EDITOR'S BLOG
GREEN CREDENTIALS PROMOTION
Let your community know about your good work
by TurfPro Editor, Steve Gibbs
 
Steve Gibbs

Turf professionals can use global events like yesterday's Earth Day, or much smaller scale, local events, to let their communities know about their high levels of environmental stewardship.

 


Yesterday, April 22, was Earth Day.


I have to admit, the press in this country didn't exactly fall over themselves to promote it. The hottest ever London Marathon dominated proceedings somewhat yesterday it seems. However, it is a major global event, focused on the promotion of environmental issues.


On their website the organisers of Earth Day state that they believe that "more than 1 billion people in 192 countries now take part in what is the largest civic-focused day of action in the world."


They say that the day is "a day of political action and civic participation. People march, sign petitions, meet with their elected officials, plant trees, clean up their towns and roads. Corporations and governments use it to make pledges and announce sustainability measures."


What does Earth Day have to do with the turf professional industry, you might ask? Well quite a lot I guess when you consider that the maintenance of green spaces is of primary concern to this industry.


It would appear often that the general public may not consider that turf professionals have as a major part of their remit, the duty to act as environmental custodians. The lazy perception is of course simply of workers pushing a mower around or poking holes in the turf with a fork. Any opportunity which can be used to grab attention to highlight just the level of environmental stewardship which turf professionals are undertaking as a matter of course, should be readily taken.


It was therefore great to see the American equivalent of BIGGA, the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America (GCSAA), jump on the Earth Day bandwagon and gain some air time on the mainstream sports networks yesterday, promoting the excellent environmental work the sector has achieved recently.


Speaking on NBC, the CEO of the GCSAA Rhett Evans explained the environmental improvements which greenkeepers across America have been in achieving in areas such as water, energy, pesticides, and nutrients usage.


He had five key areas which the association has been concentrating on, which have had results published in the recent findings of a comprehensive study project which has been underway since 2006 entitled, the Golf Course Environmental Profile. These were:

  • Energy use - Annual median energy use at U.S. golf facilities has decreased 8.3 percent. This was primarily the result of a 31.4 percent decrease in consumption of electricity since 2008.
  • Nutrient use - U.S. golf courses have significantly decreased overall nutrient use since 2006, including a 34 percent reduction in nitrogen, a 53 percent reduction in phosphate and a 42 percent reduction in potash.
  • Pest management - Golf courses have increased their reliance on non-pesticide pest control practices such as cultural control, plant growth regulators and biological control.
  • Land use - The amount of maintained turfgrass on an average 18-hole golf course has decreased from 99 to 95 acres, with 46 percent of average 18-hole courses having increased natural-area acreage.
  • Water use - Use of recycled water has increased by 32.7 percent. Recycled water now counts for 25 percent of all water used on golf courses, thereby reducing the use of surface, ground and potable water sources.

Golf course superintendents are committed to their role as environmental stewards,” Rhett Evans said. “The Golf Course Environmental Profile helps us document and share the many ways they are implementing change for the betterment of the environment.”

 

Which is a superb philosophy to have. And it shouldn't be thought that this sort of publicising of the great environmental work that turf professionals do, can only occur on a global scale with events such as Earth Day and with national bodies such as the GCSAA. Turf professionals can be engaging with local environmental groups and local media to let their communities know the vital work they are carrying out at their course or at their sportsgrounds.


It's a great idea to let the wider public know that the work which you are regularly undertaking doesn't just solely benefit the users of your facilities. Your environmental stewardship is bringing the local community considerable environmental gains in terms of all that a thriving greenspace asset provides.


It would be great if when the public think of turf professionals, their go-to association is that of a group who are dedicated advocates for the environment.

NEWS
IRISH STUDENT GREENKEEPER OF THE YEAR
Rody Kilbride from Ballyhaunis, Co Mayo
 
Rody Kilbride, Irish Student Greenkeeper of the Year 2018

The winner of the Irish Student Greenkeeper of the Year Award 2018, sponsored by ICL and Syngenta, has been announced.

 


The winner of the Irish Student Greenkeeper of the Year Award 2018, sponsored by ICL and Syngenta, has been announced as Rody Kilbride from Ballyhaunis, Co Mayo.

 

For a number of years, ICL and Syngenta have been sponsoring the Irish Student Greenkeeper of the Year Award - which is part of the Kildare and Wicklow Education and Training Board's (KWETB) Greenkeeping Training Course.

 

Rody Kilbride, Irish Student Greenkeeper of the Year 2018

 

Colman Warde, ICL Country Manager for Ireland presented Rody with his trophy and a gift voucher at Naas Golf Club, Co Kildare said: “The training course is a fantastic opportunity which helps prepare the students for a promising future in this industry. It was great to present the award to Rody, who is a good example of enthusiastic, young greenkeepers. It’s good to see so many students interested in this course because they are the future of the industry.”

 

For the duration of the 48 week course Rody was placed at Beech Park Golf Club under the watchful eye of Course Superintendent David Callanan. With the student course now complete Rody has successfully gained a full-time greenkeepers job at Adare Manor Hotel and Golf Course in Co Limerick, with the newly redeveloped course, designed by Tom Fazio, due to open in April 2018.

 

Now in its twelfth year, the course continues to go from strength to strength, which is testament to the hard work and meticulous planning carried out by Aisling Mahon, course co-ordinator who’s commitment to nurturing the future of greenkeeping has ensured the success of the course. Aisling is delighted to have seen the course open a number of doors for aspiring greenkeepers, including full time employment, further education and oversees internships at prestigious golf courses such as Bay Hill and Pebble Beach in Ohio, USA.

 

Last year’s winner, Tiernan Crawford, impressed Naas Golf Club so much throughout the duration of the course that he was offered a full time greenkeeping position. He has been working in this role for the past year and is now moving to Beech Park Golf Club - a position which commences in just a couple of weeks. He intends on furthering his education and will be studying Sportsturf Science Level 6 in September 2019.

 

William Fitzpatrick, winner of the 2016 award, has been busy working and continuing his studies as well as becoming a first-time father. He is working full-time at Portarlington Golf Club and has just recently graduated from Teagasc College of Amenity Horticulture, National Botanic Garden, Glasnevin, Dublin where he studied Sportsturf Science. William has also volunteered at a number of tournaments and is working hard to progress within the industry.

 

To make any enquiries about the Greenkeeping Training Course email greenkeepingcourse@gmail.com

KLOPP CRITICISES BAGGIES' PITCH
Blames "dry pitch" for dropping points
 
The Hawthorns

Following Liverpool's 2-2 draw at West Brom on Saturday, Red's manager Jurgen Klopp voiced his displeasure at the lack of half-time watering of the Hawthorne's pitch.

 


Liverpool FC threw away a 0-2 lead at West Brom on Saturday to finish the game 2-2, conceding two late goals to the almost relegated Baggies.

 

After the game, Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp voiced criticism of the surface at The Hawthorns, complaining of a "dry pitch" and the "difficult conditions".

 

"West Brom decided not to water the pitch at half-time and that makes it difficult," Jurgen Klopp was quoted by the BBC.

 

"It makes a massive difference. A team like West Brom do not need a wet pitch, they can do it next year playing on a dry pitch in the Championship."

 

West Brom caretaker manager Darren Moore responded to those comments by saying the pitch "was not a tactic" and was "the same for both teams".

 

"It was a hot afternoon - we watered the pitch before the game," said Moore. "The heat has dried out the pitch."

STIHL LAUNCH A WORLD'S FIRST
First standard chainsaw with electronically controlled fuel injection
 
STIHL MS 500i

STIHL has launched the MS 500i, which they boast is the world’s first standard chainsaw with electronic fuel injection and a never-before achieved power-to-weight ratio.

 


STIHL has launched the MS 500i, which they boast is the world’s first standard chainsaw with electronic fuel injection and a never-before achieved power-to-weight ratio.

 

STIHL MS 500i

 

The company says the injection technology (i) not only provides the chainsaw with incredible torque, but also ensures rapid acceleration of the saw chain from 0 to 100 km/h in 0.25 seconds.

 

They also say that due to the intelligent lightweight design, the MS 500i also features the best ever power-to-weight ratio - 1.24 kilograms per kilowatt, a value never achieved before by series-manufactured chainsaws.

 

STIHL go on to say that together with the many additional design optimisations, there is a substantial increase in operator comfort. The reduction of gyroscopic forces provides the 80 cm³-class high-performance professional saw with dynamic manoeuvrability, which is a particular advantage during limbing. This makes the professional big timber harvester easy to handle in all disciplines - from felling to cutting to length.

 

The MS 500i has exceptional starting behavior and provides optimum engine power right from startup. The engine does not need a carburetor, since the fuel metering is done using a sensor, and automatically adapts to the different operating conditions, no matter what the altitude and ambient temperature.

 

A preview of the new MS 500i will be given at the Arb Show, Westonbirt Arboretum from 11 to 12 May 2018. It will be available to forestry professionals worldwide from the beginning of 2019.

 

Due to the exceptional level of interest, the machine will already be available in selected markets, including Germany, in limited quantities in time for the 2018/19 season.

 

The details at a glance:


• First chainsaw with STIHL Injection
Huge advancement in engine development. The MS 500i is the first ever series-manufactured chainsaw with an electronically controlled fuel injection system. The high-torque machine provides optimum engine power right from startup. It provides powerful performance and the saw chain accelerates extremely rapidly - from 0 to 100 km/h in just 0.25 seconds.

 

• Best power-to-weight ratio of all classes
The STIHL MS 500i is a lightweight within the ranks of professional saws. Thanks to intelligent lightweight design, as well as an extremely high engine power, it excels with an exemplarily low power-to-weight ratio at 1.24 kg/kW. This value is unique within all displacement categories.

 

• Easy starting and sensor-controlled fuel mixing
The MS 500i is very easy to start in all operating conditions, and automatically adapts to different locations of use. The sensor-controlled fuel mixing ensures that the mixture is adjusted optimally for the oxygen content in the air right from the first ignition.

 

• Improved ergonomics and practical details make work easier
The innovative flywheel with a reduced installation height and lower weight reduces the gyroscopic forces that arise during operation. Together with the low overall weight, the resulting dynamic swiveling behavior of the machine, which is a particular advantage for limbing, makes the ideal guidance of the tool along the trunk easy.

 

This is also supported by the new bumper spike geometry. The raised plunge bar on the fan housing - parallel to the axis of symmetry of the guide bar - makes directional control and tool guidance easier when plunge cutting. Captive nuts on the chain sprocket cover make changing the chain straightforward. Professional big timber harvesting - from felling through cutting to length to limbing - is a simple task with the new professional saw.

TEST VALLEY BRING GREENS BACK TO LIFE
Following serious Fusarium attack
 
Course manager, Dave Ross

Course Manager Dave Ross turned to Alex Hawkes of Headland Amenity to help with the creation of a recovery programme.

 


Over the autumn and winter of 2016/17, Basingstoke’s Test Valley Golf Club was struck with a serious Fusarium attack which left their greens weakened and scar damaged.

 

Course Manager Dave Ross turned to Alex Hawkes of Headland Amenity to help with the creation of a recovery programme - applied it at the right time to maximise the results by using the Headland WeatherCheck service.

 

Course manager, Dave Ross


“Looking back at it now, the greens didn’t go into the period as strong as they should have been, leaving them vulnerable to disease” explains Dave, who heads up a team of 4 greenkeepers.

 

“It was clear the damage from the Fusarium attack was extensive so I asked Alex for advice to put together a recovery plan, to try and give the greens a kick start into spring.” Alex recommended C-Complex 5-2-10, an organic mineral fertiliser capable of working in low temperatures making it an ideal spring starter.


Alex explains, “I told Dave how C-Complex could provide a burst of early growth, which could help to grow the disease scars back in. However, to give it the best chance, I consulted the WeatherCheck service to find the optimum window of opportunity. As this was February, I was not overly hopeful however I could see there was an uplift in ‘Growth Potential’ imminent so we organised a next day delivery of the product for Dave to apply - the products performance, coupled with the window of increased soil temperatures, delivered amazing results and gave the greens the kick start they needed moving into the main playing season.”


“It was a new product to us” says Dave, “but it did exactly what Alex said it would.”

 

Following this, between April and September they’ve had success on the greens with a programme of Seamac Ultra Plus, C-Complex and TeMag Elite.

 

“We’ve also kept an eye on the ‘Evapotranspiration’ module on WeatherCheck which gives us an idea of when the greens are likely to experience drought stress. Using this information, we have been using TriCure Granular as a pre-emptive stress reliever on the driest areas, again to great effect.”


Headland’s WeatherCheck is a customer and postcode weather service which features a general 7- day forecast, as well as detailed 3-hourly, daily weather forecasts showing predicted rainfall, expected wind strength and precipitation probability. It also contains many specific agronomic modules, facilitating the turf manager to take a proactive, rather than reactive, approach to programmes and applications.

80 TURF PROFESSIONALS ATTEND DEMO DAY
At Thetford Golf Club
 
Thetford GC Open Day

Charterhouse Turf Machinery, in conjunction with dealers Ben Burgess GroundsCare, recently entertained over 80 groundsmen and greenkeepers at an open day.

 


Charterhouse Turf Machinery, in conjunction with dealers Ben Burgess GroundsCare, recently entertained over 80 groundsmen and greenkeepers at an open day at Thetford Golf Club.

 

 

The day included a technical talk from the STRI and gave Turf Managers the opportunity to share best practices with other industry professionals, as well seeing several practical demonstrations from Charterhouse Turf Machinery and their products.


Four stations hosted talks and demonstrations on all areas of surface maintenance including aeration, scarification and topdressing.

 

Antony Kirwan, course manager at Romford Golf Club attended the event and added, “It was a very well organised and well attended event. Walking round the various stations, it was great to see a large range of machinery in action, not just from Charterhouse but also BLEC, Rink and Graden. The various presentations and demonstrations covered all areas of surface maintenance - I found it a very worthwhile day.”


Nick Darking, sales manager at Charterhouse TM added, “We had a superb day for it weathewise, and would like to pass on a big thanks to Ben Burgess for getting a great crowd together and helping to deliver a comprehensive and informative event. We find these sorts of gatherings very worthwhile, not only being able to show what our products can really do, but also to spend some time just talking to our customers.”

GOODWOOD GO TORO
Ambition to develop a ‘super fleet’
 
In front of Goodwood House stands Phil Helmn, centre front, shaking hands with Reesink's Larry Pearman, and Jon Cole

Phil Helmn, general manager of sports turf and grounds at Goodwood, has added another six machines to his Toro fleet.

 


Goodwood has returned to Toro as it continues in its ambition to develop a ‘super fleet’ for its 12,000-acre Sussex estate.

 

Phil Helmn, general manager of sports turf and grounds at the all-encompassing Goodwood, had last taken delivery of a fleet of Toro fine turf machinery for The Downs and The Park golf courses in 2015 and said it signalled the start of a more structured approach to machinery operation.

 

In front of Goodwood House stands Phil Helmn, centre front, shaking hands with Reesink's Larry Pearman, and Jon Cole with a large proportion of the 35 gardeners, groundsmen and greenkeepers at the estate

 

Phil has now received his six latest Toro purchases, all grounds machines to take care of the estate gardens, grassed lawn areas, the motor circuit, airfield and horse race course.

 

Phil said, “Since I joined Goodwood four years ago, it has been my intention to make the estate 100 percent Toro. It made good business sense to follow up from our fine turf machinery deal and develop the relationship with the brand. It’s far easier to deal with one supplier and share resources.”

 

Such a large enterprise as Goodwood comes with a wide set of challenges and having a Toro ‘super fleet’ enables the mechanic become Toro-trained to a high standard to limit sub-contracting and out-sourcing. The estate will also now carry a range of parts for the equipment it operates to “drive efficiency”, says Phil, and allow for an instant response to any issues.

 

Included in the order of three Groundsmaster 3500-D mowers, a Groundsmaster 4300-D, and two UTVs – the GTX and MDX-D, is the new MyTurf servicing system.


The Pro fleet management program, myTurf, operates by automatically recording how long the machines have been in operation and how many hours they have accrued when they re-enter the maintenance facility and pass a sensor at the door. This allows the mechanics to calculate preventative maintenance and replacement parts needed, and machine history can be accessed by logging in to the system on a computer.

 

Phil says: “Fleet maintenance is crucial to the performance of the machines, and this is a much slicker way of keeping on top of that.”

 

Phil says the demonstrations required to make sure the machines he chose were relevant for the different areas, complementing wide ranging criteria, wasn’t actually as complicated a process as one may expect. “We performed due diligence with demos, but the process of deciding which grounds machines to get was actually pretty straightforward. When you know and trust a brand the decision-making becomes easy. For this recent order we opted for rotary mowers. The floating decks eliminate scalping and the rear rollers provides a really good striping effect. The finish is excellent.”

 

This latest Toro order is the culmination of a few years work for Phil, assessing how best to manage such a large estate and team. He says: “Having one big fleet has brought our four teams of 35 gardeners, groundsmen and greenkeepers together, to share techniques and skills according to the different environments they are using the machines on.

 

“Back in 2015, when the fine turf fleet arrived, my priority was to ensure the entire Goodwood enterprise was maintained to the same exacting standards. I have used Toro for most of my career and personal experience tells me it’s a quality product and will not let me down. The fact that I can now extend the same standards to the grounds here at Goodwood means we can deliver the best results possible across the entire 12,000 acres.”

LATEST CAN-AM DEALER
First to be based in Republic of Ireland
 
Kilkenny Quads

Kilkenny Quads is joining Bombardier Recreational Products’ UK and Ireland authorised dealer network as its first dealership based in the Republic of Ireland.

 


Kilkenny Quads, an experienced All-Terrain (ATV) and Side by Side Vehicle (SSV) dealership based in Kilkenny, is joining Bombardier Recreational Products’ (BRP) UK and Ireland authorised dealer network as its first dealership based in the Republic of Ireland.

 

 

This new partnership is part of Can-Am off-road’s ongoing expansion plans to increase its share of the utility market in both Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.

 

Established in 2010 by Paul Nolan, Kilkenny Quads currently employs five people with the potential to add more staff in the future as the agreement to take on the Can-Am Outlander and Traxter ranges will strengthen its product portfolio, enabling the business to grow. 

 

Mike Loach, BRP commercial manager UK & Ireland, says, “The Irish market for utility ATVs and SSVs is one of untapped potential and we are delighted to welcome on board Kilkenny Quads. Paul and his team understand their customers' requirements, and we’re pleased that they chose Can-Am to help them take the next step to realise their growth plans. We look forward to supporting them as their business grows and for the team to assist us in expanding our market share in the utility sector, bringing more Irish users into the Can-Am family.”

 

Paul Nolan, Kilkenny Quads owner, adds, “When we found Can-Am’s products, it was not at a show but while I was on holiday in Spain. The thing that stood out for me was their rugged design and first-class drive quality. My sons David and Derek are the driving force behind the business, so once we had completed our research, we decided to take on Can-Am’s utility range. The reason for signing on with the brand was quite simple, we felt that the models available best suited our customer base and the specifications they are looking for in an ATV or SSV. We’re confident the brand will assist us in continuing the growth we have experienced year on year since the business opened.”

EDEN PROJECT HIRES ROBOT GARDENER
Husqvarna Automower installed
 
Husqvarna Automower at the Eden Project

One of the key decision makers for the Eden Project was that robot could be programmed to run through the night so as not to impact on any visitors during the day.

 


Popular visitor destination, the Eden Project, has added a new member to its horticultural team this spring.


Husqvarna Automower, which works unassisted throughout the day and night, has been installed at the Cornwall site to maintain the grounds surrounding the famous iconic bubble-like Biomes.

 


Nestled in a huge crater the size of 30 football pitches, the Eden Project Horticultural team have a job on their hands keeping the lawns in immaculate condition all year round. To help save time, the team turned to Husqvarna for an eco-friendly solution.


Kevin Ashmore, Husqvarna Professional UK Manager said, “With sustainability at the heart of the Eden Project it was important that whatever solution we provided was as eco-friendly as possible and the Automower fits the bill.”


Kevin added, “One of the key decision makers for the Eden Project was that Automower could be programmed to run through the night so as not to impact on any visitors during the day.”


Niki Hall, Specialist Horticulturist at the Eden Project said of the installation, "The arena is now in top condition and this allows more time for the horticulture team to spend in other areas rather than cutting the lawns. It is quiet and unobtrusive, though very funky - like a Formula One mower. It has no emissions and low energy consumption. It can also be used in all weathers.”

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