While ground conditions at Ferndown Forest may fluctuate between extremes of wet and dry, one thing that has remained consistent at the Dorset club for many years is the use of granular feed from Suståne. In a greenkeeping career that may not have been conventional, but has so far spanned more than two decades, Jon Hatt praises not just the reliability of the products but the honest, trusted advice from the Suståne team which helps them to deliver proven results season after season.
The picturesque Ferndown Forest course is characterised by its flat terrain, mature surroundings and two streams that border the property. As a former estate agent, Jon knows a thing or two about property, but admits his knowledge of golf course maintenance was rather limited when he joined Ferndown as a seasonal temp 26 years ago! “I had no greenkeeping training or experience but really enjoyed just learning on the job.” Establishing a career for himself on the course, he stepped into the head greenkeeper role nine years ago.
Key to his success, he says, has been building a network of knowledgeable people in the industry – with Suståne playing a significant role. “One of the very first people I met when I started here was Dave Smart, a representative for Suståne. We were already using the products then and the relationship has simply carried on ever since” Jon explains. More recently, Suståne’s Russell Riley has been on hand with trusted advice. “He’s always popped in regularly and is on the phone if I’ve got questions. I know with him I’ll get honest, practical advice and while I’m still learning all the time, that level of trust and support makes a huge difference.”
The longstanding partnership between Ferndown Forest and Suståne has seen their products become a key part of the greens maintenance strategy, with Jon using Suståne 5-2-4+Fe granular as the cornerstone to the club’s nutritional programme. “We apply this roughly every four weeks and it just works” he says. “It greens everything up, keeps the soil supplied with the nutrients it needs and delivers reliable results even with the variable weather conditions.”
Suståne 5-2-4+Fe granular provides a steady, balanced release of nutrients, helping to support consistent growth and plant health without excessive flushes of growth. Its organic-based formulation delivers soil health and dependability throughout the growing season.
“It’s easy to apply and, by now, the whole team know exactly what we’re going to get from every bag.” He concludes, “When you’ve got a product that consistently performs and support behind it that is always willing to help, we have absolutely no reason to look at anything else.”