GOLF
Working with Mark Raynor and David Whitaker from Agrovista Amenity, Ben will put a fertiliser programme together using a variety of diff erent products, aimed at improving the sward and soil biology throughout the year. “We will come up with a plan for the year, covering all surfaces, then break that down into spring, summer, autumn and winter. This makes it easier to tweak the programme depending on the weather and various other factors. I aim to spray greens every other week and that ties in with applying a wetting agent once a month. That ties in once a month with the wetting agent programme. The aim is to try and avoid any peaks and troughs, so the plant stays healthy and helps maintain consistent green speeds. Another factor I have to consider when choosing products is the cost as we have a large area of greens
but, at the same time, we want the best products available to us.” When the course was fi rst opened, the greenkeepers were working out of a container using second-hand machinery with it being a grow-in site. Things have moved on since then, and they now have a big shed, but the greenkeepers department is still being developed, and this will tie in with the completion of the South Course nine where their site is situated.
As the site continues to grow, Ben has had to increase his fl eet of machinery. “We now have machinery that is a mix of second-hand, purchased outright and on a lease agreement - and of diff erent brands. Since joining the club, I have purchased four John Deere Gator utility vehicles as I love them; they do a great job, especially with the conditions on this site. There is no
What’s in the shed
John Deere Triplex 2500 John Deere 2653B John Deere 220SL x 4 Toro Greensmaster 3400 TriFlex John Deere 8900S Jacobson Fairway 250 Toro Groundsmaster 4700-D Toro SandPro 3040 Toro Procore 648 Wiedenmann Terra Spike GSI John Deere 1500 aerator Turfco CR-10 Dakota Turf Tender
John Deere TH Gator CE x 4 Toro Workman 3300-D x 2 Tru-Turf greens roller x 2 Stihl FS 70 RC brushcutter Husqvarna GCV160 Flymo x 4
38
PC December/January 2021
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