I think somebody once said, "it's the uncertainly that kills you"?

A tad melodramatic, but it makes a genuine point. Uncertainty in our lives, both personal and in work, is unhelpful, prevents forward planning and can leave us in limbo.

Which is exactly what is happening to turf professionals with the on-going saga regarding the use of glyphosate-based weekillers.

The long-running situation took another delay last week Thursday (November 9th) when an EU vote failed to resolve anything.

A decision over the reauthorisation of glyphosate failed to materialise after several EU member states blocked a proposal to renew the chemical.

The current glyphosate licence runs out in the EU on 15 December. Only half of the 28 member states backed a European Commission proposal to renew the licence for five years.

In a report on the stalemate on BIGGA's website, the association says they believe that the commission will now refer its proposal to the appeals committee, with a hearing likely to take place within the next two weeks.

The decision on the renewal of glyphosate must be taken prior to the expiry date on 15 December.

The UK was among the 14 states backing the Commission position on glyphosate. Nine voted against - including France and Italy. Germany was among the five who abstained.

Glyphosate was introduced by US agrochemical giant Monsanto in 1974, but its patent expired in 2000, and now the chemical is sold by various manufacturers. The Monsanto weedkiller is called Roundup.

The uncertainly surrounding glyphosate isn't purely around whether it's legal for professionals to use the chemical though. There appears to be splits in the scientific community over whether it is carcinogenic or not.

The European Chemical Agency categorically says "There is no evidence to link glyphosate to cancer in humans, based on the available information." However, Googling around the subject one can find toxicology experts willing to dispute those claims, saying the EU study is playing down the cancer risk.

Those of us who aren't scientists well versed in chemical causes of cancer, are of course left to put our trust in experts who are. And to be fair, those in the UK are vocal about its safety and want its reauthorisation to be speedily confirmed.

The NFU for example has called on the European Commission to “take decisive action to reauthorise the use of glyphosate to stop the politicisation of the process.”

Vice president Guy Smith has said, "The overwhelming weight of science and evidence shows that glyphosate is perfectly safe when used correctly.

"There is no reason why glyphosate should not be reauthorised for 15 years, never mind the 10 years the Commission had proposed. We would urge member states to look at the science and base their decision on the evidence - which shows there is no reason not to reauthorise glyphosate."

Let's hope for the sake of all professionals who need to know where they stand with this issue, that the correct decision is reached as quickly as possible. By anyone's standards, this matter has already dragged on far too long.

The Institute of Groundsmanship (IOG) has announced its new Grounds4Sport programme with an initial backing of £100,000 over the next three years to improve the quality and promote the benefits of natural turf sports surfaces.

“The programme will transform local community facilities by engaging a new generation of volunteers and career grounds people, and by providing opportunities for everyone who wants to grow their skills and confidence as well as provide improved sports turf pitches,” says IOG chief executive Geoff Webb.

“We aim to reverse the decline in natural turf sports provision by increasing pitch playing capacity, and creating safer and consistently better playing surfaces for communities throughout the UK,” he says.

The programme will also highlight the health and community benefits of sport, he adds.

Grounds4Sport will not only aim to develop the IOG’s National Framework for Natural Turf - which will match a Pitch Grading System with appropriate educational standards for those who maintain playing surfaces, from grassroots to elite professional level - but it will also set out to re-invigorate a passion for turf by offering integrated learning platforms using online options as well as practical help.

Building on the lessons learned from the ongoing IOG-led Grounds and Natural Turf Improvement Programme*, which has found widespread pitch compaction problems married with a lack of knowledge and training in pitch maintenance, Grounds4Sport is essentially “a movement and force for good natural turf practice”, says Geoff.

“We recognise that resources are limited, but with a little direction, pride and passion, Grounds4Sport will show how ‘grass can definitely do more’.”

Geoff adds: “The new programme is all about changing the mindset and approach to maintaining natural turf surfaces by creating greater awareness and understanding of natural turf, and by developing improved maintenance skills.

“While £100,000 is a significant investment for an organisation the size of the IOG, I recognise that this in itself will not be enough to make a big enough impact nationwide,” Geoff says. “So, the IOG is actively seeking partnerships with other agencies, authorities and charities, as well as individual investors, to expand the programme.”

*The Grounds and Natural Turf Improvement Programme is a joint initiative between the IOG, the England and Wales Cricket Board, The Football Association and the Football Foundation to significantly improve the quality of grassroots natural turf pitches.

Specialist sports turf contractor Souters Sports Ltd has fallen into administration with the “majority” of its 47 staff made redundant.

Insider.co.uk reported that joint administrators Paul Dounis and Steve Ross of RSM Restructuring Advisory were appointed on 3 November.

Souters Sports have previously undertaken work at Ibrox

The company, which provided construction, reconstruction, drainage, aeration and maintenance services to sporting venues across the UK, employed 47 employees across its sites in Cumbernauld and Knutsford, Cheshire.

The report on Insider.co.uk says that increased competition from artificial pitches and “creditor pressure” forced the directors to call in administrators.

Joint administrator Paul Dounis is quoted saying, "Following a difficult trading position, measures have been taken to protect assets and maximise realisations for creditors through the administration process.

“Regrettably due to viability and the seasonality of work, we have had to make the majority of the work force redundant and we are assisting all employees with their claims.

“We have however retained a small number of employees to complete certain high-profile contracts and to assist the Administrators in their duties.

“The business has a strong pipeline of projects for next year and we would invite any interested parties to get in touch.”

Companies House records show Souter Sports accounts for the 2016 year to June have been overdue since 31 March.

Souters Sports website shows that the company had worked with high-profile sports facilities such as Glasgow Rangers' Ibrox stadium, Partick Thistle and West Kilbride Golf Club amongst others.

STRI has announced the finalists for the 2018 Golf Environment Awards (GEA), recognising golf clubs and individuals that strive to undertake environmental best practice.

STRI say the GEA provides the platform from which the golf industry can demonstrate environmental excellence in all its forms. This has been demonstrated by past finalists and can range from relatively simple but effective projects, to grand scale schemes.

Over 25 longlisted clubs were visited earlier in the year by STRI ecology consultant and GEA judge, Sophie Vukelic, and whittled down to 12 finalists.

Representatives from the finalists will attend the awards ceremony in January where they will be vying for the honours of either Environmental Golf Course of the Year, Outstanding Environmental Project of the Year, Conservation Greenkeeper of the Year or the Operation Pollinator award.

Aldeburgh Golf Club are nominated for Environmental Golf Course of the Year

This year, for the first time, all finalists will receive entry into the Foundation Award in Amenity Horticulture course, recognised by BASIS, and the lucky winners will be able to enjoy a European Golf & Environment Trip of a Lifetime to Portugal.

Golf Environment Awards judge, Sophie Vukelic, said: “This is my third year of judging the awards and it is not getting any easier choosing the finalists. We had an outstanding array of applications this year, with familiar faces and exciting newcomers to the awards. I hope you will all agree, that we have decided on some magnificent finalists, all of whom showcase the highest environmental stewardship within golf.

“I’d also like to congratulate and commend those golf clubs and individuals who didn’t quite make it to the final, you shouldn’t be disheartened - keep on shining a good light on golf and thank you for allowing me to visit your golf courses.”

The Golf Environment Awards 2018 finalists are:

Operation Pollinator

Jaey Goodchild, Bowood Golf Club

Tom Freeman, Kingsdown Golf Club

Michael Halliday, Ufford Park Golf Club

John McCloughlin, Warrington Golf Club

Environmental Golf Course of the Year

Aldeburgh Golf Club

Carnoustie Golf Links

Dundonald Links

Warrington Golf Club

Conservation Greenkeeper of the Year

Jon Keepen, Cumberwell Park Golf Club

Stephen Thompson, John O'Gaunt Golf Club

Les Rae, Montrose Links

Phil Stain, Notts Golf Club

Outstanding Environmental Project of the Year

Abergele Golf Club - 'Wild Land - Tir Gwyllt'

Minchinhampton Golf Club - 'Connecting the Land - Dead Hedging & Stumperies'

Ipswich Golf Club - 'Heathland Restoration & Silver-Studded Blue Conservation'

La Moye Golf Club - 'Knocking Back Succession'

The winners will be announced at the Golf Environment Awards Ceremony on Wednesday 24 January 2018, at The Crown Hotel in Harrogate.

Former Shrewsbury Town groundsman and Shropshire cricketer Brian Perry has died at the age of 74.

Brian Perry pictured in the Shropshire Star working at Gay Meadow

The Shropshire Star reported that Brian Perry was the groundsman at Gay Meadow for 26 years before the club moved to their new stadium at Oteley Road.

Before that he enjoyed great success with the county's cricket side and was part of Shropshire's Minor Counties title-winning squad in 1973.

During his time at Shrewsbury he often battled the elements brought on by the Gay Meadow’s proximity to the River Severn.

Town chairman Roland Wycherley was quoted in the Shropshire Star, leading the tributes, saying: "Our thoughts and condolences go out to Brian’s family and friends at this sad time.

“Brian was a big part of Shrewsbury Town’s history and a familiar face at the Gay Meadow for many years.

“The conditions at the Gay Meadow meant the pitch was a challenge, but Brian’s hard work and dedication meant that games would go ahead despite those challenges.

“He continued to work on match day at the new stadium and he will be greatly missed.”

A major investment in John Deere golf course maintenance equipment has been made by Quinta do Lago, for use on the Portuguese resort’s three 18-hole championship courses in the Algarve.

A similar deal has also been signed with sister resort PGA Catalunya in Spain.

John Deere equipment pictured on the 1st hole of Quinta do Lago’s North Course, with (left to right) assistant superintendent Antonio Almeida, John Deere turf sales manager (Spain & Portugal) Bernardino Privado, golf course superintendent Paul O’Mahony, John Deere dealer Albino Gil Gomes of Torre Marco SA and assistant superintendent Nuno Teixeira

The revamped North Course, the South Course and Laranjal are complemented by extensive practice facilities including the first Paul McGinley Golf Academy and the only TaylorMade Performance Centre in Southern Europe. Machines will also be used at the resort’s new professional level training and coaching development The Campus. Targeted at both elite and amateur sports, this will feature the first independent hybrid Desso GrassMaster training facility in Europe.

Quinta do Lago was voted Portugal’s number one golfing venue in Golf World magazine’s inaugural Top 100 Resorts in Continental Europe rankings list in 2016. It has also been named Europe’s Best Golf Destination at the World Golf Awards in 2015 and 2016, and been given the Editors’ Choice Award for Best International Resorts in 2016 and 2017 by Golf Digest, ensuring the venue’s place among the world’s golfing elite.

An initial fleet of 27 John Deere machines including tractors, fairway & rough mowers and Gator utility vehicles along with other ancillary equipment, supported by PowerGard extended warranty and maintenance contracts, were delivered this summer by the local, family owned John Deere golf & turf dealership Torre Marco SA. The dealership has its own fully equipped maintenance facility, the only one of its kind in the Algarve.

The choice of John Deere as Quinta do Lago’s preferred equipment supplier was made on the recommendation of golf course superintendent Paul O'Mahony, following what he describes as a “very strenuous process”. Paul previously worked his way up through the ranks at Old Head of Kinsale in Ireland, becoming course superintendent there in 2003 before moving to Quinta do Lago in 2011.

Paul formulated a unique model to measure a series of performance and quality parameters that were applied to each of the main machinery suppliers before going through the usual tender process. The model was specifically built to satisfy the resort’s full fleet requirements over a 10 year period, keeping each machine ‘in range’ in terms of life expectancy and residual value, with points awarded for service, machine quality, value and additional aspects such as training and support.

“Downtime is no time may be a cliché but that’s because it’s true,” says Paul O'Mahony. “It’s very important to have reliable, fully functioning equipment, and this has to provide the same levels of precision and quality that we as a team set out to achieve every day across all our golf operations.

"Having worked with John Deere equipment at Old Head and initially brought in tractors and Gators to the courses here at Quinta do Lago, I’m very comfortable that we can establish an effective partnership with the company and the dealership."

Price Turfcare have said that their first visit to SALTEX proved to be a very positive experience.

Price Turfcare's SALTEX stand

Managing Director, Rupert Price said, “One of our aims at SALTEX was to look for new dealer partners and this worked well for us. There are several companies interested which will need exploring further over the next couple of months."

Rupert continued, “As a start-up business which has only been in existence since the beginning of the year, our first visit to SALTEX was a very positive experience.

“Our stand was next to one of the IOG theatres, which ensured plenty of footfall, before and after each presentation, but having said that, it was very consistent throughout the two days.

“The Ventrac tractor was extremely popular with visitors and we had some great leads, which will keep us very busy in the run-up to Christmas. However, I was very pleased, and mildly surprised, at the level of interest in the Ryan brand. We only took it on in July and will be the sole importers from January 2018, but the brand obviously has a very loyal following across the UK. The equipment is compact and easy to operate and for landscaping contractors who concentrate on maintaining domestic gardens, it appears to be the machinery of choice.

"I think I can safely say that SALTEX ticked all the boxes.”

Alan Magee, Course Manger at Knighton Heath GC, has upgraded his existing Wiedenmann Terra Spike to the 1.8m wide GXi8 HD, with the hope the extra 40 cm would make the operation more efficient.

L-R: Andy Frost of dealer EG Coles and Alan Magee, Knighton Heath GC

After full course circuits in August and September, Alan Magee says he couldn’t praise his new Terra Spike highly enough. “On its first outing it got round all 18 greens and the putting green in seven hours when previously the narrower machine took 12. The tees and approaches were virtually done in a day, just spilling into an extra hour the following morning to finish the final two. Time saved there was six hours - even using the 22 mm tines.”

“We’re very pleased indeed. The machine is quiet, smooth and exceptionally balanced. During the playing season on the greens we’ll use 10 mm tines and 12 mm in the winter, with tees and approaches the 22 mm.”

On hand throughout the sales process was, Andy Frost, grounds care specialist from Wiedenmann dealer, EG Coles at Shaftesbury.

Industry machinery specialists Lister Wilder Ltd have been announced as this year’s biggest UK team supporting men's health charity The Movember Foundation.

Lister Wilder's Mow-team

The company, which has depots across the South of the UK, has rallied over 60 members for its Movember ‘MOW-team’, including sales team members, workshop engineers, parts advisers and company directors.

The charity drive, where men get sponsored to go without shaving their moustache for the month of November,  is the leading organisation dedicated to changing the face of men's health. The foundation carries out important work to help fight prostate cancer, testicular cancer, and prevent men's mental health conditions and suicide.

Team Captain, Groundcare Sales Director Phill Hughes

Says Phill Hughes, Groundcare Sales Director at Lister Wilder, and the company’s Movember Team Captain, "We're all excited about the company joining together for such an important cause. For many of us this is the first time we've entered the risky world of facial hair - but we’re experts at helping our customers achieve a good mow, so we're hoping some of us can achieve a good Mo' too.

"It’s all about raising as much money as possible for this fantastic charity supporting men’s health."

Anyone wishing to donate to the team's charity page can find them at https://moteam.co/lister-wilder-ltd?mc=1