Industry I
t doesn’t seem like ten years since we launched our first edition of the Pitchcare magazine. However, this issue represents our sixtieth ‘diamond’ issue, so I thought it might be relevant to look
at some of the machinery, products and services that have had a significant impact on the working methods of groundsmen and greenkeepers.
In my time as editor, I have met some wonderful turfcare professionals and volunteers who spend their working lives - and often personal time - dedicated to the job of looking after their sporting facilities. A selection have given their personal take on the last 3,650 days!
So, where to start?
Fraise mowing: Whilst the term was almost unheard of in the last century, the Koro machine was actually invented in 1996 by Dutchman Ko Rodenburg. But, it wasn’t until the redoubtable Richard Campey got hold of the machine that the process was popularised. Now, the majority of sportsturf contractors have a Koro machine in their armoury and ‘koroing’ has entered the turfcare dictionary.
The machine completely removes all surface vegetation, allowing ‘rubbish’ to be removed in one pass. The method, initially popular within football, is now extensively used to level cricket squares and on golf greens and tees.
Scarifying: Similarly, the Graden heavy duty scarifier was introduced to this country by Keith Kensett (sadly, now passed away) who saw the benefits of the machine’s ability to scarify at depth using tungsten tipped blades. Further developments saw the machine able to sand and seed inject to a depth of 40mm.
In conjunction with the Pitchcare magazine’s tenth anniversary, its editor, Laurence Gale MSc, takes a look at the products and services that have made a greenkeeper’s or
groundsman’s lot a good deal easier in the past ten years.
There’s also input from a handful of turfcare professionals, who give us their take on the innovations that have made a difference to them
These Australian beasts are available in pedestrian or tractor mounted variants and initially proved popular on the renovation of cricket squares, but its methods are now employed across all sectors of turfcare - most notably bowls and golf - often to the horror of club members!
‘Gradening’ is now also established in the turfcare dictionary.
Aeration: Whilst ‘verti-draining’ is another word that has long featured in the turfcare glossary - much to the chagrin of Wiedenmann, no doubt, whose Terra Spike machine is oft referred - innovations in machinery have seen the introduction of a number of pedestrian machines, most notably the Toro ProCore, John Deere Aercore and Groundsman 425, allowing access to previously difficult areas such as bowls greens and undulating golf greens.
In addition, these machines allow for more regular aeration, and all with the ability to fit a selection of tine types.
The ProCore is often quoted as being the “favourite piece of kit” in articles.
Covers: A plethora of covers have made their mark in recent years, most notably climate covers and germination sheets that both protect from the weather and wildlife, whilst also dramatically improving seed germination.
At the opposite end of the scale, Stuart Canvas’ hover cover has been a boon to First Class cricket groundsmen, where its rapid deployment can often save a day’s play. Farewell to the Brumbrella!
Drainage systems: There have been some tremendous developments in draining techniques, along with significant developments in the machinery to install it; laser guided trenchers, whiz wheels and sand injectors to name a few.
Drainage materials have also changed, with smaller diameter pipe systems, capillary wick systems and porous compound systems, such as Aquadyne, coming onto the market.
The development of GPS and laser levelling devices has helped speed up and enable drainage schemes to be installed more quickly and accurately.
We have also seen the development of porous bunker liners that have improved bunker drainage and, at the same time, improved the aesthetics of bunker faces.
Growth regulators: The last ten years has seen a lot of investment and development of products that have culminated in the widespread use of growth regulators.
Doing a spot of ‘gradening’
The Toro ProCore - favourite kit PC APRIL/MAY 2015 I 13
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