BUSY TIMES AHEAD
Show and event season
by TurfPro Editor, Laurence Gale MSC, MBPR
 
Laurence Gale MSC, MBPR

Reflecting on my visit to Gleneagles last week, what a great achievement for all those greenkeeping staff and players who played their part in such a memorable Solheim Cup. No doubt they will have plenty of memories and special moments to cherish.


Europe won The Solheim Cup for the first time since 2013 after an incredible finish to the final day singles, which ended with Suzann Pettersen holing the decisive putt on the 18th green to send the thousands of fans into raptures.


Team USA looked set to retain the trophy when they needed a half point from any of the final three matches, but Europe won all of them to secure a sensational victory.

 


Pettersen, whose selection by Matthew last month raised eyebrows because of her lack of competitive action since having her son at the end of 2017, struggled to hold in the emotion after winning the Solheim Cup for her team.


“Can you ask for more?” she said. “The last putt to win the Cup, when it's that close? History was just made, to win here in front of the Scottish crowd, to be here most of all. I could never in a million years dream of this. I mean, to hole the winning putt, to win the Cup. Nothing beats The Solheim Cup in my career.”

 

Photo: Getty Images


However, the time is now to look forward to some more sporting and industry led events. Firstly, I would like to wish all the Home Nation rugby teams to do well in this Year’s Rugby World Cup being held in Japan which started this weekend. As an ex-player, I have no doubt I shall be watching a lot of rugby.


I now have a busy couple of months upcoming, representing TurfPro attending several industry events, beginning with a trip up to Bingley to attend this year’s STRI Research Days event being held at their research centre on the 25th/ 26th September.


STRI say their Research Days offer turf managers a unique opportunity to network with, not only fellow turf managers, but to view and discuss the latest developments in turf maintenance with turfgrass scientists and industry professionals. “This is reflected in feedback from previous events, where those attending have valued learning about what is new and upcoming in our industry and to have an opportunity to discuss these ideas,” say the Institute.

 

 

At the event, delegates will be taken on a tour around a range of live research stations by an STRI staff member. At each station, there will be a joint presentation on the research being undertaken delivered by a member of STRI’s research team and representatives from the sponsor company. There will be time at the end of each presentation for delegates to ask questions.


Next up is the attendance of this year’s Amenity Forum Annual Conference that is being held once again at the Pirelli Stadium, Burton upon Trent, on Thursday, October 10th.
The conference will be entitled ‘21st Century Amenity Management’ and the Forum say it will have a strong focus upon innovation and taking an integrated approach to weed, pest and disease management. It will also provide updates on policy issues.


The speakers this year include Professor Michael Eddleston from the University of Edinburgh who is set to provide a presentation on Human Health issues and Dr.David Hughes from Syngenta who will give an insight into new technologies and innovations coming the way of amenity managers in the future.

 

 

There will also be a session on approaches to integrated management with contributions from practitioners covering all aspects. These will be supported by other key speakers giving their views on the future. The conference will round up with a presentation from Jim McKenzie, MBE, Director of Estates and Golf Courses, Celtic Manor entitled ‘The pressures and challenges of creating and maintaining high quality playing conditions and facilities for a major golfing venue’.


During the conference category winners for the Amenity Sprayer Operator of the Year Awards will be announced. There will also be the launch of the new Amenity Standard. This is seen as very much a game changer in our sector providing a standard akin to the Red Tractor in food and agriculture.


Professor John Moverley, Independent Chairman of the Amenity Forum, said, "This conference has attracted an enviable reputation for the quality of its speakers and the opportunity to network with the key people in our sector."


I will then be attending SALTEX on the 30th / 31st October at the NEC with the aim of meeting as many businesses and fellow industry colleagues as possible over the two days. TurfPro and Service Dealer will be on hand to meet you all at the show. There will be over 300 exhibitors at this year’s show along with 125 guest speakers and an expected 9,000 visitors. See you there?

 

 

I then will be attending our very own 2019 Service Dealer Conference that is being held at the Double Tree by Hilton Oxford Belfry Hotel, Thame, Oxfordshire.


The Conference theme this year is Turning a Profit.


As ever the Conference will comprise presentations, breakout sessions, workshops and panel debates. Throughout the day dealer delegates are encouraged to participate and join in the discussion, sharing their thoughts and experiences with their fellow specialists.


The Conference Programme is based around the most commonly expressed concerns and issues identified by dealers in interviews and from feedback and suggestions from last year’s attendees.


Commenting on the theme for this year's conference, Service Dealer owner Duncan Murray-Clarke said, "Turning A Profit is at the heart of what all independent dealers must be about. Be they large or small companies, domestic, professional turfcare or agricultural specialists, maintaining profits in all areas of the dealership is essential.


"To help our delegates in this regard, we have a superb international line-up of speakers in place to offer real, practical nuggets of information which dealers can take away and put into practice in their businesses.


"Subjects such as recruitment, marketing and business structuring amongst others, will be discussed all with the underlying theme of how best practice can lead directly to profitability."


To conclude this week’s blog I would like to wish all the cricket groundmen a very successful renovation of their cricket facilities, It is important that you carry out a thorough scarification of your square, in recent years we have seen many clubs utilising the Koro Fraise mower to clean off there squares, a very efficient tool for the job.

 

In essence for most grass root clubs it will be only as effective as the resources and equipment they have available. The ECB Published a TS4 booklet that is well worth obtaining to help guide you on Pitch maintenance.


Good luck with your renovations and I will look forward to seeing you at one of the above events

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In this issue
EDITOR'S BLOG
BUSY TIMES AHEAD
NEWS
WALTER WOODS MOURNED
REVEALED: THE VIEWS OF GROUNDCARE PROFESSIONALS ON THE TRACTOR MARKET
HUSQVARNA LAUNCHES VIRTUAL BOUNDARY TECH
ANTI-STRESS FERTILISER APPLICATION ADVICE GIVEN
DEERE & CO SUES TWO FORMER EMPLOYEES
CHAINSAW ARTIST PICKS PELLENC FOR RECORD ATTEMPT
STOKE CITY FC PRAISE LIMAGRAIN
END OF LIFE VEHICLE & PLANT RESALE DISCUSSED
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