Tag Archive for: Winter

Weathering winter

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Weathering winter: Winter servicing, it’s a job that’s got to be done, and there are a few simple guidelines to aid the process: choose Toro genuine parts for an improved total cost of ownership (TCO).

When it comes to choosing machinery parts, TCO, the data driven perspective for determining the economic value of the investment, stands up for parts just as much as when choosing a machine.

Weathering winter

Weathering winter

Getting the very best TCO and return on investment when it comes to parts is simple: buy genuine. Performance (productivity), reliability (downtime) and durability (longevity for residual value) are all enhanced and guaranteed when the parts are built specifically for the machine.

So just how genuine is genuine? Michael Hampton, parts manager at Reesink Turfcare, says: “It’s the quality of the design and the unparalleled attention to detail that make the difference for Toro machinery. It’s the same with Toro parts.”

The Toro parts Reesink sells for aftermarket service are the same parts used on the production lines to build the original equipment; all manufactured with reliable, high-quality materials to ensure maximum performance with less downtime. As Michael says: “It doesn’t get much more genuine than that.

“They’ve all been tested and retested to make sure they can withstand the daily stress that keeping the course in top condition demands, even in the cold, snowy, frosty, damp or hard conditions of winter.”

Michael continues: “In challenging economic times, it’s natural to look for ways to cut expenses, but substituting for will-fit parts shouldn’t be one of them. That’s one area where the initial savings can often cost more down the road. Genuine Toro parts are designed to help keep equipment running like the day it was bought, stretch that investment further and stay more productive in the long run.”

Looking after machines properly during winter means that come springtime, they are in the best possible condition but using Toro genuine parts means they’ll be in the best possible condition for years to come too.

Reesink offers industry-leading fill rates and delivery within 24 hours on most parts, and it has schemes to take care of routine maintenance. There are three ReeAssure schemes all of which make servicing easy and flexible according to requirements and finances. And, of course, for guaranteed reliability, only genuine parts are used.

To stock up on Toro parts or for winter machinery maintenance advice, customers can get in touch with their local Toro genuine parts dealer or service centre or contact Reesink via reesinkturfcare.co.uk

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Spalding GC go into winter clear of compaction

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Spalding GC go into winter clear of compaction: A Deep Tine Aerator (DTA) from GKB Machines was delivered and put straight to work by the team at Spalding Golf Club, as part of their pre-winter maintenance programme.

Delivering impressive aeration down to 12”, the DTA 160 has already completed passes on both the greens and the fairways since its arrival in October 2022 and will be pivotal in keeping the course clear of compaction in the wetter months.

Spalding GC go into winter clear of compaction

Spalding GC go into winter clear of compaction

Head Greenkeeper Kevin Goude took charge just five months ago, and together with the greens team of five, was delighted to learn he’d inherited an order for a new GKB DTA 160 placed by his predecessor and due for delivery from local distributor Russells Groundcare. “We’ve got a pedestrian aerator in the shed which is ideal for summer work at depths of 4” but we needed something to replace an ageing machine that could penetrate much deeper to really help drainage and root growth” explains Kevin.

The GKB DTA is deep by name and deep by nature, offering easily adjustable depth and heave angle of up to 25o for effective compaction relief. At 1.6m wide, the DTA 160 at Spalding GC is well suited for tasks around the golf course – from fairways, tees and aprons to intensive aeration on the clubs 18 greens.

“We took delivery of the DTA 160 at the end of October and went out immediately on the greens, before switching to ¾” tines working at a depth of 10” on the fairways due to the dry summer. One thing we really like about the GKB aerator is the tine blocks which make switching between sets really quick and easy compared to having to replace each tine individually. There’s a whole range of tine options available with this machine as well so we can really make the most of it with operations throughout the maintenance calendar.”

“Alongside the tine system, another thing we’ve been particularly impressed with is the build quality of the DTA – well engineered and robust to handle some of the more challenging ground conditions we have on the fairways.” Kevin concludes, “Beside the machine itself, the support and back-up service we’ve had from Russell’s Groundcare and Tom Shinkins at GKB has also been excellent. We can now look to aerate deeper as we go into winter and be best placed to cope with whatever the weather can throw at us!”

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BIGGA postpones BTME to March 2022

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BIGGA postpones BTME to March 2022: The British & International Golf Greenkeepers Association (BIGGA) has made the decision to postpone its major exhibition and trade show, the BIGGA Turf Management Exhibition (BTME), which was due to take place in January 2022.

Taking into consideration the uncertainty regarding the rapid spread of the Omicron variant of COVID-19, the National Board of Management of the association convened on the evening of Thursday 16 December and made the unanimous decision to delay the exhibition and associated education programme, Continue to Learn, which are held at the Harrogate Convention Centre in North Yorkshire.

The new dates for BTME 2022 will be Tuesday 22 to Thursday 24 March 2022, with Continue to Learn taking place from Sunday 20 to Wednesday 23 March 2022.

BIGGA CEO Jim Croxton will take to Facebook Live at 2pm on Friday 17 December to provide further clarification regarding the decision and to answer any questions relating to the postponement. Head to the BIGGA Facebook page, https://www.facebook.com/golfgreenkeepers to get involved.

Jim said: “The uncertainty regarding the Omicron wave of coronavirus has led us to engage in consultation with key stakeholders and consider contingency courses of action for our flagship event, BTME. We know all sides of the industry are keen for the show to take place and after due consideration of all options the BIGGA National Board of Management, working closely with BIGGA’s team of staff, has taken the decision to postpone BTME until March 2022.

“It is heartening to see the success of the booster vaccination programme, but we are committed to running a safe show for all attendees and with all the information available to us, we do not believe this would be possible in January 2022.

“This decision has not been taken lightly and has involved an incredible amount of logistical organisation to make a postponement possible. I am grateful to all of the key stakeholders that make BTME possible for their rapid responses to our decision, which has enabled us to confirm the postponement as early as today.

“Our thanks go to those who have supported BIGGA in this decision and we are excited to be hosting the full BTME and Continue to Learn experience in March 2022.”

Attendees who have signed up for the show will automatically be registered for the new dates. Continue to Learn bookings will also be carried over and BIGGA will be in contact with everyone who has booked a place on the education programme in the coming days to discuss arrangements further.

BIGGA acknowledges that this postponement will present challenges to many exhibitors and visitors to BTME and the team is committed to assisting all those who need support to transfer their commitments.

The BIGGA National Board of Management is the elected body of BIGGA members from across the country whose voluntary role is to provide strategic direction and ratify key decisions on behalf of the association. They are supported by a network of volunteers at all levels of BIGGA and the core BIGGA staff team.

Anyone who requires further information or assistance as to the postponement of BTME is encouraged to contact BIGGA via the following channels:

Website: www.btme.org.uk

 

Don’t risk your investment this winter

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Don’t risk your investment this winter: One of the best things you can do for your mower this winter is to gift it the best possible replacement parts. And when it comes to a Toro mower, Toro Genuine Parts are the best there is.

It’s more than likely that two deciding factors for choosing Toro machinery are the superior quality of cut and good return on investment and to risk that by choosing cheaper, spurious parts is a false economy, according to Reesink Turfcare.

Don't risk your investment this winter

Don’t risk your investment this winter

Michael Hampton, parts manager at the company, explains: “The considerations that go into deciding which brand to get your machinery from should also influence the decision you make when it comes to which parts you choose. Things like performance, quality of cut, longevity, return on investment, all stand up for parts too.

“Choosing parts that aren’t Toro Genuine Parts, especially when it’s for a Toro mower, can wreak havoc with the machine’s performance and can even risk damaging the cutting units, costing more in the long-term.

“Taking a cylinder mower as an example, the scissor-like shearing action that gives the fine finish it is famed for requires the bedknife and cylinder blades to be sharp, matched and in close relationship with each other. The fit you get with a brand that isn’t specifically designed for the intricacies of the mower will never be exact and that’s where the problems can start. The fact is well-maintained kit with the right parts tends to be trouble-free with far less down-time.”

With cutting in the winter months going down to three times a week, now is a good time to strip back the machines and take an in-depth look at the cutting unit. Keeping on top of general maintenance of tines, filters and belts, ensures machines are in the best possible condition for the hard ground conditions of winter and going into the demands of spring. It can be tempting to cut corners when it comes to servicing and that can be expensive.

For those clubs without a workshop manager or team with the know-how or time to take this sort of job on, Reesink’s dealers and service centres, which are located across the country, can step in. The benefits of a genuine service include second-to-none local support, comprehensive stock reserve, 24-hour delivery service and trans-Atlantic freight service. This represents the kind of reassurance Reesink wants to give turfcare professionals: minimum downtime, maximum productivity and more customer service.

Winter machinery maintenance is a key part of the greenkeeping calendar and the quality of the replacement parts are vital to the machine’s performance in the toughest season of the year. Toro Genuine Parts guarantee the highest possible standards and the best possible backup so, when it comes to which parts to pick, choose the best: choose Toro Genuine Parts.

To stock up on Toro parts or for winter machinery maintenance advice, customers can get in touch with their local Toro Genuine Parts dealer or service centre or contact Reesink via reesinkturfcare.co.uk

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‘Truly testing’ winter at Plymouth

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‘Truly testing’ winter at Plymouth: Plymouth Argyle’s head of grounds Chris Ralph has described the ‘truly testing’ winter that has taken its toll on the Home Park pitch.

February has seen record rainfall levels across the country and Plymouth has not escaped the deluges.

The combination of that very wet weather, plus a busy programme of games in the month, has inevitably had a detrimental effect on the usually immaculate playing surface.

Ralph explained the situation in a post on social media on Saturday morning as groundsmen up and down the country battled to get games played.

Argyle’s League Two game against Bradford City was played in a mudbath at Valley Parade after referee Carl Boyeson carried out two pitch inspections.

Ralph tweeted: “Good luck to everyone today trying to get games on! This winter, and in particular this last month, have been truly testing!

“We’ve gone from a fantastic coverage to very patchy with seven uses in February and pretty much all in wet weather. All good fun!”

Ralph will be relieved there has been some drier weather over the past couple of days.

He and his staff have two games to prepare for this week, with Argyle playing Ian Holloway’s Grimsby Town tomorrow night.

Relegation-threatened Macclesfield Town will then be the visitors to Home Park on Saturday.

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