Commitment beyond the clock - Issue 124 - Editor's Foreword
Happy new year to you all. I hope everyone enjoyed a happy and healthy Christmas.
Whilst others pause over the festive period, turf professionals remain on the job - ensuring standards never slip. The hours can be long, the work physically demanding, and recognition sometimes quiet - but commitment remains constant.
This industry is built on dedication, pride, and an understanding that quality playing surfaces don’t appear by chance. They result from early mornings, late finishes, and a willingness to put the needs of the turf first, whatever the time of year.
Favourable mild weather over November and December hopefully means most of you are starting the year in good shape. However, as you know, it also calls for vigilance. The weather may seem kinder on the surface, but it often demands extra care and attention to keep pitches and greens in top condition. Climate change is presenting challenges year-round, with very few months making turf management easier.
I tip my hat to each and every one of you who worked through the festive period and beyond: your efforts do not go unnoticed. The reliability, resilience, and professionalism you bring to the job keep sport moving, even when the rest of the world slows down.
In 2026, I aim to continue bringing topical articles, technical insights, and interesting features to the magazine. In this issue, we examine changing legislation and its impact on the amenity sector, with viewpoints from BASIS, England Golf, BALI, and the UK Lawn Care Association - plus an overview of what the next five years mean for turf professionals (page 8).
We also have no less than four technical articles including: How to measure light effectively and how to use that information to make better turf management decisions (page 28), the differences and attributes of 4WD systems that are commonly used in the outdoor power equipment sector (page 60), how data and tech are shaping modern turfcare (page 80) and the precision in all aspects of seed production (page 44).
The Pitchcare team look forward to seeing some of you at BTME.
Kerry
t: 07973 394037
e: kerry.haywood@pitchcare.com