Eaton Golf Club in Norwich describes itself as ‘owned and run by the members, for the members’ – a motto also backed up by course manager Rob Ransome. Although he’s only been there for less than a year, he recognises that the club’s “fantastic membership gives the club a thriving, upbeat feeling”. However, what didn’t…

Wiltshire Countryside Services has become the latest company to purchase an Arb 150p from GreenMech. For owner Adam Lonsdale, his decision was swayed not only by the build quality and back-up service available from GreenMech compared to the alternatives available in the current market, but also by the superior performance of this petrol version. Founded…

Castle Stuart Golf Links in Scotland, which has already hosted four Scottish Opens despite opening less than a decade ago, is considered one of the best golfing venues to have been built in the last century in the world. Greenkeeping speaks to its head greenkeeper, James Hutchison, about the work that goes into maintaining the…

Golf Son Muntaner, the flagship course at Arabella Golf Mallorca, has replaced every blade of grass and reopened following an extensive renovation. The ambitious assignment took five months to complete and was carried out so that members and visitors could experience improved playing conditions all year round. The majority of the course features Celebration Bermudagrass,…

South Wales contractor Peter Villars Sportsgrounds Maintenance (PVSGM) has doubled its aerator fleet. In January the Cwmbran-based family business added a Wiedenmann Terra Spike XD6 to its existing Wiedenmann Terra Spike GXi8 HD. Director, Iestyn John, said: “We need to cover lots of ground fast. Clients want you in and out so they can get…

This summer’s world-class football in Russia draws closer. As expectations of organisers, players and fans worldwide for green and hard-wearing surfaces grow, the groundsmen are really working hard to deliver just that. On their side, once again, is DLF with their technology and innovation of turf-grasses. Its mixtures have been selected at most of the…

Howley Hall Golf Club in Leeds is considered one of the finest championship courses in Yorkshire. The finest course deserves only the best quality mowers and it opted for the Progressive Pro-Flex 120 without hesitiatation. Last year it purchased two brand new Pro-Flex machines from local dealer Yorkshire Turf Machinery – one year on we…

With groundwork well underway for this year’s summer of football in Russia, over 80 pitches (including stadia and training facilities) are in the final stages of preparation. Contrary to previous events, the chief groundsman and sub-contractors at each facility are responsible for their own maintenance programmes, with most turning to Rink Topdressers to perfect their…

Lee Ballard, senior groundsperson at the University of Kent in Canterbury, believes that his new SISIS Flexicomb is the perfect tool to help extend the life of one of the university’s synthetic sports surfaces. Canterbury in Kent may well be known predominantly as the place of Thomas Becket’s murder at Canterbury Cathedral or for Geoffrey…

Birchwood Park Golf and Country Club in Kent has begun a major bunker redevelopment project. Melanie Drake, general manager at Birchwood Park Golf and Country Club, commented: “Birchwood Park has come a long way over the last couple of years in terms of what we offer our members and visitors. “Golf is still a huge…

It’s out with the old and in with the new for Nefyn Golf Club’s Old Loop, New Loop and Front Loop courses. Toro was chosen for its power and green credentials by a course that bases its machinery choices entirely on individual merit. Bringing in a Toro Reelmaster 5010-H, a Groundmaster 4500-D and two Greensmaster…

As part of course manager Matt Aplin’s strategy to improve the ecological footprint of the Goring and Streatley Golf Club, the “amazingly colourful results” of sowing Euroflor wildflowers “attracted as many complimentary comments about the outstanding display of colour as about the quality and performance of our greens”, he says. Since Matt was appointed course…

Maintaining two spectacular – but constructed differently – golf courses on a site of an English Civil War battle, Tracy Park’s course manager explains how he tackles challenges including drainage, irrigation and woodland management The 360 acres of mature parkland that play host to Tracy Park Hotel and Golf Club in Bristol’s two golf courses,…

Using an injector to reactivate natural processes in waterlogged soil, Knighton Heath has been able to open its course when it would normally be flooded Knighton Heath Golf Club in Bournemouth has seen dramatic improvements to areas of the course which had been particularly prone to flooding, as a result of some extreme, and well…

Set in an area of outstanding natural beauty in Berkshire, Goring and Streatley Golf Club offers a testing 18 holes over a half downland and half parkland course. Despite the challenges this brings to course manager Matt Aplin and his team when it comes to maintenance, the greens are renowned for being fast, true and…