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Kerr’s Grounds Services Goes Robotic with the RM21

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Kerr’s Grounds Services Goes Robotic with the RM21: When it comes to managing multiple sites and tight schedules, efficiency is everything. For Charlie Kerr, owner of Kerrs Ground Services Ltd, investing in cutting-edge robotic technology has revolutionised the way he works – and the RM21 Combo Mower, distributed exclusively by Agrovista Amenity in partnership with XDC, has been at the heart of that transformation.

Charlie’s passion for turf management began over a decade ago.

Kerr’s Grounds Services Goes Robotic with the RM21

Kerr’s Grounds Services Goes Robotic with the RM21

“I started working at a school mainly on cricket and rugby pitches,” he explained. “That’s where I got the bug for being a groundsman. From there I joined a sports turf contracting company, then worked at Dartford FC for a few years before moving on to Chelsea FC.”

After a short stint away from the industry, Charlie found himself missing life on the turf. “I started with small maintenance jobs, but it wasn’t the same. I got back into football when Cray Wanderers FC needed a groundsman, and things just took off from there. Now I look after Cray Wanderers FC, Welling United FC, carry out some work at Sidcup Rugby Club, and a few private sites too.”

Managing several venues meant long hours and challenging logistics – until Charlie discovered the RM21 Combo Mower.

“I was spending four or five hours every Friday marking pitches by hand. In winter, when the days are shorter, it was brutal,” said Charlie. “Then I saw the RM21 on my phone one night and thought, ‘That looks incredible!’ A mower and a line marker in one? I booked a demo straight away – and I was blown away.”

The RM21 Combo Mower is a fully autonomous unit that cuts and line marks simultaneously, using advanced GPS technology. Controlled via a tablet or mobile app, it allows users to map, edit, and save pitch layouts, meaning even complex training grids or tournament layouts can be recreated at the touch of a button.

Charlie says the benefits were immediate:

“I’ve left the RM21 cutting at Welling while I’m doing other work at Cray Wanderers – it’s like having an extra employee. It basically allows me to do two days’ work in one.”

Since introducing the RM21, Charlie has noticed huge savings in both time and materials.

“I’m using less paint than before. One tank of concentrate now does all my pitches. The lines are cleaner, brighter, and perfectly straight – and I don’t have to mess around with strings and pegs every week.”

The machine offers two operation modes: high-efficiency for quick turnarounds, and precision mode for detailed line marking, ensuring professional results for every situation.

Battery performance has also impressed him.

“You get around 12 hours of line marking or five hours of mowing on a full charge. I’ve marked and cut multiple sites in one day without even dropping below half a battery.”

Noise and safety were also big considerations for Charlie, especially when working around busy community grounds.

“It’s so quiet you can’t hear it from the other side of the pitch. I’ve used it at seven in the morning, and no one even noticed. Plus, it’s much safer than using big tractors when you’ve got dog walkers and kids around.”

The RM21’s compact size and portability mean Charlie can easily move it between sites.

“It drives straight onto my trailer – simple as that. If I get a last-minute call for a pitch, I can be in and out in an hour. It’s a complete game changer.”

Charlie’s experience has been so positive that he’s already thinking about expanding.

“I’ve started promoting GPS line marking on social media and had new enquiries coming in already. There’s nothing else like it in this area – and with the time I save, I can take on more work without burning out. I call it my ‘Kerminator’ – and it’s living up to the name!”

For Charlie Kerr and Kerr’s Grounds Services, the RM21 Combo Mower isn’t just another piece of kit – it’s a business-changing investment that’s redefining what’s possible for small, independent turf professionals.

For more information about Agrovista UK, visit https://amenity.agrovista.co.uk/

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Transitioning from tanks to tractors with John Deere

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Transitioning from tanks to tractors with John Deere: From frontline tank repairs to supporting farmers at harvest, Chris Giles has carved out a career in the civilian world by transferring his military engineering skills to John Deere’s dealership network.

After serving in the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers (REME), Chris was unsure of his next step until he attended an open day about the John Deere Military Hiring Programme.

Transitioning from tanks to tractors with John Deere

Transitioning from tanks to tractors with John Deere

Today he is a Technical Communicator and Certified Dealer Instructor at the Tallis Amos Group Leominster depot, and his journey is about to come full circle as he prepares to explain military personnel have the ideal skillset to resettle,

Chris will be one of the speakers at a John Deere Military Hiring Programme webinar taking place on 3 December at 7pm.

“In terms of the kit, going from tanks to tractors is a completely different world,” says Chris. “The hydraulics, for example are completely different.

“But there wasn’t much of a transition when coming to the John Deere brand, as the level of high readiness is the same. The kit needs to be fixed and out the door as soon as possible, much like in the army.

“While the machinery is different, the basics of the work are the same. You’re looking to apply that pre-existing training and knowledge to a different kind of machine.”

Chris joined REME as a vehicle mechanic in 2012, working extensively on tank engines and transmissions before moving into several front-line units from 2015. Stationed in Hereford, he was deployed around the world repairing everything from quads to heavy armour.

He attended the John Deere open event for military technicians at Langar shortly before the pandemic and met a John Deere employee who had also served as part of REME. After putting him in contact with the right people, Chris made the decision to pursue a career at John Deere.

After completing his training and work experience at the Tallis Amos Group Leominster depot, Chris began employment as a technician but has since progressed to a Technical Communicator and Certified Dealer Instructor role. He explains that at first he worked in the workshop diagnosing issues, servicing and repairing crucial kit like combines and tractors, but now he helps technicians from the office and across different depots in the dealership network and trains the new staff who are coming through.

“As a Technical Communicator, if the technicians go out to a job and struggle to diagnose it or need extra information, then they’ll get in touch with me as I have access to the information or people that are needed, and then I’ll pass that information back to the technicians,” he says.

“As a Certified Dealer Instructor, I deal with the new technicians that are coming through and doing their training, including the level one and two training that the Military Hiring Programme applicants will receive, which is all online. I mainly teach electrics, hydraulics, and the service advisor side.”

Open to servicemen and women who are looking for new careers after they leave the armed forces, attendees of the online event on 3 December will have the opportunity to listen to Chris and others who have been through the John Deere Military Hiring Programme.

John Deere’s ground-breaking resettlement programme for military service personnel offers new career opportunities working on some of the world’s most advanced agricultural and professional groundscare machinery.

Members of the armed forces have been identified as ideal candidates for their unique skill sets and the experience they bring to technician roles within UK and Ireland dealerships. Many have already worked with some of the systems and products John Deere use on their agricultural and turf machinery, making the transition straightforward.

Those who enrol onto the programme are put into contact with an individual from the John Deere network who has resettled previously. They guide them through the next steps which includes free training courses before finding employment with a John Deere dealer.

Interested service members and ex-service members can find out more and apply to the John Deere Military Hiring Programme by visiting www.deere.com/JDMHP.

The online event is free but pre-registration is required at https://jdmhp.eventbrite.co.uk/

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The Drift renews with Toro

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The Drift renews with Toro: Over the last five years, The Drift in Surrey has invested over £2 million to bring in new facilities and improve the course in preparation for its 50th anniversary in 2025 and a key element of that process was the signing of a fleet lease deal with Toro and Reesink Turfcare.

Tom Parrish, General Manager at The Drift, provides an update on the works and what’s next for the impressive 18-hole championship course, as the club signs for another five years, in a dual deal with its sister club, Badgemore Park in Oxfordshire,

The Drift renews with Toro

The Drift renews with Toro

“The Drift and Badgemore Park have been in very similar situations in the last five years,” explains Tom. “We’ve both had 50th anniversaries that have been commemorated with extensive improvement and investment plans to the course. While the focus of the work has been different, the requirements for executing them to the best of our ability have been largely down to having the right turfcare equipment.”

When The Drift renewed with Toro last time, the success and results were so immediate and noticeable that its sister club Badgemore Park followed quickly into its own similar deal with Reesink. When renewal time came and with neither club wanting to change the set-up, a dual deal was brokered by Paul Bell at Reesink Turfcare.

“Working with partners who would ensure we had the best possible resources to do the work and complete the projects on time was vital and that’s why we chose Toro and Reesink as our preferred turfcare partners,” confirms Tom.

“It was the right decision. The course presentation continues to improve year on year, and we have more plans to ensure we continue to improve the quality of the golfing experience here at The Drift. We feel that with the improvements we have already seen, having Toro on side once again was the obvious choice.”

Investment at The Drift focused on making improvements to enhance the enjoyment, challenge and conditions for members and guests, Tom says: “In the last five years we’ve re-designed holes five, six and nine, making nine a new signature hole, as well as a complete bunker redevelopment project and the opening of our Top of the Range Academy and Driving Range powered by TrackMan.”

Having made the right machinery selection five years ago, little was changed as the club renewed. Tom says: “The core fleet remains the same, the quality of cut for the greens machines was so good we didn’t need to tweak this, but we have brought in additional equipment to support their good work – the GreensPro roller for example will further push the quality and speed of the putting surfaces, exactly what we’re aiming for.”

The fleet is led by three Toro Greensmaster TriFlex 3400 mowers famed for a precision finish, the lightweight Reelmaster 3575 for the fairways, and the Groundsmaster 3500 triplex rotary mower. There’s a new sprayer – the Multi Pro 1750 – as well as an update to the utility vehicle fleet with the Workman MDX-D. Tom adds: “We took the opportunity to bring on board an AgriMetal blower from Reesink too.”

With the 50-year celebrations underway what’s next for the club? “We feel we’re exactly where we wanted to be,” says Tom. “The clubhouse renovation and expansion are next on our list to ensure the improvements in the golf course are matched with the off-course experience as well. We continue to ensure we’re providing our members with a golf offering befitting a club with our history.”

Discover how choosing Toro could benefit your course by calling distributor Reesink UK on 01480 226800, emailing info@reesinkturfcare.co.uk or visiting reesinkturfcare.co.uk.

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Links Kennedy Bay Re-opens with EcoBunker Technology

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Links Kennedy Bay Re-opens with EcoBunker Technology: One of Australia’s leading golf courses, Links Kennedy Bay, has fully re-opened following an 18 hole re-design that includes the addition of over 100 pot bunkers featuring synthetic revetted faces from U.K. bunker specialists EcoBunker.

The ambitious project was led by former Tour professional and acclaimed course architect Graham Marsh, working alongside Western Australian industry leader Trevor Strachan. With the original back nine sold for development, the redesign required a brand-new back nine as well as the rerouting of holes 5 to 9. The changes gave Marsh a rare blank canvas to elevate playing conditions while safeguarding the long-term integrity of the course.

Links Kennedy Bay Re-opens with EcoBunker Technology

Links Kennedy Bay Re-opens with EcoBunker Technology

“The use of EcoBunker was validated through a feasibility study by Trevor Strachan, which confirmed its long-term advantages over natural revetting,” said Adam Strachan of Sports Turf Construction, project manager for the redevelopment. “I was initially concerned about using synthetic faces in such a beautiful, natural landscape, but the results are superb. The bunkers are indistinguishable from natural revetts and come with a minimum 25-year lifespan.”

Chief among the challenges for the re-design were the extreme weather conditions in the area. Along with the very hot, dry summers, Perth is renowned as one of the windiest cities in the world. In addition, the region receives up to 600mm of rain annually, most of which comes in the winter months, making bunkers vulnerable to sand blow, wash out and erosion.

“The course previously had natural revetted bunkers, but with exposure to the elements many wasted away into sandy faces and became very irregular. The new design ensures consistency across the course, maintains the intended challenge that golfers face from the bunkers, delivers a sharp, natural aesthetic and will do all these things for many years without significant maintenance,” continued Strachan.

Bunker walls on the course now range from 60cm to a dramatic 1.8 metres. Installed by Sports Turf Construction with support from EcoBunker Australian distributor Turfcare Australia, the system adapted to every design challenge across the four phase project.

“The course takes inspiration from the world’s great links courses,” Strachan concluded. “We’re particularly proud of our interpretation of the famous ‘Hell Bunker’ from the 14th at St Andrews. EcoBunker gave us the stability to create an intimidating, visually striking feature that will stand the test of time. After building 100+ EcoBunkers at Kennedy Bay, I’ll be looking to use this technology wherever possible in future projects.”

For more information on how EcoBunker can help meet the challenges faced at your course, visit www.ecobunker.co.uk

For all enquiries relating to Australian-New Zealand and South Pacific, please contact Turfcare Australasia at www.turfcareaus.com.au or Sales@turfcareaus.com.au

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Efficient clearing with EGO’s first leaf vacuum

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Efficient clearing with EGO’s first leaf vacuum: Leading outdoor power equipment specialist, EGO Power+, has released its first leaf vacuum. The 3-in-1 LV5000E is designed for everyday garden maintenance and can be used as a blower, vacuum, and mulcher.

Featuring a variable speed dial that can produce up to 850m³/h output, the tool has the power to tackle small to medium gardens effortlessly. Powered by EGO’s 56V ARC LithiumTM battery technology, this vacuum easily outperforms its 18-36V market competitors, especially when it comes to picking up wetter, heavier leaves.

Efficient clearing with EGO's first leaf vacuum

Efficient clearing with EGO’s first leaf vacuum

Its all-in-one functionality means users can blow fallen leaves into a pile by replacing the vacuum bag with the supplied suction tube, before reinstating the bag to clear up the leaves with the vacuum function.

Ideal for domestic gardeners, the 3-in-1 leaf vacuum maximises space in the collection bag by mulching the leaves and debris as they are collected, fitting more into the bag and requiring less emptying. Due to the high suction power and metal impeller, the vacuum reduces the potential for blockages, making it a hassle-free experience.

Neil McGuinness, Product Manager for EGO, said: “We are proud to be bringing our first ever leaf vacuum to market. Years of product development have gone into creating our range of blowers which offer market-leading power and performance. And now we have been able to take our offering a step further with the LV5000E.

“It is a game-changer for domestic gardeners. With its powerful blowing, excellent suction power and integrated mulching system, our customers can make light work of leaf clearance.”
EGO’s LV5000E Leaf Vacuum retails at £269. It is also available as a kit which includes a 5.0Ah battery and standard charger for £419.

Discover more about the Leaf Vacuum at: https://egopowerplus.co.uk/products/blowers/lv5000e-leaf-vacuum#single-product-description

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