Magazine - Issue 22 - December / January 2008 / 2009

Back to Basics 2
12 Mar 2009 - General Sports - Stuart Staples - Issue 22 - Dec / Jan 2009 - 6 comments
In Part 2 of his ‘back to basics’ series on fertilisers, Scotts International Technical Manager, Stuart Staples, considers how understanding turf’s natural growth pattern can assist you in putting together the right fertiliser programme

Reed all about it!
11 Mar 2009 - Golf - Editor - Issue 22 - Dec / Jan 2009
Recent changes in legislation (Groundwater Regulations 1998 and updated in November 2008) have made it a criminal offence to knowingly allow the discharge or disposal of certain substances, including mineral oils and chemicals such as pesticides, onto the ground where they may percolate into, and contaminate, groundwater.

Singing a different Troon!
7 Mar 2009 - Golf - Simon Doyle, Troon Golf Agronomist - Issue 22 - Dec / Jan 2009
It hasn’t stopped raining in Britain, while Navarino Dunes in Greece hasn’t seen rain since May. How do environments at opposite ends of the spectrum both manage to host golf courses in world class condition? Troon Golf agronomist, Simon Doyle, looks at the impact the climate is having on agronomic practices

You need to lead
6 Mar 2009 - Training - Frank Newberry - Issue 22 - Dec / Jan 2009
Celebrating 20 years of working with Groundsmen and Greenkeepers in January 2009, Trainer and Conference Speaker Frank Newberry focuses on the need for us all to show leadership at whatever level we are in our organisation. In Part 1 Frank looks at supervisory leadership i.e. 'Taking Charge'

An Englishman Stateside
3 Mar 2009 - Mechanics - Pat Callaby - Issue 22 - Dec / Jan 2009
Celtic Manor’s Workshop Manager, Cal Callaby, enjoys Toro’s hospitality at their headquarters in Minneapolis. The trip involved technicians from around the world, ostensibly to view the manufacturing facility ... and a get in a bit of socialising!

Artificial Surfaces for Rugby
1 Mar 2009 - Synthetics - Laurence Gale MSc - Issue 22 - Dec / Jan 2009 - 2 comments
The new breed of professional rugby player is a fitter and stronger animal. Subsequently, the game is played at a much faster pace making it more exciting to watch. With this professionalism came better pitch standards, at elite level, and the need for increased training facilities to take the pressure off of the pitch.

Twickers World
28 Feb 2009 - Rugby - Laurence Gale MSc - Issue 22 - Dec / Jan 2009
As a former enthusiastic amateur rugby player, Laurence Gale finally fulfilled his dream of walking on the hallowed turf of Twickenham. Unfortunately, not as a player but as a guest of Head Groundsman, Keith Kent as he prepared for the game against the All Blacks

How good are your fire evacuation plans?
26 Feb 2009 - Best of the Rest - Editor - Issue 22 - Dec / Jan 2009
How good are your fire evacuation plans when they are needed? That is the burning question! Here the company's Keith Parr shares his views with you to help get the best from your evacuation exercises and, hopefully, make your premises a little safer for staff and guests.

Quakers Notes...
23 Feb 2009 - Football - Gary Ventress - Issue 22 - Dec / Jan 2009 - 1 comment
Gary Ventress has gone ‘back to his roots’ as Head Groundsman at the Darlington Arena, home of the Quakers. Here he talks about the reasons why he got back into football, after being Head Greenkeeper at George Washington Golf Club for fifteen years, and the challenges that faced him on his return.

New Trafford!
22 Feb 2009 - Cricket - Jim Crabbe - Issue 22 - Dec / Jan 2009
Peter Marron’s final act as Head Groundsman at Old Trafford Cricket Ground was to oversee the installation of a new drainage system. Undertaken by White Horse Contractors, their Contracts Manager, Jim Crabbe, details the work that was carried out.

Community Spirited
21 Feb 2009 - Football - Jerry Croll - Issue 22 - Dec / Jan 2009
Middlesbrough Football in the Community is the Premier League’s largest community initiative. After extensive renovation work the complex was officially opened by Minister for Sport, Gerry Sutcliffe, in October 2008. Looking after the extensive facilities single handedly is Head Groundsman, Jerry Croll, and he’s loving it!

Disease - by association
20 Feb 2009 - Consultancy - Dr Kate Entwistle - Issue 22 - Dec / Jan 2009
When I started to look at plant diseases in the early 1980s, I did what most people do and read the current textbooks and believed (somewhat naively) that this was the whole truth. That, if I understood these texts, I would understand everything I needed to know about turf disease.

The RJ National
19 Feb 2009 - Golf - Peter Driver - Issue 22 - Dec / Jan 2009
Converting waste ground alongside the Ransomes Jacobsen manufacturing facility in Ipswich into a three hole golf course proved a challenging and rewarding project. A variety of challenges in designing, constructing and implementing a course in such close proximity to a working factory site were in evidence.

Forest Green Rovers
17 Feb 2009 - Football - Matthew Rainey - Issue 22 - Dec / Jan 2009 - 1 comment
With Setanta Sports agreeing a three year TV deal to cover the Blue Square Premier, FGRs Head Groundsman, Matt Rainey, believes it is important to highlight the skills of the groundsman to a watching audience that, until recently, would have little understanding of the quality of the game outside the Football League.