Last Thursday (November 16th) the Dealer Of the Year Awards took place at the Oxford Belfry Hotel, organised by TurfPro's sister publication, Service Dealer magazine.

The awards celebrate the incredible work which the UK's independent specialist dealer network carry out all year round - which can often go unsung. 

As turf professionals, readers of this newsletter will appreciate just how vital it is to have local specialist teams who can advise with new machinery purchases and almost more importantly, keep those machines running if something goes wrong throughout the year.

You can read how the Professional Turfcare Machinery Dealer of the Year was won last week by George Browns Ltd of Leighton Buzzard here.

The standard was so incredibly high across the board though, the judges had an awfully difficult task narrowing the nominees down to a final three and then to an ultimate winner. The turf professional industry is lucky to have such dedicated teams of experts serving it all around the country.

It's never easy for these small businesses to continue to flourish in today's uncertain business environment, but these guys are giving it their all to provide a quality service to their professional customers. They need your on-going support though. Yes things can go awry on the odd occasion, but listening to the dealers speak last week, all of their efforts are geared to making sure their customer service is exemplary and they know it's that which sets them apart from the crowd.

Prior to the awards ceremony last Thursday, there was a conference held for the attending dealer delegates which struck a hopeful tone. Whilst it was acknowledged that it's tough out there at the moment, there was a sense that for companies doing it right, there's the possibility to succeed and therefore invest back into the business - making their dealerships even more appealing to their customers.

Service Dealer and TurfPro owner, Duncan Murray-Clarke told the assembled dealers, "Businesses like yours are the engine room of the UK economy. Despite all this general uncertainty and negativity, our sector, like the majority of SME’s in the UK, is more than surviving.

"We mustn't lose sight of the fact that we do some things very well in the UK and if we can deal with the rapidly changing landscape and technologies, then things might not be too bad after all. That is why we have focussed this year’s conference on change, embracing it as well as the challenges and opportunities it brings."

Duncan went on to explain why is was important to recognise the superb work being carried out within the dealer network with the awards. He said, "We are a close knit industry and an industry that is changing rapidly. It is more important than ever that we seek out and acknowledge excellence so that we can all learn, evolve and meet the challenges ahead and turn them into opportunity."

The standard of all the winning dealerships was extraordinary this year. These standards were clearly reflected in the quality of comments received from satisfied customers across the UK which formed part of the judging process.

These businesses are delivering a level of customer service which is only possible through a dedicated specialist. And these businesses can only continue to go the extra mile for you, their customers, as long as you continue to support them.

In a glittering ceremony at the Oxford Belfry Hotel last Thursday (November 16th), the prestigious Service Dealer Awards were presented.

The Awards, organised by the leading business magazine and TurfPro's sister title, Service Dealer, are now in their 14th year and recognise outstanding sales, service advice and support by dealers in the professional turfcare machinery, garden machinery, farm machinery, forestry equipment and ATV/Quad industry.

George Browns professional turfcare machinery and service business based in Leighton Buzzard won the 2017 Professional Turfcare Machinery Dealer of the Year Award. The award was announced and presented to Kevin McConnell, Derrick Pratt and Andrew Brown at the ceremony by Steve Gibbs, Editor of TurfPro and Service Dealer.

Kevin McConnell, Derrick Pratt and Andrew Brown with Steve Gibbs

Finalists for the award were Balmers GM Ltd of Wakefield and Thomas Sherriff & Co Ltd of Jedburgh.

An integral part of the judging process for the Awards included customer feedback. High praise received for George Browns included, “Good helpful advice. Took time to check my needs and sold me the right piece of equipment - even recommended a lower priced charger after discussing my usage patterns.”

The judges said, “George Browns has demonstrated long term consistency with regular improvements. They stock a great variety of products, message well through Social Media and have obtained some great customer feedback this year.”

The other winning dealers across the various categories were:

GARDEN MACHINERY DEALER OF THE YEAR

Sponsored by Husqvarna. Presenting Award: Ken Brewster, UK Sales & Marketing Director

Winner - Garlick Garden Machinery Ltd, Preston

Ken Brewster & Chris Garlick

The judges said, "Garlick Garden Machinery was established in 2013 by Chris Garlick, then just 21 years old. The dealership is progressive and embraces new technologies like robotic mowers and cordless products. Garlick has good use of Social Media channels and the customer feedback was extremely strong."

Finalists – Hertfordshire Garden Machinery Ltd, Bramfield; Green Stripe Garden Machinery Ltd Market Rasen

FARM MACHINERY DEALER OF THE YEAR

Sponsored by Kramp. Presenting Award: James Buchanan, Field Sales Manager

Winner - RVW Pugh Ltd, Powys

Emma Leah and Mary Evans receive their Award from James Buchanan

The judges said, "This family business established in 1978 has grown across its 3 branches. It is well documented that the large machinery sales are still suffering and Pugh’s has been very much bucking the tractor sales trends this year. Pughs is a strong business that attracts sales in a not so typical ag area."

Finalists – Burdens Group, Sutterton; B&B Tractors, Warsop

FORESTRY EQUIPMENT DEALER OF THE YEAR

Sponsored by STIHL GB. Presenting Award: Steve Parkin, National Sales Manager.

Pete & Emma McArthur with Steve Parkin

Winner - Strathbogie Forest & Garden Limited, Aberdeenshire

The judges said, "Following on from a purpose built new showroom and website in 2016, Strathbogie offer a variety of quality manufacturers. Pete and the team combine traditional knowledge whilst embracing change by leading the way in robotic mower sales. They stick to selling on quality and not on price and to cap all that the customer feedback was superb."

Finalists - Gustharts, Seaton Burn; Forest and Arb, Winchester

ATV / QUAD DEALER OF THE YEAR

Sponsored by Catalyst Computer Systems. Presenting Award Mike Cameron, Systems Sales Manager

Winner - Stratton ATV Ltd, Perth

Mike Cameron and Craig Wainwright-Fisher

The judges said, "Stratton show a good understanding of multiple markets and tailored solutions within the ATV sector. As a relatively new company they have a neat showroom, perform well and are respected locally."

Finalist - Congleton Garden Machinery Ltd, Congleton

OVERALL DEALER OF THE YEAR

Sponsored by Kramp. Presenting Award: Des Boyd, Sales Director

Duncan Murray-Clarke and Des Boyd join Pete & Emma McArthur to celebrate their Overall Dealer of the Year win

Winner - Strathbogie Forest & Garden Limited

The judges said, "Pete McArthur and his team are held in high regard by their principal suppliers – and in offering an unrivalled back-up service they don’t discount wildly to match on-line pricing. Their product knowledge is second-to-none and they support a top-notch website. In our view they are worthy winners."

BIGGA have revealed their ‘magnificent 10’ preparing for the Golf Industry Show in San Antonio, Texas next year.

10 successful members will travel to the US as part of the BIGGA Delegation sponsored by Bernhard and Company.

The GCSAA-organised educational conference takes place at the Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center in San Antonio from 3-8 February 2018.

A place on the Bernhard Delegation, as it is commonly known in the industry, gives access not only to the GIS, but the delegates will also meet industry experts, enjoy field trips to top US golf courses and take part in the educational conference, building a global network of contacts.

The delegates for 2017 are:

• Stuart Adams, Head Greenkeeper, Cardigan Golf Club
• Craig Berry, Course Supervisor, St Andrews Links Trust
• James Bonfield, Course Manager, The Hertfordshire Golf Club
• Thomas Jacques, Greenkeeper, Royal Lytham & St Annes
• Richard Johnstone, Course Manager, Nairn Dunbar Golf Links
• Jamie Martin, Head Greenkeeper, Gifford Golf Club
• Tom Smith, Head Greenkeeper, Whickham Park Golf Club
• Timothy Lewis Sethi, Golfpark Zurichsee
• David Warner, Deputy Head Greenkeeper, Woking Golf Club
• Andy Whyman, Head Greenkeeper, Pryors Hayes Golf Club

Each of the delegates completed an application form before being invited to a second application stage, consisting of interviews with representatives from BIGGA and Bernhard and Company.

Jim Croxton, CEO of BIGGA, said, “A place on the BIGGA Delegation to the Golf Industry Show has become synonymous with BIGGA members who are dedicated and passionate about striving to improve their own abilities, and as such we can’t ask for better ambassadors to represent the association Stateside.

“Through the continued and excellent support of Bernhard and Company, I am delighted that we are able to offer these 10 BIGGA members what is certain to be a career-defining experience.”

The 10 BIGGA members will travel together to America for the GIS, where they will enjoy networking opportunities and hands-on access to world-leading golf course and facility management solutions. The delegates will also attend some of the GIS’s educational seminars, presentations and workshops.

In addition to visiting the exhibition, the delegates will act as ambassadors for BIGGA and Bernhard by manning the BIGGA booth at the show.

BIGGA say applications for the 2019 Bernhard Delegation will be launched in July 2018.

Reports suggest the Rugby Football Union remains open to hosting further NFL games at Twickenham despite concerns over the state of its pitch.

Two NFL games took place at the Home Of Rugby during October, however when England played Argentina as part of the Autumn Internationals on Saturday 11th November, pitch markings from the last gridiron game were still visible.

The Times reported that a different type of paint was used for this year's fixtures that stained down to the soil, meaning the RFU's head groundsman, Keith Kent, was unable to fully remove the markings in time for the match against Argentina which saw England win by 21-8.

ESPN said that it understood that while there were no problems with the surface from a playing perspective, television pictures that displayed a scarred pitch to millions of viewers concerned the RFU.

An RFU spokesman told ESPN that English rugby's governing body would share its concern with the NFL, along with other feedback, as part of a scheduled debrief.

Ground staff continued their efforts, including laying fresh grass as well as painting over the markings during the course of last week in order to remove the markings ahead of Saturday's Australia game.

The RFU signed a deal back in 2015 to host three matches, the final game in that agreement being the Minnesota Vikings' 33-16 win over the Cleveland Browns on October 29.

ESPN said that Tottenham's new stadium is scheduled to host at least two games a season for 10 years from 2018, but should that development hit difficulties then the RFU would be willing to step back in.

Intelligent One (iO), the world’s first autonomous robot dedicated to the hands-free, initial marking and over-marking of sports pitches, running tracks and more, won the Innovation Award at SALTEX recently.

Available from Rigby Taylor, iO combines the latest technology with the Impact ready-to-use paint and is suited for multi-pitches and multi-facilities marking.

It was for these reasons that a panel of expert judges selected iO the winner for the award at SALTEX.

Featuring a sophisticated built-in GPS-RTK receiver that links with a portable base station for accurate and reliable global satellite referencing, the iO operating tablet can plot and store multi-use line marking templates.

The iO with operator and satellite receiver

Once manoeuvred into place by the operator from directions sent by the tablet, the iO will, for example, mark out a football pitch - all the perimeter and playing area straight lines, the ‘D’ areas, centre circle, corner angles and even the penalty spot without the operator having any physical contact with the machine. Even pitches with fixed post sockets can be marked.

The iO can be programmed to mark multiple pitches as, for instance, at a training ground and will move to an adjacent pitch to carry on marking. It can mark all day long because it comes with rechargeable lithium ion batteries and changer.

The iO is capable of marking the following sports surfaces: football - any length/width and including fixed sockets; rugby (union and league); multi-lane athletic running tracks; tennis courts; and lacrosse, hockey and American football pitches. The iO marking of additional sports surfaces is currently under development.

Following Countrywide Farmers restructuring and subsequent exit from the Turf & Amenity market in October, the company has transferred the whole T&A division to an alternative provider, enabling the Turf and Amenity team to continue to service customers under new ownership.

From 1st November 2017 all current Countrywide T&A business is managed through Advance Grass Solutions Ltd (AGS) based from their new HQ in Reading, Berkshire.

Sam Honeyborne, Managing Director at AGS confirmed, “We are all extremely excited by the opportunity that this new business presents and confident of a seamless transition from Countrywide, as we continue our growth plan in the UK amenity sector.

The T&A team has made excellent progress in the past five years and has adapted to suit the evolution of the market, with the increased customer appetite for a high level of long term agronomic support. I would like to thank Countrywide for their help and guidance during this transition and assure our loyal customers and suppliers of service continuity throughout.”

AGS will provide a UK exclusive range of turf maintenance products to include Sustane, Growth Products and Polyon in addition to established brands such as DLF Seeds, Farmura, Aquatrols and Bathgates.

Sam offered an example of where he believes improvements can be made. “Haulage and delivery has been problematic in recent years in the industry and most of our competitors presently outsource this requirement. Initially we are committed to delivering directly to our customers in the South but ultimately coverage nationally by 2020. This will incur extra costs but will greatly improve our customer service and that is our number one priority."

AGS say they are presently developing a website and this, in addition to the AGS 2018 Product Guide, will be available in the very near future. For details 0118 3914540
or sam@advancegrass.com

Ongoing and future management of the pathogen Microdochium nivale was one of the hot topics that greenkeepers discussed at the recent STRI annual Trial Event, held in Bingley, West Yorkshire.

Having actively researched and trialled products to suppress the disease for over 10 years, Headland Amenity, along with Bayer, were some of the leading contributors on the topic.

David Howells, Northern Area Manager, reports on their findings:

David Howells

Historically, Iprodione-based products have been the main approach to deal with Microdochium nivale, applied curatively, when the first stages of the disease are seen. Whilst at the time of writing, fungicide products containing Iprodione are still available to use, it has been announced that its withdrawal is now imminent and we will soon be without this valuable tool to control turf disease. So what alternatives are there?

With climate and legislation changes, preventative disease management will have to be the way forward. Headland Amenity predicted these issues many years ago and has over 10 years of independent trialwork to support effective, alternative preventative strategies, incorporating both fungicides and non-fungicidal products.

STRI Trials and feedback from Turf Managers have long shown the beneficial effects of using Headland’s 20-20-30 tank mix to minimise disease levels when applied as part of a preventative programme. This consists of a tank mix of plant hardeners and elicitors, Liquid Turf Hardener, Seamac ProTurf and Turfite. For example, during the autumn of 2016, control trial plots were hit with 75% Microdochium nivale disease pressure. Plots treated with 20-20-30 tank mix alone, prior to disease establishment, showed a 50% reduction in this activity.

As we lose one ‘old chemistry’ active ingredient, a new one, Fluopyram, comes to the UK. From a new chemical group of fungicides known as SDHI’s, Fluopyram is an acropetal penetrant, which means it can enter the plant through roots, shoots or leaves, and moves up through the plant to provide protective activity. It can be found in Bayer’s new Exteris Stressgard product, alongside Trifloxystrobin and the unique ‘Stressgard’ technology which provides plant protection against stress situations resulting in a visibly healthier looking sward. Headland Amenity is a primary supplier of Exteris Stressgard alongside another Bayer product, Dedicate – a systemic fungicide which can be used preventatively at the earliest sign of disease. Alternating applications of these two products assists in reducing any potential resistance risk.

Moving forwards, whilst Iprodione is still on the shelf as a back-up, now is the perfect time to be putting together an integrated strategy combining good cultural practice, managing sward compositions and implementing a preventative fungicidal programme to ensure your facility is prepared for what lies ahead.

South Staffordshire Golf Club, has signed up to a five-year lease deal with Jacobsen.

The new machinery will join existing Jacobsen mowers already in use at the club. The delivery was made by Jacobsen U.K. Direct, the company’s only direct distribution channel in the U.K., covering Staffordshire and Shropshire.

The lease deal machinery includes an HR500 wide-area rotary mower, an LF577 fairway mower, three PGM pedestrian greens mowers and an E-Z-GO RXV golf car. The existing machinery includes an Eclipse 322 greens mower, an AR-3 contour rotary mower and an LF550 fairway mower.

Craig Parry with the new Jacobsen equipment included on the five-year lease deal

Craig Parry has been the head greenkeeper at South Staffordshire Golf Club for five years after spending four years at the Dukes, St. Andrews in Scotland. Commenting on the new lease deal, Craig said, “I am delighted with the deal we have got with Jacobsen. All of the machinery will make a huge difference on the course. We are a lot more productive now, which means that we can spend more time on the smaller details around the course, which is what all golf clubs would like to do, but just don’t have the time or the staff.

“Due to the time we’re saving cutting the rough, we have also got some PGM pedestrian greens mowers. We’re able to hand cut rather than triple mow now, so the presentation of our greens has also dramatically improved. The PGM mowers are so light as well; the stress on the grass is minimal which is another huge bonus. 

“Bruce Alexander and Harvey Doughty from Jacobsen U.K. Direct have been brilliant. They are always popping in to check on us and making sure we’re happy with everything. I think it’s great that we’re able to have a direct relationship with Jacobsen and the factory; we’re certainly benefiting from the knowledge and efficiency it brings.”

Etesia UK, the distributor of Pellenc battery-powered tools in the UK and Ireland, has announced a special offer which will can see customers save up to 50% of the purchase price of the ULiB1100 battery.

With 1440 minutes of use on a single charge, this battery is available on commercial tools including hedgecutters, blowers, strimmers and pedestrian mowers.

From now until to 31st March 2018, when purchased with one tool, customers will receive 10% discount on the purchase price of the battery. When two tools are purchased, customers will receive 20% discount on the battery. Three tools = 30% discount on the battery, four tools = 40% discount on the battery and 5 tools = 50% discount on the battery.

Pellenc supply tools and a range of batteries which are IP54 water rated and carry a full three-year commercial warranty.