to operate their Sarel-Roller on the back of a compact tractor or utility vehicle like the Pro Gator or Workman.  The popular 1.6m Tractor Mounted Sarel-Roller is ideal for greens and tees.

However, for larger areas such as golf fairways, and sports complexes with multiple pitches, the Multi-Sarel is ideal.  Its three hydraulically folding units give a massive 5.4m working width, enabling 18 fairways or multiple pitches to be sarel-rolled in just a matter of hours.

Alternatives for extreme conditions

If your golf greens have got so hard that not even sarel-rollers will penetrate, there are two further options from GreenTek’s Dynamics range to help solve your problem.

Dyna-Spiker

The Dyna-Spiker units fit to your greens triplex and have extra long slitting spikes which are powerfully driven into the turf.  The mower’s hydraulic or electric motors drive an eccentric camshaft, causing the spikes to vibrate and penetrate deep into the surface, breaking open compaction and allowing entry for vital water, wetting agents, and nutrients.

Dyna-Corer

The other member of the Dynamics range, the Dyna-Corer units, also fit to your greens triplex, and these have a punch action with interchangeable tines.  Most commonly used with hollow core tines for year-round micro-coring and thatch removal, in dry weather these can be swapped for solid needle tines to open the surface up without disturbance.

Survival

The key to surviving drought conditions is to take action quickly!  Don’t wait till your grass is dying before you act.  Opening up the surface is an immediate priority.  Then when heavy rain does inevitably come, your surfaces will drain freely without puddles, and the turf roots will get maximum benefit form the precious water.

Maintaining an open surface through the summer protects your turf health, and saves the need for extensive remedial and reseeding work later in the season.

GreenTek provides a full range of aeration equipment which can be viewed here.

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