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EDITOR'S BLOG

WORRY OF WEATHER CLOSURES
Prevalent at this time of year
by TurfPro Editor, Laurence Gale MSC, MBPR

Keeping pitches playable at this time of the year is tough task for all those involved - so here's a few tips from me.

Many turf professionals must face the worry of their facility closing at some point in the winter due to the extremes of weather we can experience in the UK. A strong bout of rain, frost or heavy snow, can have severe consequences for clubs who find it difficult to cope with these conditions.

Keeping pitches playable at this time of the year is tough task for all those involved. There will be plenty of winter games pitches, particularly at the lower levels of the league structure and some school pitches, that have become very worn due to constant play during the winter months.

February is usually one of the most difficult months of the year for maintaining grass pitches, particularly those that have no surface water drainage systems installed.

Most soil-based pitches will, and can, often remain saturated for long periods of time during the winter. It is during these times that surface damage can occur. Often, there is plenty of pressure on facility managers to get matches on, whatever the weather; no one likes postponed or cancelled games.

Training pitches are even more prone to damage, often having to accommodate many age groups and two or more training sessions per week. To reduce wear, rotate where the teams train. With the pitches remaining wet it is often quite difficult to get machinery on to aid recovery, sometimes you can cause more damage by trying to do something.

Soil structures are easily damaged when wet. The decision to play a fixture should be down to the turf professional / manager who knows the facility and understands the consequences of playing one game too many, particularly now when grass growth is slow or dormant due to the low soil and air temperatures.

As for golf clubs. it is often the heavy soil, parkland golf facilities that take the brunt of any poor weather, especially after heavy periods of rain, when the soils can become saturated. It has certainly been difficult for many course managers trying to ensure their course remains open for play. However, once soils get saturated they are prone to damage; quite often courses are closed not because the greens are wet, but due to the condition of the fairways and traffic routes across the course.

Many parts of the country have endured long periods of wet weather, resulting in the local soils becoming saturated and remaining wet for long periods. Every time it rains the water tops up the already saturated grounds, resulting in local flooding of land in the low spots; even the brooks and streams have become full to bursting, often adding to the water problems.

With the soil full of water, the drains are at capacity and in full flow, which again adds to the flooding problems. To help alleviate the potential of flooding, it would pay to invest some time and money in ensuring all your drainage ditches are kept clean and able to cope with this influx of water. Also, keep your brooks and streams clear of debris and free flowing.

High winds in January / February can often cause structure and tree damage. It is imperative to inspect, record and make the site safe. Any structure or tree debris that has fallen and can be considered a hazard, must be fenced off or removed in the interests of public safety.

Golf’s winter construction and repair works are ongoing. This is often associated with drainage improvements around the course or may include refurbishment, new build or extensions to bunkers, tees and greens.

February is also a good time to carry out repairs and maintenance to fence lines, seating and other structures around the course. You may get some favourable weather for painting and repairing these structures.

As for tree and shrub planting, now to March is a good time to plant bare rootstock trees. They tend to be cheaper than containerised plant materials. Be sure you prepare the ground well before planting.

It is key to get any winter projects completed before March. A recent visit to my local bowls club, Newport in Shropshire, enabled me to catch up with head greenkeeper John Breeze who, with friend Andy, was completing some ditch repairs to the green. Doing the work themselves, instead of hiring a contractor has probably saved the club money.

From now to March it is a key time to get prepared for the new growing season. The recent mild weather will have stimulated some growth. Your mowing equipment should have been serviced and repaired and ideally ready to start some initial cutting regimes.

Fertiliser programmes are tailored to suit the grass plant’s needs. In recent years we have seen several new products and bio stimulants that can be applied during the winter months to aid recovery and help the plant resist disease pathogens.

Most turf grasses are dormant, slower growing. However, some greenkeepers may apply some liquid iron to keep the turf healthy and strong. USGA greens often do require some top up feeding during the winter to maintain nutrient status of the green.

February is a good time to take soil samples and get them sent off for analysis, thus enabling you to get them back in time to start your new year's maintenance.

Ideally, if you have not had one done before, you should have a full Particle Size Distribution (PSD) soil analysis done to tell you the actual make up of your soil profile.

Soil is made up of percentages of clay, silt and sand. The PSD Analysis will identify the ratio of these and confirm soil type, thus giving you a better understanding of what soil you are dealing with. Also, you can establish the amount of organic matter (OM) content as well as soil nutrient status and soil Ph. With this information you will be able to identify the needs of your soil.

Diseases can still occur in February, particularly after snow cover. It is important to keep dew off grass surfaces. Allowing the sward to dry out helps prevent disease attacks. The use of switching canes and brushes can be used to remove these dew deposits.

Moss may also be quite prevalent at this time of year due to lack of turf vigour and low levels of light intensity. For many areas it is just a slight winter 'nuisance' and soon disappears when spring return.

NEWS

GREENKEEPERS CHOSEN FOR TPC SAWGRASS TRIP REVEALED
Set to volunteer at The Players Championship

In our first WEB ONLY story, at the tournament in Florida, the seven-strong contingent will get the unique opportunity to work alongside greenkeepers from around the world.

NO EXTRA AERIAL REQUIRED
Kress establish RTK network for robots

Watch Kress speak to TurfPro at BTME '24

In our next WEB ONLY story, speaking to TurfPro at the recent BTME, Kress explain how they have established comprehensive coverage across the country for their robotic mowing solutions for sportsgrounds.

WORLD DEBUT FOR HYDROGEN-POWERED GOLF CAR
Concept model shown

Vehicle was equipped with two high-pressure hydrogen tanks (25L each) positioned under the driver's seat and on the back of the rear seat.

Yamaha Motor Europe N.V., Branch UK has announced that the Yamaha Golf Car Company (YGC) has developed a hydrogen-powered engine golf car concept model, the Drive H2.

The concept model, described by the manufacturer as a world first, was exhibited at the PGA Show in Florida recenty.

The concept model is based on Yamaha’s Drive2 Concierge 4 four-seater golf car, which is sold predominantly in the United States, but also around the world. It is equipped with two high-pressure hydrogen tanks (25L each) positioned under the driver's seat and on the back of the rear seat.

Hydrogen engines are internal combustion engines that can make use of existing technologies and at the same time do not emit CO2 during the combustion process. For this reason, Yamaha say they are also conducting research and development of this technology as it has the potential to achieve both the continued use of internal combustion engines and decarbonisation.

The Drive H2 joins other Yamaha concept models evolving with hydrogen technology, including generators, ROVs and motorcycles and marine outboard engines.

Commenting on the new concept model Matt Taylerson, Divisional Manager, Marketing, said, “Back in February 2022, Yamaha Motor president, Yoshihiro Hidaka, announced that we are working toward achieving carbon neutrality by 2050. We have ‘Motor’ in our company name and have a strong passion for, and level of commitment to, the internal combustion engine. This is the manifestation of Yamaha’s commitment to continue to develop clean internal combustion engines utilising our existing engine technology and it also dovetails with our commitment to decarbonisation and sustainability.”

ESTABLISHED PRO DEALER BRANCHES OUT INTO ARB SECTOR
New partnership announced

Newly established relationship marks dealership's first part of their move into the arb space.

The GGM Group have announced that they are entering the arb sector after securing a partnership with FSI, Europe’s largest manufacturer of stump cutters - making the first part of their move into the arb space.

L-R: Kim Schmitt, FSI sales director and Phil Edmondson, GGM product manager

GGM are now the FSI stump cutter dealer for the north west and north Wales and say they are looking to further pursue opportunities within the arb sector over the coming months, as they look to become, as they put it, “the tree surgeon’s dealer of choice in the north.”

This move follows last year’s announcement that Phil Edmondson had joined to head the expansion of the company’s Kubota portfolio into higher horsepower M-series tractors and RO loaders, alongside its groundscare business.

Phil’s role will now be expanded, driving both the ag and arb offering of the business forward through the new GGM Ag and Arb department. Phil has been in the arb industry for 30 years and has worked with FSI products for the past 11 years so when the dealership opportunity arose he saw this as exploiting his substantial experience.

Phil said, “Following my recent move to the GGM Group Ltd to head up their agricultural tractor sales, I have been contacted by several arb machinery manufacturers with a view to the GGM Group becoming a dealer for their product ranges.

“Having reviewed these offers internally and met with some suppliers we have decided to add arb related machinery products to our existing range and to offer these through the GGM Ag and Arb department.”

Phil continued, “Both our Colne and Haydock workshops have highly skilled in-house and mobile service technicians with vast experience in all kinds of grounds maintenance and agricultural machinery who, along with our dedicated well stocked and knowledgeable parts team, offers customers the high level of aftersales service you expect.”

AVANT AWARD THEIR TOP DEALERS
Ceremony also marked 25 years in UK

Manufacturer recently recognised and honoured the achievements of its dedicated dealers.

Avant Tecno recently celebrated its 25th anniversary in the UK with an event held at Carrow Road Stadium in Norwich, Norfolk.

Avant’s award winning dealers

The occasion also served as an opportunity to recognise and honour the achievements of its dedicated dealers through the Avant Dealer Awards.
The company says the awards served as a fitting occasion to express gratitude to their network of dealers who have played a pivotal role in the brand's growth and success.

The winners included:

Eco Award 2023: Ben Burgess & Co Ltd.
After Sales and Customer Care: Avant South East Ltd
Largest Growth: Essener Equipment Co.
Recognition Award: Davies Implements Ltd.
Most Machines Sold: Essener Equipment Co.
Leguan Dealer of the Year: Ben Burgess & Co Ltd.
Avant Dealer of the Year: Ferrybridge Ltd.

One standout winner of the evening was Ferrybridge Ltd., recognised as the Avant Dealer of the Year. The manufacturer said with nearly two decades of expertise in the plant and machinery industry, Ferrybridge has recently emerged as an authorised dealer for all Avant compact loader products in Ireland.

Andrew Shore from Ferrybridge expressed delight at winning the award. He said, “The beauty of the Avant brand is that it has given us a doorway into a lot of industries. You name the industry, and we have probably sold an Avant machine into it. Becoming an Avant dealer was a good opportunity for us to get another world-renowned strong brand.

"Winning the award was an extremely pleasant surprise - we have only been selling the machines for just over a year now. We've put a lot of work into it to really try and push the products, and it has been going really well. It is great to be recognised.”

YAMAHA ADD DEALER
To their ATV network

Dealership says new partnership means they can broaden their offerings to customers.

Yamaha has partnered with Hampshire-based dealer Rod Gaskin Ltd with the introduction of its ATV and Side-by-Side business to the dealership’s portfolio.

This latest dealer expansion allows Rod Gaskin to supply and support customers in Hampshire and West Sussex.

Tom Gaskin, director at the dealership said, "We're thrilled to welcome Yamaha onboard. This partnership broadens our offerings, enabling us to deliver premium ATVs directly to our agricultural and ground care customers alongside the consumer market.”

Yamaha area sales manager, Carl Stuart added, “With a strong focus on providing quality products and great customer service, the business aligns closely with the values we hold at Yamaha Motor UK. We are looking forward to the future with the team at Rod Gaskin Ltd and providing them with the support they need to progress the Yamaha ATV business in Hampshire and West Sussex.”

Yamaha ATVs will be distributed from the dealership’s Alton depot which comprises two full-time salespeople in addition to Rod and Tom Gaskin.

“We are ready and raring to go with bikes already in our yard available for demonstrations and to purchase,” confirmed Tom. “We have parts and service teams ready to support both existing and new customers. We look forward to this exciting new partnership.”

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