Tag Archive for: Welcome

BIGGA and GCMA welcome return to golf

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BIGGA and GCMA welcome return to golf: The British & International Golf Greenkeepers Association (BIGGA) and the Golf Club Managers Association (GCMA) have welcomed today’s announcement regarding the reopening of golf courses in Wales following an easing of restrictions and it is heartening that the Welsh Parliament has recognised the incredible role golf can play in maintaining a healthy and active lifestyle in a COVID-safe manner.

As welcoming as the relaxing of restrictions are, the incredibly short notice of just one day presents a significant challenge for the golf facilities of Wales to achieve readiness. There are many logistical challenges to opening a facility at short notice and a number of facilities will be part-way through significant on or off course projects that may take time to complete.

BIGGA and GCMA welcome return to golf

BIGGA and GCMA welcome return to golf

Golfers will no doubt be eager to head back out on the course as soon as they can get an available tee time and we look forward to golf clubs becoming thriving hubs of activity once again as people enjoy the many benefits that golf can bring.

However, on behalf of our members, both BIGGA and the GCMA ask for consideration from golfers and an understanding that courses may not be able to open immediately and, when they do, they may not be prepared to the usual standards golfers have come to expect. It can be reasonably anticipated that limitations on winter maintenance and renovations caused by an exceedingly wet winter, restrictions on activities due to COVID safety measures and the potential placing of staff onto furlough to protect the golf club business will have restricted what the team have been able to achieve. Additionally 2020 saw participation at unprecendented levels which reduced maintenance opportunities and created more wear and tear on turf and other areas than usual.

The preparation and maintenance of a golf course is a year-round process; as life returns to the golf club following the reopening, so too will life return to the course itself. Spring will hopefully bring drier and warmer weather aiding turfgrass plants to come out of dormancy, meaning they recover from damage quicker. While drier conditions will mean less damage from divots or compaction of the turf. As golfers return to the fairways, we ask for patience and consideration of the activities of the entire golf club team, from managers through front-of-house staff and the greenkeepers who have, like each of us at some time in the past year, worried about their livelihoods, their personal health and wellbeing, and who take great pride in their work but due to circumstances beyond their control have perhaps been unable to achieve the high standards they set for themselves.

If you have any questions about the maintenance of the course, please contact your club manager, course manager or head greenkeeper, who will be able to offer more information about the site-specific activities that have taken place at your golf club.

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Pellenc Welcome Two New Dealers

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Pellenc Welcome Two New Dealers: Pellenc UK has welcomed Terra Firma and Greenlay to its ever-growing dealership network; both of which will be distributing the full range of Pellenc professional battery powered equipment.

Terra Firma, part of Agrovista UK, is quickly developing into one of Scotland’s largest specialist suppliers to the amenity and local authority markets. After going from strength to strength over recent years and significantly expanding its machinery portfolio, the company prides itself on providing only the finest equipment and products and this means that they have to be very selective according to sales advisor Allan Wright.

Pellenc Welcome Two New Dealers

“We have no ambitions to become a normal grass machinery company,” he said. “It is for this reason that we are expanding the range of specialist equipment we offer and Pellenc is a perfect addition.”

The extensive Pellenc product range features an impressive portfolio – from chainsaws, pole saws and hedge cutters to grass strimmers, brushcutters, blowers and mowers and Allan claims that his mind was instantly made up as soon as he saw the products being demonstrated.

“We organised a few demonstrations and it was obvious that these were the kind of products that would be incredibly hard to not take on-board especially with the green credentials and the low vibration and noise levels.

“These features are a massive benefit, not just to the local authorities, but to everyone who operates them – they are so quiet you can actually have a conversation while using the machine. Performance wise, there is no difference from the Pellenc range to a normal two-stroke strimmer or hedge cutter. They will do exactly the same job, but when you look at the costs then there are massive savings when it comes to the Pellenc equipment. Users will save an incredible amount on fuel and it will also mean not having to worry about filling up or carrying lots of fuel in a van.”

Greenlay, based in Cramlington, Northumberland has been serving both the professional and domestic turf markets since 1971. Boasting a 2000sq ft showroom displaying a huge range of equipment, the company strives to ensure that the customer gets the best machine for the job at all times and sales administrator Harry Pattinson is delighted to have added Pellenc to the collection.

“We never thought the opportunity would come about so we were delighted when we were approached by Pellenc,” he said.

“Pellenc is a leading brand in the battery powered range and it is the only battery that can last as long as it does in the professional range. Plus, with a three-year warranty on the equipment I just know that it will sit well with our customers.

“It has so many benefits and I particularly like the fact that the battery can be transferred from different machines – so you can use it in a strimmer as well as a blower or a hedge cutter. The power on the equipment is instantaneous and the performance is very similar to two stroke. Yes, the price might be slightly higher but because you are not using fuel you will find that it does pay for itself very quickly.

“Pellenc is aimed at the professional market which we want to continue to grow in, so it absolutely suits the quality product range that we already offer here at Greenlay.”

With immediate effect the Pellenc range from Terra Firma is available in the areas of central Scotland, the Scottish borders and the west coast; while Greenlay is distributing the Pellenc equipment to Northumberland, Tyne & Wear, Co Durham and Teeside.

All Pellenc batteries and tools come with a three-year commercial warranty and are distributed in the UK and Ireland exclusively by Etesia UK.

To view the all-new dedicated Pellenc website please visit www.pellencuk.com

You can also follow Pellenc on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram @PellencUK for much more news, reviews and insightful views.

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Olympic & Orient Welcome For New Sports Centre

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Olympic & Orient Welcome For New Sports Centre: An Olympic Gold medallist and two products of the Leyton Orient youth system have opened a new pavilion and sports centre at Ive Farm Sports Ground in East London.

Hockey midfielder Helen Richardson-Walsh MBE opened the Feel Good Too sports centre alongside Orient defender Sam Ling, goalkeeper Charlie Grainger and ribbon cutter Clare Coghill, the leader of Waltham Forest Council.

Olympic & Orient Welcome For New Sports Centre

Richardson-Walsh won gold at the 2016 Rio Games, after converting a penalty in the dramatic shootout win over defending Olympic and current world champions Holland.

The £11m scheme in Leyton masterminded by main contractor Wilmott Dixon is now the new home of the Leyton Orient FC Academy, which has moved from the Score Centre, that will now be redeveloped for housing by Taylor Wimpey.

The Feel Good Too Centre includes two floodlit all-weather pitches, a 60m running track, six volleyball courts, a fitness trail, 40 growing beds and a pavilion with changing rooms and a café.

Access to the pavilion is via three swing gates and three huge architectural tracked sliding gates, the largest of them 4.5m wide, that are clad with 358 fencing and form part of the building walls.

The innovative scheme was designed by Fifth Studio Architects, supplied by steel fencing manufacturer Zaun Ltd and installed by Zaun subsidiary Binns Fencing.

Councillor Coghill said: “This is a great new facility in Leyton that will act as a sports hub for the whole borough, as well as a place where local residents can come along to keep fit, take part in sports and make new friends in the local community.”

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