Tag Archive for: Turf

Turf professionals gather at Dun Laoghaire GC

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Turf professionals gather at Dun Laoghaire GC: Dun Laoghaire Golf Club recently played host to the insightful Turf Science Live seminar, an event co-organised by ICL and Syngenta. With the goal of sharing the latest knowledge and trends in turf management, the seminar proved to be a very useful gathering for industry professionals.

Attracting around 100 participants, the event brought together greenkeepers and groundsmen from sporting venues across Ireland. The day was packed with lively discussions and opportunities for collaborative learning.

Turf professionals gather at Dun Laoghaire GC

Turf professionals gather at Dun Laoghaire GC

The day commenced in the impressive Dun Laoghaire clubhouse, setting the tone for the informative sessions that were to follow. Attendees were divided into four groups, ensuring an intimate and comprehensive learning experience. The four groups rotated through different stations, two in the morning and another two after lunch.

Speaking of lunch, it wasn’t all business. Participants had a chance to engage in a ‘nearest the pin’ golf competition, adding a bit of fun and friendly rivalry to the day.

Four key sessions were on the agenda, each covering a specialized topic in turf management:

  • Station 1: Revolutionary insect control’, presented by Sean Loakes, Syngenta’s Technical Manager for the UK and Ireland.
  • Station 2: ‘Trial updates from eqo.s, the new environmentally friendly outfield nutrition, presented by ICL’s Henry Bechelet and Colman Warde.
  • Station 3: From soil analysis to turf nutrition programmes ‘, presented by Fergal Greenan from ICL.
  • Station 4: ‘Preparing for autumn: A comprehensive guide to fungicide planning’, led by Glenn Kirby of Syngenta.

David Callanan CGCS MG, Course Manager at Beech Park Golf Club remarked, “It was a great event and I’d like to thank ICL and Syngenta for their continued support to the industry here.”

“It was a top-class event and venue, with great presentations,” commented Richard Doyle, Head Groundsman at RDS.

Special thanks were given to the club’s course superintendent, Des McGann, and his team for helping host the seminar.

Events such as Turf Science Live play a pivotal role in enhancing the standards of the turf industry by ensuring professionals are equipped with up-to-date knowledge and practices.

Please contact ICL on 01473 237100 or visit www.icl-growingsolutions.uk and icl-growingsolutions.ie if you are in Ireland.

For more news and insightful views, you can follow ICL on Twitter @ICL_Turf

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

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Turf Tank – the Premier League choice

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Turf Tank – the Premier League choice: Turf Tank, the global leader in robotic line marking, is bringing the industry defining Turf Tank Two to Saltex 2023.

The Turf Tank is going from strength to strength, not only is it popular at Premier League level with 50% of Premier League Football Clubs owning a Turf Tank robot, but the number of other users has also increased dramatically. Grass roots clubs, independent and state schools, local authorities, contractors, league football/rugby/hockey and other sports are also finding the Turf Tank ideal and affordable for their clubs too.

Turf Tank – the Premier League choice

Turf Tank – the Premier League choice

Your opportunity to see the new model Turf Tank Two will be at the NEC on 1st and 2nd November, where Turf Tank is exhibiting on stand F102. Visitors can experience the next step in GPS line marking as the company that built the world’s first robotic line marker continues to innovate.

Performance and accuracy are the hallmarks of Turf Tank, and a combination of refinements, including two motor drives for better momentum and new wheels for improved grip and traction, have led to faster marking times with the Turf Tank Two.

Enhanced Sprayer Module

While the speed and accuracy of marking are paramount to efficiency, so is the usability of the Turf Tank Two. Several sprayer module upgrades have made fine-tuning simple with the twist of a knob, including disc height, width and a disc ruler for a better overview.

Tighter tolerances ensure sharper and crisp lines between 5-15cm, with the rack-and-pinion system letting you go from minimum to maximum in a single turn. The height of the sprayer discs can be easily adjusted in increments of 5mm, allowing you to approximate the correct sprayer height. Fine-grained adjustments can be made via a turning knob to get the height precisely as you want and get consistent results every mark.

To make maintenance more manageable, the module is now an independent part. It can be removed by loosening two screws, allowing easy access to specific parts, while one-hand solenoid removal has also been made possible for quicker working.

Quick Control

A new front panel provides quick pause/resume options, LED indicators to show the robot status and a start/stop sprayer button. A LED indicator on the battery has been fitted for a quick status check – if it’s plugged in or not – and batteries can now be hot-swapped without needing to shut down the robot.

Ergonomic Improvements

Numerous ergonomic improvements have been made to make working with the Turf Tank Two quicker and easier.

A tilted pump cover allows up to 20 litres of paint to be slid into the robot rather than being lifted in and out of the top. The newly designed compartment increases efficiency by ensuring the suction rod can use all the paint, and battery access has also been simplified, with only one movement needed to slide it in place.

Additionally, handles are now on the front and back to make lifting in and out of vans and buggies easier.

New Powers in the Palm of Your Hand

New in-app guides are introduced to walk you through most features, and the new Wizard guides you through the cleaning and priming process of the paint system. To quickly troubleshoot any calibration errors, a new augmented reality guided calibration routine lets you take a picture of lines and automatically fix any calibration errors.

All of these features also work in Offline Mode, which means you have the full functionality of the Turf Tank Two in cases where an internet connection can’t be established.

Remote Support

The new software also builds on Turf Tank’s leading customer service through remote access. Turf Tank staff can assist in setting up fields, diagnose problems and provide support instantly wherever you are. A new built-in help centre is also available to answer frequently asked questions and get you marking within minutes of encountering an issue.

Turf Tank’s product specialists will be on stand to answer any questions and demonstrate the advancements made with the Turf Tank Two.

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Pioneering the Wildflower Turf Revolution

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Pioneering the Wildflower Turf Revolution: Wildflower Turf Ltd are delighted to celebrate their 20th birthday as the original innovators of Wildflower Turf. Their remarkable journey has seen Wildflower Turf Ltd expand from their Hampshire HQ to Shropshire and Yorkshire.  

This news comes in the wake of many groundbreaking initiatives and accomplishments of the company, including:

Pioneering the Wildflower Turf Revolution

Pioneering the Wildflower Turf Revolution

  • How their first square metre of wildflower turf was discarded, only for it to flourish in the yard one month later!
  • Their first RHS Chelsea Flower Show appearance in 2004.
  • How a green roof above a playhouse in 2004 is now eclipsed by huge projects such as Skelton Lake Services.
  • The highly acclaimed 256-page book ‘How to make a Wildflower Meadow’ by James Hewetson-Brown was released in 2016.
  • In 2023, Wildflower Turf Ltd James Hewetson-Brown was voted onto the GRO (The Green Roof Organisation) board.

To learn more about the 20 year milestone, click here.

About Wildflower Turf Ltd: Founded in 2003, Wildflower Turf Ltd pioneered and developed a soil less growing system which has transformed the concept of turf growing. As the original innovators of Wildflower Turf®, the research laboratory at their Ashe Warren Farm headquarters reinforces them as leading experts in Wildflower spaces, with unwavering commitment to promoting sustainable practices and biodiversity.

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Origin Turf Science & Technology centre expands team

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Origin Turf Science & Technology centre expands team: Origin Amenity Solutions (OAS) has announced the expansion of the Origin Turf Science and Technology Centre team and the promotion of one of its key people.

Angus Finlayson, who joined the Research & Development team in 2021 has been promoted to the Trials & Digital Platform Manager, splitting his time across 3 functions. Angus will be running research trials, collaborating on TurfKeeper’s digital advancements, and providing the software and hardware installation of CirrusPro™ within the OAS Irrigation team.

Origin Turf Science & Technology centre expands team

Origin Turf Science & Technology centre expands team

TurfKeeper is a web-based portal that gives turf industry professionals a fully integrated operations and management solution. The system is proving very popular with Turf and Business Managers alike as it provides complete control over staff management, task planning, machinery management, inventory control, chemical applications and budgeting.

Angus comments, “I am very excited to take on the position of Trials and Digital Platform Manager. This position provides me with the opportunity to merge my passion for research and technology, enabling me to contribute to the advancement of innovation and provide support in the ongoing technological initiatives within the group.”

With the CirrusPro™ irrigation control system, a course’s irrigation is literally in the hands of the Greenkeeper.  Users can securely adjust their irrigation settings from their Smart device, enabling them to make real-time updates from the office, on the course or at home — wherever they are, on any device.

Peter Robin, OAS’ Irrigation Product Manager adds, “CirrusPro goes beyond the limitations of other irrigation management systems, and I am delighted that Angus will be spending some of his time strengthening our team by installing CirrusPro™ for our customers.”

The company now has a vacancy for a full time Turf Trials Technician to be a part of the innovative research programme at OAS, getting involved in scientific trial work covering all aspects of the amenity industry. The successful applicant will assist with the maintenance, management, observation and recording of the site and the trials.

OAS is a leading force in the UK amenity industry, supplying products and solutions to turf management, amenity, and landscaping professionals. Their inhouse R&D Technology Centre supports their teams and provides advice on product selection, programming, application, and effectiveness and back this up, with soil analysis, weed, pest and disease identification, and water management.

Research & Development Director at OAS Geoff Fenn comments, “I am delighted for Angus. He has a natural aptitude for trials work and is enthusiastic to utilise his unique skillset to benefit the rest of the business. The appointment of a Turf Trials Technician to assist our team will enable him to develop and progress this for the benefit of OAS.”

For full details of this position or to apply please email a covering letter and your CV to recruitment@originukoperations.co.uk

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Using Green Lawnger for improved turf colour

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Using Green Lawnger for improved turf colour: A superintendent at a historic, Limerick golf club has been using Green Lawnger for vibrant and healthy greens on the course which was voted as ‘Best Hidden Gem in Ireland’ in the Golfers Guide to Ireland Awards, 2013.

Brian Dunne, Golf Course Superintendent at Adare Manor Old Golf Course, has been using BASF’s Green Lawnger for over two years alongside a topical fungicide or liquid feed for optimal lawn health and colour.

Using Green Lawnger for improved turf colour

Using Green Lawnger for improved turf colour

The club’s history dates to the late 1890s when the 4th Earl of Dunraven employed Scottish professional, Ben Sayers to design a 9-hole golf course on the estate in Adare. The club went on to many successes including winning the All-Ireland Final of the Pierce Purcell shield in 1985 and producing one of the most accomplished Irish amateur golfers, Jackie Harrington. In 1992, the club reopened as an 18-hole course, designed by Eddie Hackett and went on to celebrate its centenary year in 2000, but still boasts relics of its original layout.

The remains of Desmond Castle (1200AD) create a magnificent backdrop for golfers, as well as the ruins of the Franciscan Abbey (1464AD) which dominates the centre of the challenging, but scenic course. The quality and vibrancy of the turf complements the historic parkland course, so colour management and upkeep are vital.

Brian said: “I apply Green Lawnger to the course twice a month, either alongside a fungicide or a liquid feed to maintain the colour and quality of the course. The turf pigment contains a high concentration of pigments based on turfgrass colourants, as well as Colourlock technology to ensure a long-lasting effect.”

Brian believes that his use of Green Lawnger at Adare Manor Golf Course has vastly improved the appearance of the course, saying: “Opposed to other dyes I have tried, Green Lawnger holds the colour for a long time after application and the greens look fantastic afterwards. I have also found it aids recovery from disease.”

Green Lawnger contains agronomic colourants to improve the quality of the turf as well as a resin technology to ensure strong leaf adhesion, meaning each application sticks directly to the leaf and is not transferred to skin or clothing, ensuring an even and vibrant green coverage.

The additional benefits of Green Lawnger include an instant green up, a flexible rate to achieve the required colour and a long-lasting effect. Green Lawnger can be used on any type of turfgrass and as a divot mix or sand colourant. It is the only choice turf colourant for use on stadia sports turf or for areas of use where an instant green up is required, and impact sports are played.

Brian concluded: “Green Lawnger is an effective and great product for turf colour and longevity, I highly recommend it to everyone within turf management for effective and long-lasting results.”

To find out more about Green Lawnger or to view the wider range of turf colourants, please visit: https://www.pestcontrol.basf.co.uk/en/Products/Overview/Turf-Colourant/index.html

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