Tag Archive for: Update

An Update From Scott MacCallum

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An Update From Scott MacCallum: Well, as we enter August it gives us a little time to catch our breath, at least before the start of the football season again. Oh yes and the little matter of the Ashes!

What a month July proved to be. We had the English ladies getting to the semi final of the World Cup, and Scotland’s ladies proving that shooting themselves in the foot is not the preserve of the Scottish men!

An Update From Scott MacCallum

We had a momentous Cricket World Cup with England surviving a mid tournament slump to reach a final, which will go down in the annuls as of the greatest cricket, if not sporting, matches of all time – congratulations to Karl McDermott and his team for producing the perfect wicket for bat and ball.

Then there was the return of The Open Championship to the island of Ireland and the dream of a home winner. Shane Lowry was immense, but so was Graeme Beatt and his team who produced a test of golf to match the occasion. It has certainly put Royal Portrush back on the map, and more importantly, the Open rota, and we won’t have to wait another 62 years to see that magical Portrush links put through the ultimate test.

I use sporting events as the landmarks through my life – Ah, that was the year Tom Watson, won at Carnoustie (1975); that was when Aberdeen won the European Cup winners Cup (1983); that was when Scotland last won the Grand Slam (1990).

This year is going to offer up so many new landmarks. And we are not yet two thirds through the year!

Scott MacCallum

Editor

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Toro Update At Sherborne GC

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Toro Update At Sherborne GC: 2019 brings plenty to celebrate for Sherborne Golf Club. A 125-year anniversary, a Toro machinery fleet update and recognition for the club’s young greenkeeping talent.

Sherborne Golf Club on the border of Dorset and Somerset has long been a Toro customer, a situation well illustrated by the Toro red shed. In fact, the relationship goes as far back as the arrival of course manager Chris Watson 16 years ago: “I signed the club’s first five-year agreement ten years ago and we’re now into our third!

Toro Update At Sherborne GC

“Toro fulfils the needs of the club. We have a tricky course to maintain and it’s hard work all year round. The free draining soil means there’s a lot of play in winter and no temporary greens. Throughout we expect reliability, a great cut and performance in the face of seemingly endless work, and Toro delivers time and again.”

Plus, there has been a major ongoing landscaping project. 375,000 tons of soil have been delivered over the last seven years, three holes have been redesigned, the practice ground has been increased, the course has been lengthened and new tees have been generated. Chris says: “We’re a forward-thinking club with a supportive management committee. The way we see it, there’s always room for improvement.

“Throughout the years, I’ve remained pleased with our Toro machinery upgrades and the technological advances it demonstrates in the new models we choose, and there’s been no need to change that. The service has been consistent and good, and maintenance is easy. Our Groundsmaster 4000-D, for example, can clock over 2000 hours of work without needing a hydraulic oil change!”

The celebrations for the 125th anniversary are year-long and jammed full of hosting duties including the Dorset County Championship, South England Boys Open and a Pro-Am, to name but a few. “The preparation work we’ve done in recent years has ensured we’re in great shape for all these events,” says Chris.

An unexpected bonus for the club’s 125th year is the news that one of the greenkeeping team has been selected to proceed to the regional interview stage in the Toro Young Student Greenkeeper of the Year Awards.

Chris says: “Throughout my career I’ve always been keen to encourage the younger generation into the industry and feel proud that four of my trainees now hold positions as head greenkeepers. When I first met Sam Richards, I knew he’d make a great apprentice and could see he had potential. To have this recognised, and supported, by his Myerscough College lecturer who nominated Sam and to see him progress into the next round of the Young Award is testament to his promise.

“Even being shortlisted in Toro’s Student Greenkeeper of the Year Awards is a huge achievement, it’s a competition which has identified some of the country’s brightest and most promising talent.”

All that’s left for us to say is happy anniversary to Sherborne Golf Club and good luck to Sam – and all those progressing into the regional interviews for both Toro Student Greenkeeper of the Year Awards this summer!

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An Update From Scott MacCallum

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Golden Graemes

As I write we are deep into both the Cricket World Cup and the Women’s World Cup, while we are listening to endless stories relating to the transfer window. Where would we be without our sporting fixes.

And though it all is the weather. This time last year we were in the middle of the finest summer since 1976 and water shortages were the inevitable consequences. This year, completely different. We’ve had a month of rain in the space of a night and today’s forecast talked of temperatures of 45 degrees in France over the next couple of days.

An Update From Scott MacCallum

And through it all you guys have to maintain consistent surfaces and pitches.  For golf it’s replacing the wetting agent and irrigation from last year with squeegees and effective drainage.

For Royal Portrush who will be hosting their first Open Championship since 1951 I wish all the very best for the last couple of preparation weeks and the Championship itself. I know that Course Manager, Graeme Beatt, and his team have been working wonders to ensure the first Open to be hosted off the mainland for 68 years will be a spectacular success. You can be sure that Frankie Molinari, will be trying to defend his title in front of galleries which will be as knowledgeable and enthusiastic as any in the world.

It was also good to see Graeme McDowell, a Portrush lad, hole a long putt to ensure his entry into the Championship. Not to have played would have been hard for the former US Open Champion to take.

Good luck to both the Graemes – Beatt and McDowell – for The Open.

An Update From Scott MacCallum

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An Update From Scott MacCallum: It’s quite amazing to think that, as I write we are still in May, yet we have already enjoyed two of the four golf Majors – well done to Brookes Koepka for his amazing feat in being the first person to defend successfully both the US Open and the USPGA and hold both at the same time – and we are about to launch into both the Women’s World Cup, in France, and the Cricket World Cup here in the UK.

It seems we are in the middle of the sporting year and we haven’t even had a chance to catch a breath. It won’t be long before we are enjoying the thrills and spills of the Rugby World Cup, in Japan.

An Update From Scott MacCallum

Sport really defines a year. If you think back 12 months we were about to start the emotional roller coaster that was the World Cup and it was nice to go into it without the usual hype about England’s chances of winning. Those lower expectations seemed to work as Gareth’s boys came closer than any England side since 1990 to getting to the final.

Although a tad detached from it all, coming as I do, from the other side of Hadrian’s Wall I can still recall sitting in bars watching games and enjoying the feel good factor which engulfed the entire country. Maybe Scotland’s ladies will do what England’s men did last year and exceed expectations.

Can I wish perfect weather conditions and every success to all those groundsmen and greenkeepers who are working so hard to produce first class conditions for all the summer’s sporting events.

Best wishes

Scott MacCallum

 

BLEC Host Press Update Event

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BLEC Host Press Update Event: Three years on since the announcement was made that BLEC was to become a division of the Redexim Group, the press were recently invited to an update event at BLEC dealer Acorn Tractors in Derby. Hosted by Division Manager Curtis Allen, they heard in more detail how the new and enhanced range of specialist landscaping and turfcare equipment is creating quite a stir.

A busy few years under the guidance of the Redexim Group has seen the streamlining of product ranges and manufacture, along with the appointment of a network of dedicated dealers nationwide. Amongst the machines shown on the day were the Blecavator, Laser Grader and Multi-Seeder where key developments were discussed. Of particular note was the number of mechanical adjustments made to the renowned Laser Grader range including new twin Danfoss proportional valves and heavy-duty finger tines, that both now come as standard. The all-new Power Box Rake 1800 was another highlight as the first Redexim designed and engineered addition to the BLEC offering. Whilst following the ethics of the previous versions of the PBR, this machine has been built from scratch to be the perfect tool for cultivating, earth-moving, grading and raking.

BLEC Host Press Update Event

During the presentation and subsequent working demonstrations, it was evident how machines from across the BLEC range can be used in conjunction with one another, in the process of converting bare earth into a surface ready for seeding. With a comprehensive selection of pedestrian and tractor-mounted units, each available in a variety of working widths, they’re suited to applications from landscape gardeners, golf course construction, sports pitch preparations to large-scale groundworks.

The press were also treated to a talk from Sean Goodwin, Director of Talbot Farm Landscapes and Talbot Sports Turf, and long-standing user of BLEC machinery. Sean has a vast selection of BLEC units on his machinery fleet. He adds, “The BLEC range demonstrates an understanding of what we, the commercial landscaper/sports turf contractor, really need. The build quality is one thing that has always impressed me but the new Multi-Seeder I have purchased through Redexim is even better – well engineered and attention paid to every detail. With the resources available to Redexim, the manufacturing prowess and the ability to stock a wider range of parts through their dealer network, they have the potential to take BLEC to the next level.”

BLEC Host Press Update Event

Curtis summarised, “Despite its best efforts, the rain didn’t dampen spirits on what was a fantastic opportunity to update the media on all of the improvements we have worked hard to deliver across the portfolio. We have come a long way with the range already and with further innovations in the pipeline we’re entering a very exciting period in the BLEC story. A big thank you must also go to Julian Simpson at Acorn Tractors for providing the host venue and coordinating such a positive day.”

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