I’ll start this week with some industry news that caught my eye.

It’s always pleasing to see turf professionals doing well and being recognised for their work ethic and determination. Andy Gray former HG at Southampton St Mary’s Stadium and Staplewood Training grounds has taken up the post of head of grounds and estates at St George’s Park and starts his new role in September. We at TurfPro would like to wish him all the best in his new post.

I was also pleased to see that an old work colleague of mine Andy Ansell was recently appointed head of grounds at the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire. Like many others, Andy has been kept busy through lockdown. He and his team were awarded some National Lottery Heritage Emergency Funding to help fund the maintenance of the 150-acre site during the pandemic when the facility was closed.

Also, all the best to Reesink Turfcare regional manager John Pike who after seventeen and half years working for the Toro UK distributor has announced his retirement.

Finally, Adam Witchell former head groundsman at Forest Green Rovers has taken up a new role of sports turf contracts manager for idverde.

This merry go round of job changes never surprises me. The very nature of our grounds industry tends to dictate these ongoing changes of personnel. I myself, have had over 12 different jobs during my 48 years working in this diverse industry.

There so many facets and opportunities within this industry, so many roles and opportunities to be gained by working in this ever-changing environment.

As mentioned in previous blogs, we need to see more young people, in particular women, take up roles on the front line of operations, to gain valuable knowledge in order to become the future managers of this challenging grounds industry.

Recruiting a new member of staff is not always an easy task. Trying to find someone to move to your location, accept your working regimes and salary, plus fit in with existing members of staff, is often challenging.

Most who apply, will or should have the appropriate skills and experience to do the job. The key requirement will be that they have the right personality and motivation skills to fit in with your culture and bring in new, efficient ways of working.

As mentioned in a previous blogs here and here the issues we face in the coming years regarding recruiting the next generation of greenkeepers and groundsmen will be challenging to say the least.

I have said on more than one occasion, our wonderful turfgrass and amenity sector is a unique and rewarding industry to work in. The scope and variety of work and the opportunity to work anywhere in the world is astounding. Once you have acquired the fundamental skills of horticulture and groundsmanship, there is no end to the opportunities on offer within this global industry.

There is no doubt that the current pandemic will have increased the amount of people seeking work, therefore we will likely see an abundance of potential candidates seeking work in our wonderful turfgrass industry.

Renovations & Diseases

We are still waiting on whether the rugby season will start and what extensions we will see in other sports in the coming months. However, come late August / September there will be a shift in the need to undertake some end of season renovations, particularly for bowls and cricket. The importance of these renovations cannot be emphasised enough in terms of setting up the playing surface for next year. Even though we have had little sport activity, the very nature of grass growth will incur some unwanted debris in the sward profile.

It is essential cricket clubs carry out a proper end of season renovation, to relieve compaction, scarify out unwanted dead grass material, top dress with compatible loam to address surface levels and oversow to restore grass density.

September also brings other challenges in terms of increased disease incidence. The mild, wet, warm weather is a good incubator for a plethora of turf diseases. As a qualified BASIS registered advisor AR/E/0445/A myself, I know only too well the many protocols, regulations and assessments that need to be made before applying and using an approved chemical.

And more to the point, I realise that we should be assessing all the alternative strategies that could be used to help reduce or prevent the presence of weeds, pests and diseases. However, as prevention is better than cure, there are many considerations, issues and management strategies you can perhaps undertake beforehand.

If we talk about controlling diseases in turf, there are plenty of strategies that we can undertake to prevent the onset of disease. First and foremost, you must know what you are dealing with and the damage that can be inflicted and the consequences of a bad disease attack.

Therefore, you will need to know and understand the life cycle of the particular disease, understand the disease triangle and then begin eliminating the primary factors that will cause an outbreak of disease. If we look at the most common disease on golf courses, Microdochium Patch (Fusarium), for example, we will typically find resting spores in the thatch; spores deposited on the leaf surface by wind or rain splash; recently germinated spores growing mycelia and seeking an entry point into the leaf.

Once you understand the disease’s lifecycle, the aim then is to break this cycle and prevent conditions that promote disease. However, there are many practices and management decisions that can be undertaken to prevent or slow down the incidence of disease.

Without the right host in the right conditions, pathogens cannot cause any harm. Some pathogens are specific to only one or a few host plants, others have broad abilities to attack almost everything. The favourable environment essentially means the weather conditions needed for a pathogen to thrive, often during warm moist conditions.

As with all turf related work practices, the weather has a great influence on the timing and influence of what can be done and achieved. Groundsmen spend every working day thinking about the weather forecasts and what weather fronts they have to work to. In recent years we, via the development of internet apps, are able to forecast the weather more accurately.

Summing up, the main management tool for controlling pests and diseases is, by definition, an Integrated Pest Management strategy (IPM) that comprises of a number of tasks and checks, providing a comprehensive approach to controlling insects, weeds and pathogens in an economical and environmentally friendly way, using a wide range of resources, skills and services.

It is also vital to consider the importance of keeping our machinery and equipment in good order. There is always the need to carry out the required services and repairs under any relevant warrantees / agreements etc. So, make sure you book to get your machinery serviced by your approved servicing dealer.

BASIS say the explosion in Beirut has focussed attention on ammonium nitrate and the need to store it properly.

In a statement BASIS said the need for safe storage is well recognised in the UK and all FACTS advisers should be aware of storage requirements for ammonium nitrate (and all oxidising agents – any fertiliser with a yellow diamond marked ‘oxidising agent’ and ‘5.1’ on the bag).

Government advice on storage can be found here.

BASIS reiterate the ‘5 point plan’ that should always be followed:

1. Wherever possible use a Fertiliser Industry Assurance Scheme (FIAS) approved supplier.
2. Wherever possible keep in a secure area such as a building or sheeted away from public view.
3. Carry out regular stock checks and report any loss to the Police immediately (call 101).
4. Avoid leaving fertiliser in a field overnight – never leave fertiliser in the field for a long period of time.
5. Remember it is illegal to sell ammonium nitrate without the correct documentation

STRI Group has announced the appointment of two new company directors to its board.

L-R: Richard Stuttard and Andrew Brooker

Head of consultancy, Richard Stuttard, and head of business development, Andrew Brooker have been promoted as STRI directors from 3 August 2020. Both will continue to manage their existing departments.

Richard will lead the Group’s interests in delivering design, build and project management services to major sports projects across the globe.

Andrew will be instrumental in ensuring STRI continues to grow globally, inside and outside the sports sector, through developing strategic acquisition and investment opportunities.

Commenting on the appointments, STRI chief executive officer, Mark Godfrey, said, “STRI has continued to grow as a business and it was the right time to expand our board. Richard and Andrew have been important senior figures at STRI for a number of years and are helping drive change and growth across new markets.”

Richard said, “It’s an exciting time for STRI. Our consultancy department has grown quickly in the last two years and we are now delivering a premium end-to-end service to new and existing clients. Our planning, design, construction and operation model is going from strength to strength and I look forward to continuing to support its growth.”

Andrew added, “STRI is expanding its operations locally and internationally, developing strategic relationships and commercial partnerships for customer and company benefit. STRI is committed to continuous expansion of our range of innovative and sustainable solutions so that our customers receive greatest value.”

With 12 years of greenkeeping experience under his belt, Carel Fourie has been turning his hand to the maintenance at Holwell Sports FC. And he’s made quite the impression, scooping the United Counties League Groundsman of the Year title for 2019/20.

Assisting Carel with the transition from fine turf to sports turf has been Alex Hawkes of Headland Amenity, who has overseen the construction of a nutritional programme that has boosted the health, appearance and playability of the Welby Road pitch.

“What started out as an advisory role, and carrying out the occasional spot treatments, turned into me being appointed as the club’s first permanent groundsman three years ago,” explains Carel. “While I have done a lot of spraying and built up knowledge on a range of Headland products for golf, getting to know what would work for football was a real learning curve.”

Following soil sampling and analysis by Alex, a programme was introduced based around Multigreen temperature-controlled release fertiliser.

With field longevity of five to six months, Carel applies Multigreen 28-3-15 in early summer and follows this up with an application of the 15-0-22 formulation in September. “Despite our heavy clay profile, Multigreen gives us a long-lasting source of Nitrogen, that can be supplemented with other products for targeted treatments," said Carel.

While Carel uses a range of Headland products in his nutritional programme, of note are a tank mix of Elevate Fe, Xtend and Clipless NT which is applied every six weeks through the summer to boost the visual qualities, together with a combination of Turfcomplex and TriCure AD which has proven to successfully nurse the pitch through periods of dry weather and drought.

“I utilised the time during lockdown to conduct some heavy renovation work which included hollow coring and overseeding, which germinated really well largely thanks to nutrients sustained in the soil from the previous application of Multigreen, alongside a treatment of H-Cote Mini which I put down in early March.”

The lockdown also didn’t stop the technical support from Headland. “I was sent a kit to take my own soil samples which Headland then analysed to make sure everything was still on track. There were a couple of times where WhatsApp came in handy too, with Alex able to identify some issues we were having with Brown Patch via video call when he wasn’t able to visit the site.”

With golf and football firmly on his CV, Carel is also now undertaking some work at Melton Mowbray Cricket Club. “Each surface brings its own unique challenges, not to mention the added complications that COVID has presented, but we’re nothing if not versatile, and with enthusiasm and the right advice I relish those challenges!”

Since using products from Mansfield Sand, Stuart Vause, head groundsman at Castleford Tigers, claims that the pitch has resulted in a more free-draining, firmer surface.

Stuart Vause

For the past five years Stuart has been the head groundsman and, in that time, he has done a truly remarkable job. His work on the stadium pitch and the training pitch has been widely praised by players, fans and staff and he has also been recognised by the grounds management industry - winning the Professional Rugby Football League Grounds Team of the Year twice in three years.

Stuart believes that one of the biggest improvements in the pitch has been since he started using Mansfield Sand’s MM40.

“The pitch here at the stadium is very old and there is not much drainage at all. It is the same on the training pitch,” said Stuart. “When I first came here, there would be so much standing water and drainage wouldn’t go through the profile - a lot of games would be called off if we were seeing a lot of rain.

“I thought that I really needed to get some sand into the pitch, so I got in touch with Mansfield Sand and we’ve used them ever since.”

Stuart says he now relies on Mansfield Sand’s MM40 which is sourced directly from the Two Oaks Quarry in Mansfield where the company produces its  Mansil range of Silica Sands. MM40 is a medium sand which is predominantly used in the construction and maintenance of a wide range of sports surfaces - from winter sports pitches, golf courses, bowling greens and all amenity turf areas.

Four years ago, he started by applying 20 tonnes of MM40 during his renovations but after seeing the difference it made, he has increased the quantity year-on-year and is now applying between 80-100 tonnes a year across the stadium and training pitches.

“I could see the improvements straight away,” he said. “The roots were getting deeper, the surface was getting firmer, it was more stable during the winter months, and it was starting to drain more.

“Both pitches are in the best condition I have ever seen, and I think the sand plays a big part in that. The surfaces are holding up incredibly well and last year I hardly had to do any divotting and this when there could have been two or three sessions a day on them.

“This year we had the wettest February on record - no games were cancelled and no training sessions were cancelled – whereas in the past they would have been. In fact, I remember one time when it wouldn’t stop raining and a Sky TV commentator, along with everyone else, thought that one of our games would be cancelled. When the game proceeded, he asked me what I had done to get all the water off the pitch! I think this shows what a difference the sand has made.

“It’s free-draining, consistent and the service is always brilliant. Gary Cunningham from Mansfield Sand will come in have a look and I’ll trust him to advise on what I need. After the sand is applied, he will come back in and then we’ll assess the results together. It is great to be able to have that knowledge and assistance.”

Polaris Britain dealer, Reiver Garage Services, has expanded its offering with the manufacturer's recreational product line-up, including the RZR.

A family-run business based in Duns, a town in the Scottish Borders, Reiver Garage Services has been an authorised Polaris dealer for four years, offering utility UTVs and ATVs since 2016. After expanding to become a recreational dealer this year, Reiver now offers the full line-up of Polaris vehicles including youth models, utility vehicles including both petrol and diesel Ranger models and the Sportsman ATV range, as well as sport and leisure vehicles such as the RZR and Scrambler.

Dealership owner, Dale Robertson, has always been strongly involved with motorsport which is one of the driving forces behind his decision to add leisure  vehicles to his offering. Dale began rallying in 2005 and has competed in both Scottish and British championships, claiming the Scottish Group N Rally Championship title in 2014.

Dale said, “With rallying such a prominent part of my life, we saw this as an excellent opportunity to combine work with pleasure. We’re really proud to be expanding and to have the full Polaris range on offer now. It’s exciting to stretch out into the recreational market to give both new and existing customers the chance to experience this side of off-road vehicles and get some adrenaline running through their veins.

"We’re planning on holding a ‘ride and drive’ day in October to give people a chance to see what these machines can really do, and we’re sure they’re going to love it as much as we do.”

Reesink Turfcare has announced a package promotion offering a deal on four models in the TYM tractor range.

T393

The available deal offers customers a three-year ‘Bumper-to-Bumper’ warranty, two years’ interest-free finance and now the option to upgrade the tractor with a front loader for £300 when purchasing either a T393, T433, T503 and T754 before the middle of September.

The package deal is available on a limited number of tractors and is only available for a short period or while stocks last.

Reesink’s tractor sales manager Steven Haynes said, “Much of 2020 has been focussed on thinking about how we can best support our customers, working out the best deals and in this case the best combination of deals for this all-encompassing promotion that allows them to deliver what they need for their business and customers.

“Finances are under pressure in uncertain economic times, but that doesn’t change how vital having a reliable and economic tractor in the fleet is to get the job done properly. We chose these four tractors because they cover most applications and most turfcare requirements and are the models most widely sold, so we’re confident there’s something that will suit everyone.”

Steven continued, saying, “We’ve never done a package promotion like this before, quite simply because we have never felt we needed to. Our deals are such that they stand alone for their competitiveness and the benefits they bring. However, we are renowned for bringing our customers more and these are unprecedented times, so we felt we needed to create something unique for our customers. It is without question a fantastic package which we hope offers customers a way to make a tractor purchase without worry.”

BUSY TIMES FOR TURF PROFESSIONALS
Short turnaround between seasons

BUDGET STATEMENT
The bane of the turf professional's life

NICE TO BE BUSY AGAIN
Getting out and about

CRICKET IS BACK!
Refreshing to see

LITTER LOUTS
What can be done?

INVESTING IN OUR FACILITIES
Vitally important right now

WEATHER STIMULATING PATHOGENS
Prevalence of turf diseases

TIMES ARE CHANGING
True value of parks highlighted

GREEN IS THE COLOUR
Much needed rain

SUMMER HAS ARRIVED
We're entering a new phase

A GRADUAL RECOVERY
Impressive response from our sports turf industry

FIRST STEPS TO NORMALITY
Golf courses reopen

MOVING ON TO THE NEXT PHASE
Of the pandemic

HOW ARE WE COPING?
After six weeks of lockdown

PARKS AND OPEN SPACES TO THE RESCUE
During the Covid-19 crisis

KEEPING OUR RESOLVE
During the lockdown

GETTING ON WITH THE JOB
As best and as safely as we can

TIME TO REFLECT
Our pace of life has changed dramatically

TESTING TIMES AHEAD
Grasping the effects on our industry

UNPRECEDENTED TIMES
Covid-19's impact on our sector

SWITCHED ON TRADE DAY
Makita launch 30 new products

WHO SAID WE ONLY CUT GRASS?!
It takes years to acquire all the turf professional skills

TIME MARCHES ON
New month to hopefully bring much needed sunshine and drying winds

RAIN, RAIN GO AWAY
Come again another day!

THE PLIGHT OF THE BUMBLEBEE
What can we do to help?

SPRING HAS SPRUNG
Essential renovations

CELEBRATING 2020
Amenity Forum making plans

A DIVERSE & ENTERTAINING WEEK
Successful BTME 2020

TIME TO GET FIT
Our industry can help tackle the growing obesity crisis

WINTER WORKS AND SHOWS
Plenty to occupy in January

LOOKING AHEAD
What might 2020 hold in store?

View all of 2019's blogs here

View all of 2018's blogs here

PARKS NEED APPROPRIATE POLITICAL REPRESENTATION
Q&A with Philippa Reece, Parks and Foreshore Manager at Adur and Worthing Council

CRICKET LOAM
What does it mean?

A HERCULEAN EFFORT TO GET PARKS BACK TO NORMAL
Q&A with Chris Worman, Rugby Borough Council’s parks and ground manager

ON TEST
STIHL battery products

TURFGRASS STRESS MANAGEMENT
Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) and antioxidants during biotic and abiotic stress in turfgrass plants

AUTUMN DISEASE MANAGEMENT
The coming months are going to prove very difficult

THE ABUSE OF PARKS . .
Is the abuse of society

WHY PARKS MATTER?
A statement from the Parks Management Forum to the Prime Minister

THE 21st CENTURY PARKS MANAGER
Innovative, creative and entrepreneurial

EAT, SLEEP, CUT, REPEAT!
Cricket under covid

TIME FOR A SINGLE SHOW?
Debate brought back into focus

A CHALLENGING TWO MONTHS
Running golf design projects from home

PRESSURE SITUATION
Cementing the reputation

A CLUB TO BE PROUD OF
10 years at the helm of Olton GC

GAME CHANGERS IN TURFCARE
The day the Lord's outfield reconstruction proved its worth

THE ESSENCE OF ESSENTIAL
Finding a sensible way forward on defining "essential maintenance"

THAT WAS THE YEAR THAT WAS
2001

HOW TO LOOK AFTER A GOLF COURSE WITH NO GOLFERS
Fundamental to the survival of almost all courses, if not of the game itself

RAIN STOPPED PLAY WOULD BE WELCOME
. . along with ‘lunch is being taken early’

PHYSICAL CONTROL OF TURFGRASS PESTS
An urgent problem

A DIVERSE & ENTERTAINING WEEK
Successful BTME 2020

INTEGRATED PEST CONTROL
Opportunity to embrace new methods

ENVILLE ON THE UP
Major investments taking place

GREEN FLAG AWARDS 2019
A great success

U.S PROFESSIONAL EQUIPMENT SHOW EXCELS
Buoyant GIE+EXPO

LEGACY OF THE SOLHEIM CUP
At Gleneagles

A DAY OUT WITH THE LADIES
Behind the scenes at the Solheim Cup

COVENTRY UNIVERSITY'S EDIBLE GARDEN SUCCESS
2006 - present

HAIL THE GRASS MASTERS!
Boorish media comments about pitch quality are wide of the mark

CONTRACTOR SEES MULTI-DISCIPLINE SUCCESS
360 Ground Care serving professional facilities

BUSY TIMES
Judging the Green Flag Awards

TAKING AN INTEGRATED APPROACH
What does it all mean in managing turf surfaces?

UNDER PRESSURE
Dry weather conditions continue to keep turf managers focused on moisture management

EDDIE SEAWARD
Death of Wimbledon’s influential grounds manager

MAJOR NEW IRRIGATION PROJECT
At Top 100 classic Berkhamsted Golf Club

NEW HORIZONS FOR THE HATTERS
Investment paying off at Kenilworth Road

ELIZABETHAN RESTORATION
At Castle Bromwich Hall Gardens

WHAT IS BIOPHILIA?
The vital impact of parks and green spaces on health and well-being

WORM CONTROL
Without carbendazim

THE TRUE COST OF PETROL
Battery-powered outdoor power tools are now turning the heads of professionals

SANDS OF TIME
Sand-based pitches are now the norm in professional sports

WHY DO WE DO THE RIGHT THING?
We must maintain industry standards

CHASING GRASS PERFECTION?
11 things you need to know . . .

MAINTAINING STANDARDS
Q&A with BASIS ceo, Stephen Jacobs

STRI RESEARCH DAY 2018
Hosted at research trial grounds in Bingley

THE MECHANIC
Leicester City FC invest in new role

LORD'S 'GRASS-GUVNOR' TO RETIRE
Mick Hunt bows out after 49 years

HOLLOW CORING & DEEP SCARIFICATION
Is it really necessary?

In light of the recent announcement regarding the cancellation of the BTME show in Harrogate by the event’s organisers, the British & International Golf Greenkeepers Association, I would like to share my thoughts on this announcement and what it’s likely to mean for our industry.

As with the GMA’s decision to cancel November’s SALTEX, the decision has of course been forced upon the organisers by the ongoing, unprecedented Covid-19 pandemic.

What I believe it means for our industry is a waiting game for the organisations. Both will be looking at when and how they can proceed with their well-supported trade shows. There are undoubtably question marks regarding where and what format their shows will have to adopt in the future.

I personally think we still a long way off from getting back to normality. I can’t see shows as we knew them taking place until there is a proven vaccine produced. This of course could mean we may also yet see the cancellation of the newly rearranged SALTEX, currently scheduled for March 2021 for the very same reasons.

It is testing times for both organisations. Their shows are important for them in terms of bringing in much needed funds to allow them to continue to provide all their services.

BIGGA’s respected education programme, Continue to Learn, will still take place during January 2021, albeit as an online event and with an altered timetable designed to reflect the new digital platform. A full programme of speakers will enable BIGGA members to access the education they have come to expect from their own homes or at their place of employment.

A sensible decision in my view. Their education programme has become a very successful component of Harrogate Week in recent years and can certainly hold its own as a standalone event.

I am intrigued, but not surprised, at their announcement to explore the possibilities of an outdoor event during the summer of 2021. I am sure many golf related businesses would welcome this outdoor event, especially if it can be shared annually around the country at some major golfing venues. It would enable visitors to see the vast array of golf course maintenance equipment in use.

The very fact it can be held in the summer, when golf maintenance regimes are in full swing (excuse the pun) offers the opportunity to see a vast array of golf maintenance equipment being demonstrated by both manufacturers and suppliers.

In fact, if held at a golf club, the hosting venue could benefit by the mere fact that the demonstration of machinery can be planned in such a way that the course essentially has a complete make over. Greens aerated, sanded, topdressed and even drained.

It would also be a real coup for any golf club or venue to hold this prestigious outdoor show. If it were staged at the likes of The Belfrey, Gleneagles, London Club etc or indeed at a less well-known golfing facility who had the appropriate facilities, it would be a feather in anyone’s cap.

I personally think this would be a good move it has all the ingredients of being a great traditional outdoor show. A festival of turf event could attract a plethora of new companies to attend such as conservationists, water management companies, tree surgeons and more. The golf course has such a variety of land management issues to address, it is an Aladdin’s cave waiting to be explored.

As for entertainment, there is no stopping where this could go. As an ex-event organiser myself, there is so much potential for this show to be held at a golf course especially when you could bolt on many additional attractions such as live bands, food tents, camping even? It could become the golfing Glastonbury!

I endorse Jim Croxton’s views that “BIGGA considers it important to host an annual event and BTME plays a vital role in the calendar year for the turf industry. BTME is an opportunity to come together to celebrate the achievements of the previous year, while building new contacts and looking forward to the future. We feel it is important to retain this community spirit where possible, especially considering the hardships we have all faced, and so we are exploring the possibility of hosting a safe and accessible alternative event in summer 2021. I’m excited about the possibilities presented by this and am confident our new ‘festival of turf’ will be as exciting and influential as ever.”

As for SALTEX in March, we will have to wait and see. However, if BIGGA do manage to deliver a summer outdoor event in 2021, where might that leave the GMA regarding their future shows in terms of venue and time of year?

I wait with bated breath and hope we can see a better picture of how these two annual shows can work in harmony for the good of our industry.