The Official Magazine of the GCSAI l www.gcsai.org l June 2012
G reenside
the construction
of a new state of
the art natural
turf pitch for the
euro 2012 games in
kharkov, ukraine
GCSAI Annual
Conference &
Sportsturf Ireland
Review
Also in This Issue
New Diseases Alert l Irish Open Preview l The Irish Abroad l Trade News
greenside magazine | December 2010
l Feature - Ierne Social & Sports Club l Regional 1Reports l Managing the Ecology of Your Course
l
Greenside
www.gcsai.org
2
Greenside
Eastern European
Perspective
Contents
Conference & Trade Show Review 6
New Diseases Alerts!
12
Royal Portrush 2012 Irish Open Preview
16
Do You Know Your Hazards
From Your Laterals?
22
The Irish Abroad
24
Feature - Ierne Social
and Sports Club
30
Regional Round-up
36
Mick Who? - Feature on
Mick Wallace
42
story about Rafal Muzyk, who
Building the Best
46
comes from Krakow in Poland. He
Ecological Management of
the Golf Course
50
Trade News
55
With the European football championships now upon
us I thought that I would give an Eastern European
perspective to this edition of Greenside.
T
wo countries will host the European Championship
matches, Poland and Ukraine. The action will be spread
over four cities in Poland: Warsaw, Gdansk, Poznan, Wroclaw, and four cities
in Ukraine: Kiev, Lviv, Kharkov and Donetsk. There is a wonderful article by Richard
Hayden of the STRI about how one of the Ukraine pitches - the Metalist Stadium in
Kharkov, was prepared leading up to the championships.
In another article, there is a
maintains the outdoor facilities
at Ierne Social and Sports Club in
Dublin. These facilities include
a bowling green, a pitch & putt
course and two all weather surface
tennis courts. The article gives a
great insight into how Rafal came to live and work in Ireland and how he manages the
turf at Ierne Sports and Social Club.
Let’s hope that Ireland will give a good performance in Europe (on and off the pitch).
For those of you who may be travelling to Poland, you will need to brush up on your
Polish. Mam nadzieję, że będziecie mieli wspaniałe lato.
Front cover: The newly constructed
footbal pitch of FC Metalist in Kharkov,
Ukraine in preparation for the UEFA
Euro 2012 tournament.
Editor: Alan Mahon
Tel: 053 9158606 | Email: alan@gcsai.org
Greenside
Back issues of on the
en
can now be se te:
si
eb
w
I
A
GCS
The deadline for receiving
advertis ing and editorial for
the next issue of Greenside is:
rg
o
www.gcsai.
27 July 2012
3
Greenside designed by: S DESIGN
www.sdesign-belfast.com
The views expressed in contributed
articles are not necessarily the views
expressed by the editor of this publication.
Editorial content and photographs
cannot be reproduced without prior
permission from the editor.
greenside magazine | June 2012
News
I decided to publish a lovely letter, which I received from Eamonn
McCarthy, who is living and working in Barbados. Like many Irish
emigrants, Eamonn enjoys receiving his copy of Greenside, which
keeps him in touch with what is happening back home in Ireland.
New GCSAI
Executive Committee
The GCSAI held its Annual General Meeting at The Heritage
Golf and Spa Resort on March 27th last.
After the election of officers, the following is the breakdown of
the National Executive:
Dear Alan,
I got my March edition of Greenside
Magazine yesterday and I was really
impressed with my friend Eoghan
Buckley’s article about Vancouver. It
came out really well. I was also very
happy to see my old Golf Course,
Bantry Bay featured. I am pretty
much connected to all those guys there. As you
know I am from Bantry Bay and PJ Murphy
is the person responsible for me getting into
Greenkeeping. I worked for him for five summers
as a kid on his grounds at his hotel, which had a
pitch & putt course. I also spent a summer with
Jackie McCarthy out at the Golf Club.
It was great to see a photo of Ivan Kingston
(one of the greenkeepers in Bantry Bay). Ivan
and I go back a long way as we both played
Gaelic football together since childhood. So I just
wanted to say that I really enjoyed the article.
It is such a good idea visiting and writing about
all the courses around Ireland. I am so glad that
Bantry Bay seems to be holding its own.
President:...........................................Damian McLaverty
(Ballinasloe GC)
Vice President and FEGGA rep: ...Michael McFeely
(Westmanstown GC)
Honorary Secretary and NE rep:...John Egan
(Rathfarnham GC)
Treasurer:...........................................Tom Carew
(Craddockstown GC)
Education Officer:............................Michael Loughran
(Hilton Templepatrick GC)
Southwest rep:...................................Michael F. O’Connor
(Killarney Golf & Fishing Club)
Southeast rep:...................................Mark Murphy
(Tullamore GC)
David Behan stepped down as PRO and also retired from the
National Executive Committee. Damian McLaverty thanked
David for his dedication over the past ten years, serving as the
GCSAI’s Education Officer, President and PRO. A presentation
was made to David at the GCSAI Annual Conference and Trade
Show. It was agreed at the meeting that the position of PRO
would be filled at the next committee meeting.
Eamonn McCarthy
Barbados, West Indies
Correction
In the March 2012 issue of Greenside there was a news
item written about the retirement of Pat Canning and
Pat Maloney from Teagasc. The names and photos were
assigned to the wrong text. Our sincere apologies to the
two Pats for this. So, for the record, Pat Canning comes
from Woodford, Co. Galway and Pat Maloney hails from
Clonmacnoise, Co. Offaly and not the other way around.
Damian McLaverty makes a presentation to David Behan
on his departure from the GCSAI National committee
FOR SALE
Poa Greens Sod
For more details contact:
Mark Harris of
Harris Turf Improvements
Mobile: 087 2540166
Email: harristurfimprovements@eircom.net
www.gcsai.org
4
News
Get Tee’d up to
Drive the Fight
Against Cancer
By becoming an Irish Cancer Society Golf Champion you will
help them to continue their work providing quality care and
emotional support to people with cancer and their families
throughout Ireland. Demand for their services is growing all
the time. You can help them provide:
• Cancer Information Services - They offer free, confidential
advice, support and information to anyone concerned about
cancer on their national helpline on Freefone 1800 200 700. They
respond to over 20,000 enquiries every year.
• Patient Care and Support - They provide emotional and
practical support to men and women who have been diagnosed
with cancer.
• Nursing Services - Their night nurses, oncology liaison nurses
and homecare teams deliver the highest standards of care to
patients and their families, every day, all over Ireland, free of
charge.
• Prevention and Education – They advise on cancer prevention,
early detection, diagnosis, treatment and follow-on care.
• Cancer Research - They fund vital Irish research that will have a
significant impact on the diagnosis and treatment of cancer.
For more information and to find out how you can become an Irish
Cancer Society Golf Champion
Low Call 1850 60 60 60 or visit www.cancer.ie
5
greenside magazine | June 2012
Conference & Trade Show Review
Conference & Trade Show
One would have been forgiven in thinking
that it was mid summer. Temperatures reached
almost 20°C and yet it was only March.
The weather was so good that most of the
delegates, on the first day, decided to opt for
the outdoor Wednesday morning talks . The
good weather spilled over to the second day of
the conference, allowing Bob Taylor of the STRI
to bring his talk outside, which proved to be a
popular decision.
A
ttendance at the conference was down on previous years, which
disappointed the organisers. Those that did manage to come,
listened to speakers from Ireland and the UK. The reaction
from the delegates was very positive. Having seminars and a trade show
on the same floor at a single event seemed to go down vey well.
The conference was officially opened by GCSAI President
Damian McLaverty. This was followed by a very informative
talk on controlling silver moss on golf greens given by David
Behan, Superintendent at Naas Golf Club, consultant Michael
Foxe and Technical Consultant, Simon Barnaby. John Dempsey,
Review
Superintendent at The Curragh Golf Club, then gave an eye opening
account on how using Phosphites in your fertiliser programme can
reduce disease outbreaks on greens, thus reducing the amount of
chemical applications.
After the tea and coffee break, everyone headed outside to follow
Mark Kirwan, the Course Superintendent at The Heritage Golf & Spa
Resort, where he explained how he manages the maintenance of his
course on a budget, which has been severely cut back. Mark finished
his tour outside his maintenance facility where the group was divided
into two smaller groups to facilitate a grinding and backlapping
demonstration, and a chemical storage advice talk by Peter Drennan
of the Irish School of Golf Course Mechanics and Trevor Myles of the
Pesticide Control Service respectively.
Everyone then made their way back to the conference room where
the trade show was opened. This show was open to the general public
for free. Lunch was served on the trade floor after which people could
wander around to see what products and deals were on offer by the
exhibitors.
After lunch consultant Frank Newberry gave an insight into
problem solving, an important area for those who see themselves in
or getting into sports turf management, particularly when it comes to
dealing with people, both at staff and at management level.
The last seminar of the first day was given by agronomist Eddie
Connaughton, whose talk was aimed at golf course committees
Conference & Trade Show Review
and secretaries, where he explained
the implications that reduced budgets
have on the maintenance standards
of courses, and how to adapt to these
reduced budgets. Sadly, Eddie’s targeted
audience were not present, so it was
down to the delegates present to relay
the information back to their clubs.
Breaking away with the tradition
of having a conference banquet, the
Wednesday evening get together
consisted of an informal BBQ in the
clubhouse.
Day two of the conference opened
with a talk given by Ealing Golf Course
Manager, Greg Evans (continuing where
he left off from last year’s conference).
He showed how cutting greens at low
heights is possible and why. Bob Taylor
of the STRI followed Greg but, as
explained earlier, the sun was just too
tempting to stay indoors, so everyone
followed Bob where he pointed out the
different ecological areas found on a
golf course – gorse scrub, water courses,
woodland and grassland (a few hares
even volunteered to appear to emphasis
Bob’s talk).
Similar to the previous day, the trade
show floor was open to the delegates
and the general public.
The conference and trade show
would not be possible without the
support of the two sponsors – Bayer
Environmental Crop Science and
Ransomes Jacobsen. The GCSAI are
extremely grateful to these companies,
particularly in the economic difficulties
that the sport turf industry is going
through, for their sponsorship. Conor
Egan of Bayer Environmental Crop
Science and John Quinton of Ransomes
Jacobsen were given the opportunity to
talk about their companies.
Maria Behan of Calibre Support was
acknowledged for her hard work in
organising the conference and trade
show over the previous months. She was
given a bouquet by GCSAI President
Damian McLaverty.
The conference then concluded.
Getting more people to attend will be
top of the priority list for next year’s
event.
Conor Egan speaks on behalf of
sponsor Bayer
Left: Andy Campbell (Ransomes Jacobsen), James Maloney,
Liam Toibin, Simon O’Brien, John Quinton (Ransomes Jacobsen)
John Ryan, James Keane, Frank Twomey from
Colaiste Stiofáin Naofa
John Quinton speaks on behalf of
sponsor Ransomes Jacobsen
Pat O’Leary (Mallow GC), and Conor Egan (Bayer)
Preparing for the BBQ
Conference & Trade Show Exhibitors
2
1
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
EXHIBITORS
1 Anthony D’Arcy Sands
2 Cropcare
3 DAR Golf Construction Ltd
4 Dublin Grass Machinery
5Everris
6 Goldcrop Ltd
7 HSS
8 Irish Grass Machinery
9 Kevin Broderick Ltd
10 Martyns Grass Lawns Ltd
11 Reel-Tech
12 Tacit Golf Course Equipment
13 TurfCare Group
13
Greenside
News
Green Future Golf Development
Europe wins! Ireland wins!
Ladies Golf wins!
GEO Publishes Guidance for Sustainable Golf Development
The Golf Environment Organization (GEO) has published
guidance for the sustainable development and renovation
of golf facilities. Designed to support a wide audience
including the international golf development community,
plus government, environment and community-based
organizations, the document sets out practical ideas to
help golf projects comprehensively and consistently deliver
against the mainstream sustainability agenda.
S
ustainable Golf Development: Creating a Positive Legacy is
freely available on the GEO website, golfenvironment.org/
legacy/guidance in new easy-to-read online formats and also
available to download or order in print.
GEO’s Chief Executive Jonathan Smith said: “We want to help
people integrate the full range of sustainability issues throughout the
unique and complex process of golf development and renovation
-creating resource-efficient, ecologically rich, and community
integrated golf facilities.”
The project has been delivered with financial, technical and
in-kind support from The R&A, European Tour, European Golf
Course Owners Association, the European Institute of Golf Course
Architects, American Society of Golf Course Architects, Japanese
Society of Golf Course Architects, Society of Australian Golf Course
Architects, Oxford Economics and the United Nations Environment
Programme.
The 2011 Solheim Cup, held at Killeen Castle, Co Meath,
from 22 to 25 September 2011, was worth €37 million
according to new post event analysis by Repucom
International and Sports Marketing Surveys. The study,
which was commissioned by Ladies European Tour, was
based on information provided by the event organisers,
an on-site spectator surveying and an analysis of the
extensive media coverage arising.
T
he event’s total economic impact for Co. Meath was €23
million, with an additional €14 million of value arising
from brand exposure through international television,
print and online coverage. In addition in the build up to the
matches there have been four Ladies Irish Opens to date with the
next one scheduled to be played this August, once again at Killeen
Castle.
With the official attendance recorded at over 85,000, spectators
during the week at Killeen Castle braved the weather especially on
the final day. A total of 17 per cent of visitors were from overseas
of which over half had travelled from the US. These overseas
visitors spent on average at least four days in Ireland enjoying
the tournament and the warm Irish hospitality. Spectators rated
the tournament highly with 90% satisfaction rates, with the
traditional Irish Welcome topping the poll at 96% by overseas
visitors.
Over 1,200 hours of coverage from The 2011 Solheim Cup
played at Killeen Castle were broadcasted globally with 7.6
million viewers tuning in to watch the action. This was a
massive 87% increase on the 2007 matches. In addition, The
2011 Solheim Cup featured in 2,361 print articles and 6,115
online articles. The Ladies European Tour is grateful to its
broadcaster partners including Sky Sports, The Golf Channel
and RTE alongside the multi-region broadcasters Eurosport,
Viasat, Star Sport and ESPN which ensured that everyone had
the chance to see the incredible finish.
Left: Alan Prickett, Jacobsen; Ross Perret, Society of Australian Golf
Course Architects; Rick Phelps, American Society of Golf Course
Architects; Jonathan Smith, GEO; David Withers, Jacobsen; Aylwin
Tai, Club Managers Association China Chapter; Harley Kruse, Society
of Australian Golf Course Architects; Jeff Howes, European Institute of
Golf Course Architects; Lu Jun, Golf Course Architect
The guidance is sponsored by international machinery supplier,
Jacobsen, and the Chinese translation was provided through the
Club Managers Association of America - China Chapter.
GEO works with golf, government and environmental
organizations worldwide, including The European Tour, United
Nations Environment Programme, The R&A and the Club
Managers Association of America. For more information, please see:
www.golfenvironment.org
Birthday Wish
A small boy, who has been promised a baby brother or sister for his birthday:
“If it doesn’t make you too big, Mummy, I’d like a Shetland pony too.”
www.gcsai.org
10
Feature
K ate Entwistle, The Turf Disease Centre
T: +44 (0)1256 880246 E: kate@theturfdiseasecentre.co.uk
Two newly emerging turf diseases have recently been confirmed in samples
received from golf courses in the UK and Ireland and it is suspected that
they are more prevalent in areas of fine turf than are currently recorded.
D
uring 2012, The Turf Disease Centre will be collating information
on turf samples received for analysis that are positively identified
with either of these two diseases and a summary will be
published later this year to show their recorded regional occurrence.
The most important step in effective turf disease management is the
identification of the cause and with the apparent emergence of these new
disease problems, this fact has never been more important.
Rapid Blight - A non-fungal disease
In 2004, turf samples were received from a golf course in the UK where
the greens were showing a progressive decline in turf quality. Patches
of affected turf up to 30cm across were becoming red/brown in colour,
watersoaked in appearance and thinning out due to the loss of Poa
annua and Agrostis spp from the sward. Analysis of the turf identified
the presence of a non-fungal organism called Labyrinthula within
the plant tissues and a disease known as Rapid Blight was recorded
for the first time in Europe. Subsequent collaboration between The
Turf Disease Centre and Dr Mary Olsen at the University of Arizona,
confirmed the identity of the organism as L. terrestris, a new species of
Labyrinthulid that Mary had initially identified in 2002 as the cause of
this increasingly important turfgrass disease. Over the past 3 years, The
Turf Disease Centre has received a small number of turf samples affected
by Rapid Blight that have originated from Ireland, Spain and Portugal,
but it is believed that the incidence of this disease is much higher than
has currently been recorded. In Spain, the disease showed dramatic
development of symptoms on creeping bentgrass greens (with patches up
to 2m diameter) and extensive discolouration and turf loss on fairways
(Fig. 1 & 2). The severity of the problem is correlated with not only the
grass type that is present but also ambient temperature and the level of
salinity in the rootzone or applied irrigation. Poa species are very heavily
Fig 2: Fairway damage caused by Rapid Blight in Spain
affected by this pathogen, as too are Lolium perenne and Agrostis spp.
Warm-season turfgrasses can harbour Labyrinthula within the plant
tissues but they don’t show evidence of any disease. If these grasses are
over-sown with cool-season turf, the young seedlings inevitably become
infected and disease symptoms will develop.
Symptoms can develop when temperatures rise above 15°C and salinity
levels are >2.0dS/m (although Labyrinthula has been isolated from turf
growing in much lower salinity conditions). Because the causal organism
is not a fungus, most fungicides will have no effect either on the organism
or on the development of symptoms. However, research completed by
Dr Olsen and other researchers across the USA has shown that the active
ingredients pyraclostrobin, trifloxystrobin and mancozeb, can provide
effective control but that results are much better if products are applied
prior to or at the onset of disease, rather than curatively. In order for the
correct product to be applied effectively, the presence of this Labyrinthula
sp. must be accurately identified but because it is not a fungus, L. terrestris
can’t be cultured in the laboratory in the same way that fungi can.
During 2011, turf samples in which Labyrinthula was again detected,
were received from golf courses in Ireland and the UK. In the UK,
the symptoms on the affected course had been considered as being
Anthracnose disease and managed accordingly (Fig. 3 & 4), but lack of
recovery prompted an analysis that eventually identified the real problem.
Due to the way in which Labyrinthula affects the plant, the sward initially
becomes yellow, then becomes red in colour before the tissues eventually
‘rot’ and the sward thins. The symptoms can appear very much like
Anthracnose (or Take-all Patch disease in Agrostis-dominated turf) but
there will be no distinct blackening of the crown tissues, symptoms that
are typical of Anthracnose Basal Rot.
Rapid Blight is considered to be a unique example of an emergent
plant disease potentially induced by human activity and I am sure that
Fig 1: Rapid Blight on creeping bentgrass in Spain
www.gcsai.org
12
Greenside
Feature
However, if infected turf is incubated under conditions of high relative
humidity for 24hr, fungal mycelium will develop in the sward, at the
base of the turf and over the surface of the exposed rootzone and these
symptoms can appear like those for fairy rings. Temperatures above 16C
can initiate disease development and the symptoms are often more severe
where rootzone nitrogen and water levels are low. Because the disease
was initially recorded on Agrostis turf, the common name of Brown Ring
Patch has been increasingly adopted for this disease but Waitea Patch
continues to be used by some researchers.
In 2010, The Turf Disease Centre received reports of unusual fairy ring
developments on golf courses from across Europe (Fig. 5) and DNA
analysis completed by AFBI (Northern Ireland) on the isolated fungi, has
now confirmed the presence of this new disease in the UK, Ireland and
Germany.
Due to the close similarity in symptom development to superficial fairy
rings, it is likely that this new disease of Brown Ring Patch is developing
more widely across Europe than we are currently aware of but is being
understandably misdiagnosed as superficial fairy rings. As with the non-
Fig 3
Fig 4
Fig 3 & 4: Rapid Blight in the UK, 2011. General symptoms and closeup (photographs courtesy David Stansfield, David Stansfield Ltd)
Fig. 5. General symptoms of Brown Ring Patch (Waitea Patch) in the
UK, 2011 (photograph courtesy T Kvedaras, ITS Ltd)
in the future it will be confirmed on more amenity areas where water
with high salt content is used for irrigation. Now that we have learned
how to identify this disease, sample analysis can confirm its presence
and potentially save significant management time and costs by allowing
implementation of effective control options. Detailed information on
Rapid Blight disease can be found in the article Rapid Blight: A New
Plant Disease, by Stowell, et al, 2005.
fungal disease of Rapid Blight, Brown Ring Patch can be confirmed by
laboratory assessment but for this fungal disease, isolation of the fungus
and microscopic analysis of the developing structures (as well an DNA
analysis) is required for accurate identification.
The realisation that these new turf diseases are developing across
Europe is due, in no small part, to Course Managers and Head
Greenkeepers recognising these atypical symptoms and requesting
formal identification and I am very grateful to them for working with
me to confirm these diagnoses. In addition, I would like to thank A.
Pereira Jordão, Lda, Portugal for sending the first turf sample with
Brown Ring Patch received in 2007, David Stansfield (David Stansfield
Ltd) for collaboration regarding the recent Rapid Blight outbreak that
was confirmed in the UK during 2011 and the Regional Managers of
Headland Amenity Ltd and Tony Kvedaras (ITS Ltd) for collaboration
regarding the outbreaks of Brown Ring Patch in Ireland and the UK.
During 2012, their continued collaboration on these new diseases will
be very much appreciated and in addition, the Technical Representatives
and Area Managers at Everris Ltd, Rigby Taylor Ltd and Syngenta Crop
Protection UK Ltd have also indicated their willingness to notify me of
possible outbreaks of these new disease problems. Collaboration on this
work is not restricted – if you believe that either of these new diseases are
a problem on your course, please get in touch to discuss how we can help.
All Club details will remain confidential and only regional data will be
used to identify the distribution of these diseases in any future articles.
Turf disease problems never seem to be too far away but it is hoped that
we can all work together for the benefit of our Industry.
Brown Ring Patch - A non-fairy ring disease
During 2007, a sample received for analysis from a golf course in
Portugal, was confirmed as having the fungal disease known then as
Waitea Patch. This was the first known record of Waitea Patch in Europe.
The disease is caused by a Rhizoctonia-like fungus and although the
symptoms closely resemble those of superficial fairy rings or thatch fungi,
this Rhizoctonia-like fungus is not related to fairy-ring causing fungi.
Since 2003, this new disease has been increasingly recorded on Poa
annua turf across the USA and more recently on Poa trivialis. However,
prior to the recognition of this problem in the United States, the disease
was first recorded as developing on Agrostis palustris turf in 1994 in
Japan where the symptoms developed as brown rings and was given the
common name of Brown Ring Patch.
On Poa annua, the affected turf shows symptoms of coalescing yellow
rings, often with a darker green sward inside of the yellow ring. Unlike
fairy rings, this new disease does not have any ‘mushroom’ smell
associated with the infected turf and a microscopic analysis of the
isolated fungus can confirm the clear difference between the causal fungi.
13
greenside magazine | June 2012
Greenside
News
Campus on the
Greens - a Show for
Superintendents by
Superintendents
A new dimension will be added to the
2012 Asia Pacific Golf Summit with
the staging of Campus on the Greens,
a revolutionary knowledge event
especially designed for golf course
superintendents.
GCSAI raise €3500 for
Irish Cancer Society
The Irish Cancer Society was presented with a cheque for €7,850 from
funds raised over two years by the GCSAI golf charity days at Naas Golf
Club. Despite the economic downturn, GCSAI members and company
representatives from the turf trade still dug deep into their pockets and
raised almost €3,500 in 2011.
G
olf course superintendents, the
forgotten heroes of many golfing
operations, will step into the spotlight
at the sixth edition of the Asia Pacific Golf
Summit (APGS).
To be held concurrently with the region’s
premier golf business gathering at Brunei’s
Empire Hotel and Country Club from
December 11-13, the Campus on the Greens
will provide a unique platform for the men
and women who tend to the courses on which
we play. This will be a three-day session
that will be planned by superintendents,
programmed by superintendents and
exclusively attended by superintendents.
This way, the attending supers will be able
to see and experience at first-hand how a
golf course is set up for a major international
tournament – the Royal Trophy match play
clash between Team Asia and Team Europe
that will take place from 14-16 December.
As well as attending the session, the
superintendents will also be given the
opportunity to volunteer as helpers for the
staging of the Royal Trophy which features
Spaniard Jose Maria Olazabal and Japan’s
Naomichi ‘Joe’ Ozaki as the respective team
captains.
On a related note, a special steering
committee, led by James Prusa, will be
working on the staging of an international
turf grass symposium during the Summit.
Tentatively, the theme for this session is
“Towards Survival: Controlling Costs and
Creating New Revenue Streams Through the
Effective Management of Intellectual Property
Rights in the Golf Industry”.
The website for the 2012 Summit is now
operational. All the latest news and views
related to the various events as well as
registration details can be found at:
www.golfconference.org
The Summit promises to be a major
knowledge event on golf with Scotsman Colin
Montgomerie already confirmed as one of the
keynote speakers.
For further enquiries contact Alice Ho on:
+65 6323-2800 or via email at:
alice@asiapacificgolfgroup.com
www.gcsai.org
Presenting the cheque to the Irish Cancer Society at the GCSAI Annual Conference
and Trade Show were from left: Damian McLaverty, President GCSAI; Matt Lewis,
Irish Cancer Society; David Behan, GCSAI and fund raising committee; Colm
Dockrell, Teagasc and fund raising committee.
M
att Lewis, on behalf of the Irish Cancer Society, received the cheque, which
was presented to him at this year’s GCSAI Annual Conference and Trade
Show at The Heritage Golf & Spa Resort. “It is truly remarkable that a substantial
amount of money can be still raised in an industry that is suffering more than
most in these hard times” said Matt.
Already plans are in place for this year’s event, which will take place, again in
Naas, sometime in September. Check the GCSAI website www.gcsai.org for details.
Obama, Romney say ‘Admit Women
to Augusta Golf Club’
A White House spokesman said that President Barack Obama believes
women should be admitted as members to the all-male Augusta National,
home of the Masters golf tournament.
White House press secretary Jay Carney
told reporters that Obama’s “personal
opinion is that women should be
admitted” to the golf club. Carney said it
was “up to the club to decide” but Obama
told him he personally thinks women
should be welcome.
“We’re kind of long past the time
when women should be excluded from
anything,” Carney said.
Republican presidential candidate Mitt
Romney, Obama’s likely challenger in
the fall, said “of course” he would allow
women in “if I could run Augusta.”
14
“Of course. I am not a member of
Augusta. I don’t know if I would qualify.
My golf game is not that good,” Romney
told reporters as he chatted with supporters
after a campaign stop in Pennsylvania. “If
I could run Augusta, which isn’t likely to
happen, of course I’d have women.”
One of the club’s longtime sponsors, IBM,
has a new female CEO, Virginia Rometty.
The last four CEOs at IBM, all male, have
been invited to be members.
The chairman of Augusta National has
said the club will decide for itself whom to
allow into its ranks.
News
Irish Links Initiative
at Arklow Golf Club
There was a large turnout for the Spring series of the Irish Links
Initiative (ILI) at Arklow Golf Club on 7th March last with over
seventy in attendance, some travelling from as far away as Kerry
and Donegal. Also attending was Euan Grant, Course Manager
of Turnberry. The guest speaker for the day was Stuart McColm,
General Manager at Castle Stuart Golf Links in Scotland.
S
tuart gave a wonderful insight into the construction, grow-in, and
maintenance of Castle Stuart, including the preparations for the
2011 Barclays Scottish Open. Stuart also recalled the nightmare
that he, and his staff, experienced with the freak rain storm which
Left: Colm Lawlor, JJ Young, Fintan Brennan, Stewart McColm, Euan
Grant, Michael Shanahan
caused a landslide on part of the course during the second day of the
tournament, creating havoc for him and the players.
Stuart is a very experienced turf manager. Before taking up duty at
Castle Stuart, he was Course Manager at Kingsbarns from the very
beginning, having supervised the construction and grow-in of that
course.
ILI Vice Chairman John O’Connor thanked Stuart for his wonderful
presentation and he also thanked the delegates for coming and
supporting the day and the ILI. John also thanked Tracy Coburn for
organizing the event so professionally.
After lunch, Martin Lipsett, Links Superintendent at Arklow Golf
Club, gave the delegates a tour of the course, where he showed them
the improvements that were recently made to the course including his
successful introduction of and management of the finer fescue grasses
into the greens.
The next ILI seminar will be held in October 2012.
Visit www.irishlinks.ie for more information.
Left: Stephen Brennan, Dorota Ewil, Mike Brennan, Peter Fitzgerald
15
greenside magazine | June 2012
Royal Portrush
2012 Irish Open Preview
R E P O R T
A N D
P H O T O G R A P H S
A L A N
J
It is an October evening and
Joe Findlay is doing his end of
day drive around the course. All
looks well and he is content. His
mobile phone rings and he sees
that it is a call from Wilma Erskine,
the club’s Secretary Manager.
She wants him to meet her in
the office before he goes home.
Joe Findlay
When he arrives at the office
Wilma asks him to sit down.
“Is there something wrong?” Joe asks.
“Not really. We have just been informed
that we will be hosting the Irish Open.”
“Ok, that gives me two seasons to prepare.”
“Joe, it’s the 2012 Irish Open.”
“Oh!”
www.gcsai.org
B Y
M A H O N
oe knew that the Irish
Open would be staged at
Royal Portrush at some
time but he assumed that it
would be 2013 at the earliest.
With now only eight months
left, preparing the 124 year
old course was now on ‘high
alert’. The previous time Royal
Portrush held an Irish Open
was in 1942. It also staged the
1951 British Open.
Joe Findlay, a South
Londoner, came to Royal
Portrush in 1977 as Head
Greenkeeper. He left in 1989
to pursue other interests but
returned as Course Manager
in 1998 and has been there
ever since.
With the trio of Northern Irish golfers - Graeme McDowell, Rory
McIlroy and Darren Clarke, winning recent Majors, it is fitting
that the Irish Open should be held in Northern Ireland. It is also
fitting that Royal Portrush is the venue as Graeme McDowell grew
up learning his golf at the club while Graeme’s brother and uncle
are part of the greenkeeping staff. Large crowds are anticipated to
attend, and already the PGA have received the highest number of
advanced bookings for an Irish Open.
Joe has not just the Irish Open to contend with this year. In May,
Royal Portrush will host the Irish Close Championships and the
Northern Ireland Championships will be held there in July, so there
is plenty of work ahead for Joe and his team.
16
2012 Irish Open Preview
T he irish open | 2 8 j u ne - 1 j u ly 2 0 1 2
The use of fungicides is kept to a minimum
and applications are made only as a last
resort. “We rarely get diseases but I keep a
stock of contact fungicide in stock – just in
case” says Joe.
When I arrived in April, the grass on the
greens had been let grow to 7mm. This was
to encourage the fine fescue seedlings to
get established (the seed mix contains 50%
chewings fescue and 50% slender creeping
fescue).
Areas that have been sown around
the course are helped by using a fleece
membrane which protects the seedlings from
harsh winds and also acts as a mini cloche
keeping the germinating sward warm.
Automatic irrigation is installed
throughout the course with sprinklers
around greens, tees and on fairways.
Fairways are only irrigated when necessary
such as after overseeding or in times of
extreme drought. The water is sourced from a well and is monitored
for salt water contamination but so far this has never been a
problem.
An area of ground near the clubhouse has been levelled and
resodded to cater for the tented village.
Joe is Course Manager of two 18 hole courses (Valley course and
Dunluce course) and a nine hole par three course. He is part of an
eighteen man team, along with seven divoters, who come in for
five days working four hours each day from April to October. The
longest serving member of staff is mechanic Stephen Walker who
has been there since 1980. Joe’s Assistant is Alec McCooke. An extra
sixty volunteers will be needed to help Joe and his team prepare
Fleece cover for protection
The greens at Royal Portrush are ‘push up’ greens built on
the native sand. Over the past few seasons Joe has been slowly
eradicating the broad leafed creeping bentgrass from the greens,
trying to get fescue established. Using pinoxaden, a graminicide
(grass herbicide) has helped greatly, plus the application, every
twenty days or so, of a grass growth regulator with some liquid
Nitrogen added. The amount of nutrition applied to the greens is
kept to a minimum so as to encourage the finer fescues to thrive. No
more than 8grms of nitrogen/m2 each season is applied. Ryegrass
around the surrounds and fairways is also a problem and work
has been ongoing trying to eradicate this species by also using
pinoxaden.
View from the 5th green
17
greenside magazine | June 2012
2012 Irish Open Preview
T he irish open | 2 8 j u ne - 1 j u ly 2 0 1 2
the course during Irish Open week. Raking
bunkers, mowing tees, greens and fairways
will be some of the tasks required. It will be
an experience of a lifetime for those who
volunteer.
The sand dunes are
very high around
most of the holes so
the spectators will
get a splendid view
of the course from a
single vantage point,
seeing most of the
action as it unfolds.
Wildlife is encouraged around the course
and some areas of overgrown rough have
been cut down to help rejuvenate wild flora
such as primrose, bluebell and orchids.
Many birds habitate the area and one can
hear the sounds of skylarks, reed buntings,
stonechats and wheatears to name but a
few. However, pheasants have also taken
up residency around the course and they
can be a problem when it comes to areas
‘The 18th green. Could this be where the 2012 Irish Open Champion will be decided?
that have been overseeded - they just love
eating the seed for lunch. Sea buckthorn
was introduced many years ago; it seemed
a good idea at the time but it has since
overgrown and is dominating some parts of
the course. Cutting back this invasive shrub
is ongoing in order to keep it under control.
Royal Portrush is a wonderful location
to host the Irish Open. Views of the sea
are stunning, with the Giants Causeway
only a fifteen minute drive up the coast.
The sand dunes are very high around most
The staff of Royal Portrush
www.gcsai.org
18
of the holes so the spectators will get a
splendid view of the course from a single
vantage point, seeing most of the action as
it unfolds.
With players such as World no.1 Rory
McIlroy, Darren Clarke, Graeme McDowell
and Padraig Harrington taking part, this
years Irish Open will have one of the largest
gathering of world class golfers for a long
time. Joe Findlay and his magnificant crew
can take a well deserved bow for their efforts
in getting the course ready.
19
Nature on the Golf Course
Plant Favourite of Ducks Thrives in Standing Water
jim hurley
Duckweed can quickly cover the surface of an entire lake
Duckweed (Lemnacea) is well
named: it is a weed that ducks
eat. At this time of year it can
completely blanket the surface
of ponds and other bodies of
standing water. Since it thrives in
standing water, it is not found in
watercourses with a current. That
said, it can tolerate the gentle,
slow movement found in canals.
While a blanket of Duckweed
may be very extensive, the
individual plants that comprise
the blanket are tiny.
D
uckweed is not the only plant that
covers the surface of standing water at
this time of year. There is a threadlike, filamentous dark green alga that forms
such a dense blanket that it is called Blanket
Weed. Another green alga is paler and bigger
and consists of long, hollow tubes that look
like guts so it is called Gut Weed. In addition,
there is the bright red Water Fern, an alien
from tropical America imported here for use
in ornamental garden ponds now naturalised
in, and spreading outwards from, watercourses
close to our major towns and cities.
Duckweed can spread easily too. When
the ducks that eat it swim into a blanket
of it, the movements of their bodies in the
water cause some of the tiny plants to stick
www.gcsai.org
to their feathers. The duck may be startled
by something, rise from the water and fly
away carrying the hitchhiking Duckweeds to
colonise another water body some distance
away.
While it is a perennial flowering plant,
Duckweed very rarely flowers. The plant
is also exceptional in that it has no stem
or leaves; instead, it bears unique, pad-like
fronds that have veins and look like leaves
but are not leaves.
20
Each leaf-like frond floats at or below the
water surface and bears a single root. That
root absorbs nutrients from the water. It
follows that a dense blanket of Duckweed
indicates that the water body is rich in the
nutrients that make the plant a protein-rich
source of food for water birds like ducks.
Since it rarely, if ever, flowers, Duckweed
spreads by budding; when a frond reaches a
critical size it buds off a new baby frond that
grows up to produce its own bud and so on ad
infinitum. As long as the nutrient supply holds
out, the green Duckweed carpet continues to
grow and to spread and can infest a pond or
quiet bay in a matter of days. Duckweed can
be a major nuisance for water features on golf
courses due to its ability to turn an otherwise
beautiful pond into an unsightly mess.
Duckweed is very prolific, and given
enough nitrogen and phosphorus nutrients,
it is possible for a new duckweed plant to be
produced every 24 hours. This means that
in just two weeks, a single parent plant can
result in up to 17,500 plants!
Extensive mats of duckweed colonies may
cover an entire pond surface, depleting
oxygen and blocking sunlight. Fish and
submerged plants can be killed. Because of
this, duckweed infestation often contributes
to poor pond health.
Duckweed can tolerate a wide range pH,
between 4.5 and 7.5, as well as temperatures
between 68F (20C) and 86F (30C), making
duckweed a challenging aquatic plant
management issue worldwide.
21
greenside magazine | March 2012
Feature
Do you know your Hazards
from your Laterals?
The above photo shows the change from lateral water hazard to water hazard using red and yellow stakes.
It is amazing how often water features on a
golf course are not properly marked. Amazing
because the game is the Rules and they are
dependent upon accurate marking.
hazard in play for another. It is also possible that different sections
of the same body of water on a golf course can be designated a water
hazard and a lateral water hazard. Picture a pond, drain or river that
runs alongside the hole, then fingers out into the fairway (see photo
above). That part crossing the fairway - which can easily be dropped
behind - would be marked with yellow stakes and lines; that part
running alongside the hole would be marked with red stakes and
lines. In such cases, the distinction should be clearly made in the
marking of the hazard.
A lateral water hazard is differentiated from a water hazard by the
fact that it is, lateral. That is, it runs alongside or adjacent to the line of
play, rather than across it. In all circumstances, lateral water hazards
are defined by RED STAKES or RED LINES, and water hazards
by YELLOW STAKES or YELLOW LINES. Where there are both
stakes and lines, the stakes indicate the hazard and the line defines its
margin.
When there are only stakes, a straight line between the nearest
outside point of the stake and the nearest outside point of the next
stake (and so on between the stakes that encircle or partially encircle
The common shortfalls in water course marking include the
following:
•
•
•
Incomplete - not enough stakes, or missing painted lines.
Inability to site between stakes or along painted lines due to tall
grass, brush, and/or tree growth. This can make it difficult to
determine where a ball last crossed the margin of a hazard and
to then drop and play a ball.
Excessive use of red for lateral water hazard marking when
some should be yellow (water hazard)
It is not unusual for a body of water within a golf course to be
marked as a water hazard in play for one hole and a lateral water
www.gcsai.org
22
Feature
Water
Water
Water
Water
Direction of Play
Direction of Play
Incorrect stake positions
This illustration shows incorrectly positioned water hazard stakes. The
direct line of sight between each stake shows some parts of the water
feature is not part of the hazard, which does not make sense.
Correct stake positions
This illustration shows the correct positioning of water hazard stakes.
Notice the line of sight between each stake never crosses into the water
feature.
the hazard) is the defining line of the hazard. At the point where
the lateral water hazard changes to a water hazard (where the water
feature changes direction), it is usual to have both yellow and red
stakes placed beside each other, this means that play to the right or
left of these stakes changes to either the water or lateral water hazard,
depending on from which side the water feature changes direction.
Once the stakes are correctly placed, it is important that the
greenkeeping staff regularly check them to see that they are still in
the correct position. Some can easily go missing or inexperienced
staff may replace them incorrectly after mowing that section of
grass. It is a big advantage to have greenkeeping staff that know and
play the game of golf.
More information is freely available on the R&A website, www.
randa.org, on its interactive rules explorer. See the definition of
water hazard and lateral water hazard, and also see Rule 26 and
Decision 33-2a/7 for more on this.
23
greenside magazine | June 2012
BY :
T h e
i r i s h
s e a m u s
m o r i a r t y
a b r o a d
Maintaining Lake Merced
Golf Club, San Francisco
After spending nearly six years in Adare Manor, which
included two Irish Opens and two JP McManus Pro Ams,
the time had come to move on. I decided to send an email
to Mike O’Keeffe at The Ohio State University International
Exchange Programme explaining my story.
F
rom the very beginning, Mike was
great in explaining how much would
be expected of me if I took part in the
programme and that this would be the biggest
test of my career thus far. After some planning
and a short conversation with my new
Superintendent, Zach Ohsann, my host golf
course was confirmed as Lake Merced Golf
Club in the San Francisco Bay Area.
I arrived in San Francisco at the end of May
2011. The golf club is located in Daly City,
www.gcsai.org
which is about 10 miles south of downtown
San Francisco. Zach had taken over at the
helm from the previous superintendent at the
beginning of April. Realizing that the previous
super had just retired after 46 years of service,
I was pleased to hear of Zach’s immediate
plans to change more than a few things, both
agronomically and non-agronomically. During
my first few days here, I began to familiarize
myself with the course and the crew. The
course itself was originally designed by Dr
24
Alistair McKenzie and has gone through a few
design changes since then (Rees Jones in 1996
and a greens renovation in 2010). Lake Merced
is a beautiful golf course set amongst some
of the most magnificent Pine and Monterey
Cypress trees one could imagine. There is a
crew of twenty people, each one bringing their
own unique culture and ethnicity. As you can
imagine, the canteen in the morning is an
interesting place to be with such diversity and
different languages filling the air.
Immediately, Zach and I set about setting
our goals for the remaining six months of
the year. The most important of these being
an aeration programme, whereby light but
frequent applications of sand top dressings
are performed on the greens, approaches,
and tees. With the USGA Girls’ Junior
Championship scheduled for July 2012, it was
imperative that we implement an intense top
dressing programme to all surfaces. Hollow
TheGreenside
Irish Abroad
tine or solid tine aeration is to be kept at a
minimum so top dressing with our double
screened USGA specification sand will help
us dilute the thatch layer that is accumulating
beneath the turf and also keep surfaces as
firm as possible. We follow a similar aeration
programme with our tees and approaches with
minimal disruption to play being key. Some
of the most important things I have learned
from Zach already are to always have a plan
A and a plan B, record everything and most
importantly take pictures of everything!
The weather here in Daly City is pretty
amazing. When I was packing a bag to come
from Killarney to Northern California, I
anticipated many necessities, such as shorts,
t-shirts, and plenty of sunscreen. Well, I
soon discovered that is certainly not the case
here! During the summer months of July and
August, the fog sits out in the bay and when
it gets pushed in by the warm sea air the area
becomes submerged in fog. This fog may
persist for days, even weeks at a time. Quite
2nd green from fairway
During the summer months
of July and August, the
fog sits out in the bay and
when it gets pushed in by
the warm sea air the area
becomes submerged in fog.
This fog may persist for days,
even weeks at a time.
often I find myself having to change into
dry clothes at lunch time for the remainder
of the day. It’s amazing! This mild, damp
weather obviously increases disease pressure.
It’s not unusual to apply fungicides on a bi
weekly basis. Another project under my
responsibility was to become familiar with
the pesticide products and to create a rotation
system so that no strains of pathogen become
resistant to any fungicide. At this moment
in time we have a rotation with ten different
fungicides.
I have learned many things during my
term at Lake Merced Golf Club regarding the
expectations of playing conditions in America.
One of the greatest expectations from the
membership is the quality of the putting
surfaces. At first, the expectations seemed
unreasonable: maintaining a stimp reading of
11.5 to 12-feet on a daily basis, regardless of
weather. However, in collaboration with the
Superintendent, we have managed to achieve
this goal by having a low fertility program
and using growth regulators. The fertility
2nd green from fairway submerged in fog
program is unique in that our goal is to keep
the plant as lean as possible without sacrificing
turf health. Thus, we constantly monitor
soil test reports and supplement accordingly
using custom nutrient blends from a local
distributor. The use of growth regulators also
assists in our struggle to maintain consistently
smooth surfaces. In addition to mowing
frequency, growth regulators are used to
provide a horizontal growth pattern, thereby
reducing clipping yields and preserving
smoothness. Given the unpredictable nature
of the weather patterns, growth regulators
are probably our most important weapon
in our arsenal. As a result, we utilize growth
regulators on surfaces.
Of all the struggles we encounter in our
effort to produce superior putting surfaces, the
most significant is limiting the establishment
of Poa on the bentgrass putting surfaces.
In 2010, the existing USGA greens were
renovated from Poa annua to bentgrass. The
25
Poa surfaces were stripped and the top four
inches of sand was removed. The surfaces
were restored with four inches of USGA
specification sand and a bentgrass blend of
Tyee, T-1, and 007. Given the fact that the
microclimate of the San Francisco Bay Area is
conducive to Poa, the relentless battle between
Poa and the golf maintenance staff continues
to rage on a daily basis.
I can safely say that the weather affects our
decisions by the hour during the summer
months. The fog has the potential of being
socked in all day and night, or breaking at 12
noon which forces us to redirect our efforts of
the day to managing wilt. The course is closed
on a Monday of each week, which allows us
a maintenance day devoid of golfers, which
is great. So, on Sundays, around midday, I set
the computer to perform an irrigation cycle
that night to soak the entire course, sometimes
applying more than 500,000 gallons of water
to a property of just 136 acres. Deep and
greenside magazine | June 2012
The Irish Abroad
Topdressing of new putting green - 10,000 square feet
Overseeding after topdressing
Brushing in the sand after topdressing
or even a green itself, the guys will get out
their 100 foot hoses and hook up to a quick
coupler connection and address the wilting
area. When I was preparing to come to the
USA, my biggest fear was landing a job at
a big-budget private club whose goal was
to recreate the Disneyland experience. The
Superintendent, who spent three years at
Augusta National Golf Club as an Assistant
Superintendent and an additional three years
as the Superintendent of the Olympic Club’s
Ocean Course, prefers the traditional mowing
patterns where a 50/50 cut is performed on
tees and fairways and in the rough as well. As
regards playing conditions, firm and fast is the
key and in no way should aesthetics influence
quality turf. It’s great to see that the more
traditional style to course maintenance still
exists where the golfer needs to be able to play
all types of shots.
Scheduling is an essential aspect in such an
intensive environment. Each Sunday, we sit
13th hole from fairway
www.gcsai.org
infrequent is the motto! Then on Monday I
can check the course and turn on irrigation
heads individually if any areas need more
water than others. The crew is divided into
sections. We have the guys who will take care
of the mowing, blowing and other machine
operated tasks and then we have four guys
who look after their section. We have the
18 holes and practice facilities divided up
into four sections. Each section requires one
maintenance employee who is tasked with the
management of every inch of their section.
Among other things, these employees are
constantly probing to investigate soil moisture
levels, probing the sand depth in the bunkers
to make sure there is an adequate amount of
sand in each, and ensuring that the tee plates
and yardage markers are clean. Attention
to detail is key for these guys. For example,
if there is some wilt on a green surround
26
The Irish Abroad
down and discuss our
week ahead and try to
come up with a schedule
as best we can, knowing
it will change 50 times
by Monday afternoon!
Greens are mown each
day. Our greens in
January were mown at
.150 inches. The four
guys on this section
take care of the clean
up cut up to three times
a week, depending on
the clipping yield, with
a pedestrian mower.
The bunkers are hand
raked fully twice a week,
depending on play,
and touched up on the
remaining days of the
week. When mowing
the green surrounds
we must stay well away
from all bunker edges as
16th green
around each bunker we
have up to twelve pop
up sprinklers for irrigation around the bunker
edges. The course’s design of drastically
sloping bunker edges presents us with many
maintenance challenges. Perhaps the most
significant is the pedestrian mowing of the
green surrounds that the triplex mower is
unable to mow.
Everything must be neat, tidy, and
presentable. Perception is everything here
in America and if something is not done to
the standard expected, it will be noted and
presumed something is wrong or not being
done properly. It is important that we all help
each other as a team to achieve
the high standards that we have
set. The other thing I have learned
from the Superintendent is to set
your standards and expectations
as high as they can be. As
managers, it is our obligation to
motivate the staff to achieve these
high results.
I’ve learned so many
different aspects of golf course
management. Whether it is a
complete green construction,
irrigation repair and maintenance,
or staffing issues, it’s all part and
parcel of learning the industry
inside out. The thing I love out
here is that you are exposed to
everything. The Superintendents
here in the USA seem to throw
you in at the deep end to see how
you cope. Once they spot your
areas of weakness they will work
with you to set your own personal
standards and goals, and support
you in becoming a better person
for the job. Zach has taught me numerous
things since I arrived here which I know will
stand to me in good stead in the coming years
and follow through into the next chapter of my
life in this industry. I have been lucky enough
to come across some good Superintendents
along the way from Alan McDonnell in Adare
Manor and David MacIndoe in Killarney
Golf Club who, amongst other things, taught
me as a young teenager that no matter how
small or irrelevant a job may appear it is worth
doing correctly. This month (June) I will have
the honour of being able to add a US Open
27
to my C.V. as I have volunteered to help at
The Olympic Club here in San Francisco. In
addition to this I will be proud to have the
opportunity to add my role as an Assistant
Superintendent for the USGA Girls’ Junior
Championship, which will be held here at
Lake Merced in July. With these achievements
under my belt and a wealth of new knowledge
and insight into the industry, I have no doubt
that the next chapter in my story promises
to be even more interesting, exciting and
challenging. I look forward to it!
greenside magazine | June 2012
News
Call for Entries STRI Golf
Environment Awards 2012
Ransomes Jacobsen is proud to be a long-term supporter of the Golf Environment
Awards, first under the stewardship of BIGGA and now with the STRI administering
the prestigious programme.
T
he awards scheme showcases best
environmental practice at golf courses
across the UK and Ireland, rewarding
both individuals and golf courses for their
commitment to environmentally sustainable
projects.
For the past 15 years Ransomes Jacobsen
have been one of the sponsors of the awards,
which comprise eleven prizes including an
Overall Achievement accolade. Each entry
is independently judged on what the golf
course has achieved and how it has benefited
the environment.
Justin Rose continues as official
ambassador of the awards for the third
consecutive year and will support the
promotion of the awards, hosting a
champagne reception at Wentworth for the
2012 winners.
Previewing this year’s awards, Richard
Stuttard, STRI’s Environmental Consultant,
said: “STRI recognises the ever increasing
spotlight on environmental issues and is
proud to once again be managing these
awards. It is imperative that environmentally
sustainable courses should be at the forefront
of everyone within the golf industry.
There are 11 awards in total, split into three
categories:
•
•
Environmental Improvement
with four specific awards for Nature
Conservation Management, Turfgrass
Management, Waste Management and
Water Management
Environmental Achievement
featuring five regional awards and
one overall winner award recognising
golf courses that have implemented a
successful environmental management
strategy, with clear objectives and
targets with a strategy that will directly
contribute to a better environment
• Conservation Greenkeeper Award
recognising an outstanding individual contribution to the success of environmental and ecological management
Entry is free and the closing date for applications is Friday 27 July 2012.
Details can be found on the website: www.golfenvironmentawards.com
Bad Score
If you aim at nothing, you will hit it everytime.
www.gcsai.org
28
Golf Clubs Earning
£300,000 a Month
from Online
Teetimes Ltd
UK and Ireland golf clubs received more
than £300,000 a month in green fee
bookings from Online TeeTimes Ltd
(OTL) in 2011, the company revealed
as it unveiled a six-figure advertising
campaign for its portfolio of leading
websites.
O
TL sent more than 240,000 golfers to
golf clubs last year and this figure is
destined to swell after the company
kick-started a major national marketing
campaign for 2012 with prime-time TV
advertising on Sky Sports during the WGC
Cadillac Championships.
In all, the multi-media advertising
campaign targets more than 2 million golfers
and showcases the company’s TeeTimes.
co.uk website, which experienced a 152%
increase in new visitors within hours of the
first TV ads airing.
Based in Lincolnshire and Wicklow, OTL
has also expanded its business model to offer
a greater choice of ways for golf clubs to
generate revenue from online golf bookings with a new commission-based system sitting
alongside its proven barter sales programme.
And by integrating with electronic tee sheet
providers such as BRS and Intelligent Golf
and developing a new self-administration
interface, OTL is making it easier than ever
for golf clubs to upload and manage their
own inventory.
In the OTL commission model, golfers
reserve a tee time online by paying OTL 20%
of the published internet green fee price. The
remaining 80% is collected directly by the
golf club when the golfer turns up to play.
In the barter model, golf clubs collect 100%
of the published internet green fee price from
the golfer and reward OTL for generating
the sale by giving the company tee times to
sell via its own weekly email marketing. OTL
keeps this revenue.
The dual programme was introduced after
OTL canvassed the clubs it currently works
with. While the majority wanted to stick
with the proven barter model, some clubs
preferred the option of a commission-based
system.
Online TeeTimes distributes thousands
of tee times every year for clubs in the UK,
Ireland and South Africa through its own
websites and partner sites.
News
European Greenkeeping
Education Unit Announce
Launch of New Website
The European Greenkeeping Education Unit (EGEU) is
pleased to announce that a new website has been developed
to complement the already existing EGEU website (www.
egeu.eu)
T
he new www.greenkeepertraining.com website, designed in
association with The Greenkeepers Training Committee (GTC)
and the European Greenkeeping Education Unit (EGEU) is
based on a Quality Assured Scheme of Centres and Specialist Training
Providers all having met a criteria and available to offer both formal
and bespoke training courses.
Employers and greenkeepers are encouraged to view the new website
as there are courses and contacts available to assist with successful staff
and management development.
David Golding, a Director of the EGEU and the GTC’s Education
Director believes the new website will develop into the independent
information portal for the sector as more countries look to establish
a greenkeeping education and training structure to allow access to
learning for all levels of operatives and managers. Any Centre, college,
companies or individual involved in delivering greenkeeper education
and training based on Best Practice are encouraged to apply to become
involved in the Quality Assured accreditation Scheme.
David added that advice and guidance will be available to
help grow the game globally using expertise in all subject areas
to ensure best practices are used to maintain and mange a golf
clubs greatest asset, the golf course.
www.greenkeepertraining.com
Blarney Golf Resort Sale
CBRE Hotels has announced that, in a final push to secure a
successful sale, the guide price for the Blarney Golf Resort
has now been reduced to €7m - open to offers.
T
he hotel is
being sold on
behalf of Mr.
Billy O’Riordan of
PricewaterhouseCoopers,
who is the Receiver to
The Blarney Golf Resort
Limited. The golf resort is
being offered for sale by
private treaty and as a going concern.
The overall site extends to approximately 68 ha. (168 acres)
and the property comprises a 61 bedroom 4 star hotel with
extensive conference space and a fully equipped leisure centre
including spa facilities, a championship golf course designed by
John Daly, a separate two storey clubhouse with full catering/
function facilities, and a well equipped pro shop. Also included in
the sale are 38 two bedroom golf lodges.
Blarney Golf Resort has been run as a proprietary golf club,
GUI affiliated and has approximately 600 members. The guideline
price has been further reduced to reflect the Resort’s probable
market value, given the current economic conditions. The total
development costs of the Resort to date are well in excess of
€25million and, at this reduced price of around €7 million,
the opportunity now exists to purchase this property at a very
significant discount to its original overall development cost.
For further information contact: Paul Collins or Dermot Curtin
at CBRE Hotels - 01 6185500.
CBRE Group, Inc. www.cbre.com also at:
www.cbre.ie or www.cbre.ie/ni
Blarney Golf Resort www.blarneyresort.com
29
greenside magazine | June 2012
Krakow
to Drumcondra
From
-With Love
F e a t u r e
a n d
p h o t o g r a p h s
b y
a l a n
m a h o n
I erne S ocial and S ports C l u b
Rafal Muzyk pictured overlooking the pitch and putt course at Ierne Social and Sports Club
It is always wonderful to meet someone who has a passion for their job.
Rafal Muzyk is such a person and he is in charge of a magnificant sports
club in the heart of Dublin city.
Y
ou wil probably have guessed by now
that Rafal Muzyk is not Irish. He
comes from Krakow in Poland and
is extremely fluent in English. It is fitting
therefore that, with the European Football
Chamoionships being staged in Rafal’s
homeland, a Polish man is featured in this
article.
How Rafal came to manage Ierne Social
and Sports Club came by chance and good
fortune. Back in 2001 Rafal was studying
horticulture in Krakow. As part of his
studies he was sent on a six month work
placement on a vegetable farm in North
Dublin. Rafal loved his time so much in
Ireland that, instead of returning back to
Poland to complete his horticultural studies,
he decided to take a year off college and stay
in Ireland. When the year was up he did
return to Krakow where he completed his
Masters degree in Horticulture in 2004. But
the lure of returning to Ireland was strong.
He came back to the Emerald Isle soon after
www.gcsai.org
his qualifications. One day he was strolling
along the beach at Portmarnock and saw
Portmarnock Hotel and Links Course. He
wandered through the links and met Fintan
Brennan, the Course Superintendent there.
After a lengthy chat, Finatan suggested to
Rafal that he apply for a job on the course.
He was called for an interview and got a
job working as a greenkeeper there. Rafal
worked with Fintan for five years gaining
valuable experience. In 2010 a vacancy
became available to look after a sports
complex in Drumcondra, Dublin. It was
Ierne Social and Sports Club and the person
would be responsible for maintaining the
bowling green, pitch and putt course and
tennis courts. Rafal applied for the job
and got it. He manages the sports complex
grounds on his own and is doing a superb
job, having transformed the complex in the
short two years he has been there.
Ierne Social and Sports club was founded
in 1911, originally as a cricket club. Soccer
32
was played there but both soccer and cricket
have long since gone. In 1953 the pitch &
putt course was built. The bowling green is
a relatively new feature to the club, having
been built only fifteen years ago. There is a
membership of around 350 in the pitch &
putt course. Membership only costs €255
each year which includes using the pitch &
putt course, bowling green, indoor gym and
the four full size snooker tables.
Bowling Green
There are not many bowling greens in
Ireland, and the majority are based in
Dublin. There is a misconception that
bowls are for old and retired people but
this could not be further from the truth.
It is a highly skilled game where accuracy
is of importance. The bowling green at
Ierne covers 1400m And can facilitate
up to six matches at a single time. The
bowling club has a membership of sixty
and many help out, on a voluntary basis,
with any tasks necessary. For example, the
club Captain, Jimmy Delaney, is a handy
man when it comes to construction work
and he is helping out with the building of
a new sheltered viewing stand for disabled
people. Other members help out with other
tasks such as hand weeding the green. The
members at Ierne are delighted with the way
the bowling green has improved since Rafal
started working there two years ago. One
visitor said that “it was the best surface I
played on in Ireland”.
Club captain Jimmy Delaney helps with some
building work at the club
The problems associated with bowling
greens are identical to that of a golf green
i.e. thatch, moss and poa annua invasion,
disease, surface speed, so Rafal’s knowledge
from Portmarnock Links is invaluable.
The green is mown by hand. It is mown
three times each week during the summer.
Bowlers in action
Machinery access to the bowling green involves
lifting one of the perimeter boards
Ramps installed to provide access
The summer height of cut is 5mm, rising to
7mm in Winter. Scarifying and topdressing
are carried out every Spring and Autumn
while spiking, light topdressing and
A member volunteers with the removal of weeds from the bowling green
33
greenside magazine | June 2012
The putting green with bowling club in the background
overseeding with slender creeping fescue
(Cezanne) is done monthly during the
growing season.
There are four sprinkler heads, placed
at the centre of each side of the green, but,
because of the pump’s limitations, only one
sprinkler can operate at a time. Dry spots
have to be watered by hand. Water is sourced
from a well which waters the pitch & putt
course. The well also feeds a water tank which
is used to water the bowling green. Rafal
would like to upgrade the irrigation system
to include a bigger storage tank and pump
which would allow two sprinkler heads at the
bowling green to operate at the same time.
www.gcsai.org
Pitch and Putt course
The pitch & putt course on the complex is
a compact but tough course to play. Even
though the longest hole is only 63m, the
greens are small, so accuracy is important
as there are mounds and bunkers to avoid.
Incidentally, the shortest hole is 32m. As much
as a thousand rounds a week in summer are
played on the course which puts a lot of stress
on the greens, particularly with pitch marks.
Rafal hires a solid tiner in Spring and Autumn
to aid aeration and reduce compaction.
The irrigation system around the course
is divided out into four sections where five
greens are watered at a time. This is not ideal
as a wetter green will get the same amount
of water as a dry green. A future irrigation
upgrade is one of the things on Rafal’s wish
list.
A growth regulator is applied every six
weeks on both the pitch & putt course and
the bowling green with some liquid seaweed
added.
Rafal re-built the 10th green himself using a
soil rootzone mix but he decided to construct
a second green beside it which proved
beneficial as he can swap greens alternatively
to give the out-of-play green a rest. Rafal
boasts that this is the best green on the course.
Unfortunately space and budgets do not allow
each of the other greens to have the luxury of
a spare green.
Drumcondra was not exempt from the
building boom a few years ago. At the lower
end of the course, across the road, a large four
storey apartment block was constructed giving
34
The club secretary, Catherine Lally
a headache for Rafal. The building now casts
a shadow on three of the greens which can be
a problem during frosty conditions in Winter.
“Before the apartments were built I would wait
for the frost to thaw before opening the course
for play. Now these greens are in permanent
shade so the frost never thaws them which
means that I cannot open the course for play,
even though the rest of the greens are fine” says
Rafal. Before the apartments were built golfers
enjoyed a splendid view of Croke Park Stadium.
Ierne Social and Sport Club will host the
National Ladies Pitch & Putt stroke-play finals
this July so Rafal will be kept busy preparing
the course for this.
Tennis Courts
There are two tennis courts which are leased
out by the club. One day the club may
decide to add grass courts to its already fine
facilities which would give Rafal an extra
challenge to his portfolio. A challenge that
he looks forward to.
The apartment block constructed adjacent to the pitch and putt course now casts a shadow on
three of the greens which can be a problem during frosty conditions in Winter.
Drumcondra was not exempt from the
building boom a few years ago. At the lower
end of the course, across the road, a large
four storey apartment block was constructed
giving a headache for Rafal.
Because the grounds maintenance at Ierne
is a one man show, how does Rafal manage
holiday time? “The club used to bring in
help while I was away but it was not an ideal
arrangement. I have many greenkeeper
friends and I now ask one of them to help
me out. It is very reassuring to know that
someone competent is looking after things
for you while you are away. It makes you
enjoy your holiday even more” says Rafal.
The facilities at Ierne Social and Sport
Club make it a very special club. All its
members are proud to be part of it.
I have great admiration for people who
leave home to seek work opportunities in
a foreign country. Rafal is an example of
an emigrant who made a successful career
in Ireland in a profession he loves. He
integrates well with the Irish people and is
in regular contact with his previous boss,
Fintan Brennan from Portmarnock Links.
He volunteers at all the matches played at
Croke Park, giving Stuart Wilson a dig-out
with repairing divots at half time.
Rafal may some day return to his native
Poland but for now he enjoys living and
working in Ireland, socialising with his
many Irish friends. Drop by and give him
a call. He would love to show you all the
facilities that Ierne Social and Sport Club
has to offer. Mind you, I wonder what
country will he be supporting during the
European Championships?
All weather tennis courts at Ierene Social and Sports Club
35
greenside magazine | June 2012
Southeast Report by Mark Murphy, Tullamore Golf Club
The Curragh Golf Course
A very enjoyable day was had by all thirty eight
who turned out to play the Curragh Golf Club
on February 23rd.
Coolattin Results
Overall
Winner: Padraig Clince
Second: David Garland
Class 1
Winner: Andy Mooney
Second: Roy Butler
Class 2
Winner: Pat Kelly
Second: Mark Murphy
The lovely weather made for good scoring and Pat Kelly won the
outing with a great score of 43 points. John Dempsey and his staff
had the course in great condition and many thanks to John and all at
the Curragh for the courtesy of their lovely golf course. Well done to
John on his great talk at Sportsturf Ireland 2012.
Curragh Results
Overall
Winner: Pat Kelly
Second: Rory Sweeney
Class 1
Winner: Andy Mooney
Second: Declan Higgins
Class 2
Winner: Frank Browne
Second: Trevor Dargan
Class 3
Winner: Robert Kilduff
Second: Barry Kavanagh
Trade
David Casburn
(Sea-Nymph)
Upcoming Outings
The Heritage Golf & Spa Resort 21st June Tullamore Golf Club
Mid August
A crowd of around thirty golfers turned out to play the very scenic
Coolattin Golf Course on April 17th. The showery conditions made
scoring tough, but a man who has played this course many times
before and playing off a handicap of 6 - Pauric Clince, mastered
the course on the day with a fine score of 38 points. A big thanks to
Padraig Behan and his staff for getting the course for us on that day
and the condition in which it was presented.
www.gcsai.org
Class 3
Winner: Robert Kilduff
Second: Alan Mahon
Trade
David Casburn
(Sea-Nymph)
Tee times 1-3 pm
Tee times 2-4 pm
John Guiney, Padric Clince, Andy Mooney, Tony Burke at the Curragh golf
outing
36
Southeast Report by Mark Murphy, Tullamore Golf Club
Jonathan Palmer, John Smith, Frank Byrne, Ritchie Doyle at the
Curragh golf outing
Prize winners from the Curragh golf outing
Coolattin Golf Course
Sponsors
Once again thanks to our sponsors for their continued support.
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Owen Phelan, Andy Phelan, Sean Dowling at the Coolattin golf outing
D’Arcy Sand
Sea-Nymph
Sanrose Ltd
Irish TurfCare
Martyns Turfgrass
Dar Golf Construction
Harris Turf Improvements
JFB Golf Course Supplies
Amenity Turf Supplies
Goldcrop Ltd
NAD
M.S.K. Silver Sands
Tacit Golf
Padraig Behan, Bernard Kinsella, David Casburn, Pat Conway at the
Coolattin golf outing
Sympathy
It was with great sadness that we learned of the death of Kitty Curry,
wife of Paddy, who is the Hon. Life President of the Southeast region.
Kitty passed away on April 26th last only 18 days short of her 80th
birthday. For those of you who remember, when Paddy was the man
in charge of the golf time sheet, Kitty would often answer the phone
and take the bookings for many of the Southeast golf outings. Kitty
would always have a welcoming voice and she would have known
the names of many a greenkeeper as they would relay to her their
preferred tee time. There was standing room only at her funeral Mass
in Castlecomer, which showed how popular she was.
Kitty is survived by her grieving husband and best friend Paddy, her
son Michael, daughters Ann and Mary, brother Jim and sister Mary,
grandchildren, extended family and friends. May she rest in peace.
37
greenside magazine | June 2012
Southwest Report by Michael F O’Connor, Killarney Golf and Fishing Club
View of the 18th. Green at The Heritage Golf and Spa Resort, Killenard, County Laois.
“A Whole New World”
Over the past number of
years, many changes have
occurred which have made
an enormous effect on our
families, our environment and
ourselves. These changes had
taken their toll on our country,
our jobs and our economy etc.
Immigration has been rife,
as people find it harder and
harder to avail of permanent
employment.
T
his has been very noticeable especially
in the turfgrass industry, due to the
economic downturn and the reduction
in the number of people playing golf. Many
greenkeepers, superintendents and course
managers have taken up positions in Australia
and Canada, in particular, as well as a small
number going to the continent, thus making
the ultimate sacrifice, in order to support their
families here in Ireland.
This is not the first time that this has
happened in Ireland, as it has occured many
times over the centuries. In my lifetime, I have
experienced a total of three recessions and I
www.gcsai.org
can say, without contradiction, that the latest
one has been the worst. But we, ourselves, are
not without blame as we have contributed in
no small way to the final outcome.
We got caught up in the “Celtic Tiger” and
thought a “poor day” would never come
again and when the bubble burst we did not
know what hit us. Many golf clubs out priced
themselves, while others were reluctant to
accommodate golf society groups etc, as they
only wanted the “well off ” guests who could
afford the green fee prices that were being
charged.
Nowadays it is a completely different
scenario, as society groups are a big money
spinner for many golf clubs. So the wheel
has turned full circle. Also, there seems to be
a very noticeable increase in the amount of
tourist golfers travelling to Ireland especially
from the U.S.A and Great Britain, which is a
very welcome development. Green fees have
reduced significantly to more affordable prices
and this will have a more positive effect on the
cash flow situation of the turfgrass industry
and hopefully help to create more jobs and
stop the immigration of our well trained and
skilled professionals.
Speaking recently to some people in the golf
industry, it seems that there are still a number
of golf clubs who are genuinely running their
business debt free and it does seem that the
scene is changing for the better. This is a
great incentive for a more positive future for
38
the generations to come. Some people found
it hard to change from the old ways, took
too much for granted and so got stuck in a
rut. What we encountered in the end was “a
whole new world” for all of us to navigate and
hopefully savour the good times once again.
Annual Conference 2012
Our Annual Conference and Trade Show took
place at The Heritage Golf and Spa Resort,
Killenard, County Laois on Wednesday 28th
and Thursday 29th March last. It featured
a fine selection of top class speakers and
topics but special mention must be given to
Mark Kirwan Course Superintendent at The
Heritage who took us on a very informative
tour of his fine golf course, also to Bob Taylor
from S.T.R.I. who gave a most engaging
presentation on Ecology and The Environment
(also on The Heritage golf course). I am sure
that everybody was in their element to be
out on the golf course on such a magnificent
day. It was a most enjoyable experience for all
concerned.
Special thanks must go to Maria Behan for
the enormous amount of time and work she
contributed in the organising of our National
Conference and Trade Show. Congratulations
Maria, on a job well done. It is just a pity that
more members didn’t make the effort to attend
this prestigious event which is the flagship of
our organisation. You missed out on a unique
educational experience!
Southwest Report by Michael F O’Connor, Killarney Golf and Fishing Club
Bob Taylor (STRI Ecologist/Environmentalist)
speaking at the Conference.
Golf Outing
Our first golf outing of the year was due
to take place at Charleville Golf Club on
Thursday 31st of May and as results were not
available at the time of going to press, there
will be a full report included in the next issue
of Greenside.
Left: Denis Collins (Goldcrop), John Murray (Fermoy GC), Austin Browne and Michael Buckley
(Muskerry GC), at the Trade Show.
39
Our Sponsors
We take this opportunity to wish all our
sponsors a very successful summer and to
thank them most sincerely for their undying
support as always.
Míle Buiochas dibh go léir.
greenside magazine | June 2012
Northeast
Greenside
Report by Alan McArdle, Newlands Golf Club
Newlands Golf Club
Hello to all the members of
the north east region. By now
all memberships should be
renewed and focus shifted to
the upcoming season.
A
s is the way in this wonderful
little country of ours, the start of
the season is met with a bout of
inclement weather. April has been a tough
month for all of us but let’s look forward,
with optimism and hope, that the rest of the
season will have better weather. The Shamie
Kelly Trophy was to be played at Newlands
Golf Club in late April but, unfortunately
on the day, flash flooding closed, not only
Newlands Golf Course, but also most Dublin
courses. It was with a heavy heart that Gerry
Byrne took the decision to cancel the outing
as the course was in magnificent condition
due to all the hard work of all the staff
involved. However, on a positive note, the
Shamie Kelly will be played later in the year.
www.gcsai.org
We have some great outings to look forward
to later in the year:
•
•
•
•
10th July 27th July August September Dun Laoghaire
Newlands
Good Council Pitch & Putt
Beech Park.
So after a rocky start I have no doubt that
we all will have a great season.
With the current economic climate and
the bad weather hampering all our efforts,
money is harder to earn than ever before.
Unfortunately this also affects the bottom line
costs of running the regions committees.
Sponsors
With this said, our sponsors are needed and
appreciated now more than ever, so I would
like to take a moment to thank them.
•
•
•
Amenity Turf Supplies
Reel-Tech
Dar Golf Construction
40
•
•
•
•
•
Lely Ireland
Sea Nymph
Dublin Grass Machinery
Tacit Golf Course Equipment
JFB Golf Supplies
I’m sure that there will be many more
sponsors to thank in the next issue.
Other News
Dean Brock has returned from a year out
working on some of America’s finest golf
courses. We are all glad to see him back.
Jim Byrne, a founding member of the Irish
Golf Greenkeepers Association (IGGA),
recently celebrated his 70th birthday so
congratulations to you Jim.
On a more sombre note, our heart felt
condolences go to Stephen Kelly and his
family who are mourning the sudden passing
of his father in law.
F. E . G. G. A. R E P ORT By D ean Cleave r CE O
FEGGA Conference, Prague
As I sit at my desk to write my latest column, I cannot believe that we are now in
April. The first part of 2012 has certainly been a busy time with the major focus being
on our own FEGGA Conference, this year being hosted by the Czech Greenkeepers
Association, and held in the lovely city of Prague.
T
he Czech Greenkeepers did an
excellent job in playing hosts, and
their enthusiasm was clearly seen
throughout the event. I am sure that they have
left a lasting impression on the many countries
that attended. It was also nice to see many new
faces, and this reflects well on associations
bringing through new people to represent and
help the development of the greenkeeping
profession, which in turn impacts greatly on
the game of golf.
As I reported in my last column, a significant
part of the FEGGA Conference was focusing
on education. This was done in a variety of
ways, in terms of presentations and group
work. We also focused on some of the good
work that had been done through the Green-e
project, this being an EU supported project
that has seen good development work done in
a number of countries, and through this work
enabling many other countries to benefit also
from what has been developed and produced.
Take a look at the Green-e website and find
out more about this project at www.greene.
eu.com
The European Greenkeeper Education
Unit (EGEU) has done a lot of work over
the last number of years, and I now feel
that we are starting to have an impact on
greenkeeper education within Europe and
Left: Giovanni Nava (Italy), Dean Cleaver
(Executive officer), Michael McFeely (Rep of
Ireland), Kamil Pečenka (Czech Republic),
Stig Persson Chairman (Sweden) , Ólafur pór
Ágústsson Vice Chairman, (Iceland)
beyond. Having produced the Pan European
Standards, we now need to get all countries
buying into these, adapting and using them
as their benchmarks, whether they have
established education, or are taking the first
steps in building good sustainable greenkeeper
education. We now have the expertise in
place to deal with all of these elements. The
follow up from greenkeeper associations since
our Conference with regard to greenkeeper
education has been very good, and I include
the GCSAI in this and look forward to
working with the GCSAI in furthering the
development of education for greenkeepers.
41
New EGEU Website
The EGEU has recently launched a new
website www.greenkeepertraining.
com. It is important to stress that this
is not replacing the EGEU website, but
complementing it by offering a range of
services and products for greenkeepers.
This new website, designed in association
with The Greenkeepers Training Committee
(GTC) and the (EGEU) is based on a
Quality Assured Scheme of Centres and
Specialist Training Providers, all having met
a criteria and being available to offer both
formal and bespoke training courses.
Employers and greenkeepers are
encouraged to view the new website as
there are courses and contacts available to
assist with successful staff and management
development. The website also has, built into
it, a Google powered translator, allowing
most visitors to access the information in
their own mother language.
David Golding, a Director of the EGEU
and the GTC’s Education Director,
believes that the new website will develop
into the independent information portal
for the sector as more countries look to
establish a greenkeeping education, and
training structure in order to allow access
to learning for all levels of operatives and
managers. Any Centre, college, companies
or individual involved in delivering
greenkeeper education and training based
on Best Practice are encouraged to apply
to become involved in the Quality Assured
accreditation Scheme.
David added, “Advice and guidance will
be available to help grow the game globally,
using expertise in all subject areas to ensure
that best practices are used to maintain and
manage a golf clubs greatest asset, the golf
course.” To register visit:
www.greenkeepertraining.com
I think you will agree that these are all
good initiatives and provide good support
for all National Greenkeeper Associations,
resulting in great benefits for you the
greenkeeper. If you have any comments, or
questions please do not hesitate to contact
me at: dean.cleaver@btinternet.com
greenside magazine | June 2012
Mick
Who?
Many of you will know the
flamboyant man, who came to
prominence when he won an
Independent Dáil seat for Wexford
in 2011. His pink polo shirt gives
him a distinct appearance in the Dáil
chamber. Who is he? Why he is no
other than developer Mick Wallace.
R eport
A
and
fter many attempts in trying to pin
down a suitable meeting time I finally
got the chance to interview Mick
Wallace, on his home turf (literally). A time
of 4:00pm on a murky Saturday in February
was arranged. In order to see the place on my
own at first hand, I decided to arrive early
at the Ferrycarrig football grounds, located
just 4 miles outside Wexford town, However,
when I arrived, there was already a football
match in full progress and on the sideline
was the unmistakable figure of Mick Wallace,
wearing a pink woolly hat.
I was surprised that Mick had suggested
4:00pm to meet me when he knew there
was a football match in progress but I soon
discovered that the game should have been
over at 3:30pm. Instead, it went into extra
time. The result wasn’t great. Wexford Youths
lost 2 : 1 to St Kevins of Dublin. It was the
fourth round knockout stage of the Under 18
Leinster Youths Cup tournament.
It was not a great start to my interview.
Morale was low and it was a match that Mick
felt Wexford Youths should have won. After
consoling his losing team in the dressing
room, Mick did manage to allocate some
www.gcsai.org
photos
by
A lan
time for me to talk about him, his soccer
team, and his football pitches.
The once successful property developer had
been in the news headlines for failing to pay
pension contributions for his workers into
their pension fund for going into receivership
with the banks and having the threat of
losing his Dáil seat looming over him
should he be declared bankrupt. “We
were a very successful company for a
long time,” he said, “We weren’t bad, we
weren’t doing crazy things. We’ve made
money every year for 20 years, employed
a lot of people, paid our taxes. But the
financial crisis arrived, completely
undermining the value of our assets and
we’re no longer in a great place”.
Wallace is one of the few popular
property developers left in Ireland and
he has done a lot of good community work
in Wexford, which includes looking after
the Wexford Youths soccer club. It is his
involvement with Wexford Youths in which I
will concentrate this article.
It all started back in 1990. Many of you
will remember Italia ’90. Jack Charlton had
brought the Irish soccer team to the World
42
M ahon
Cup Finals where Ireland beat Romania,
in that epic penalty shoot-out, to get to the
quarter finals. Who will ever forget Packie
Bonner’s save? Soccer fever had gripped the
nation at the time and Mick Wallace was in
the thick of it. He travelled to Italy where he
watched all the Irish matches and also the
games in which Italy were playing. His time
spent in Italy during that summer influenced
him hugely. He became involved with the
Wexford County soccer team soon after that
but it would be ten years before he would
form a soccer club of his own.
Mick Wallace loves anything that has an
Feature
Juventus FC in acion
Such is his love of Italian life
that he bought a vineyard
near Turin, and built the
Italian Quarter on Dublin’s
Ormond Quay. Wallace
studied Italian coaching
methods. His passion for
Italian football is so strong
that he brings one of his
junior teams to Turin every
Easter for ten days.
43
greenside magazine | June 2012
Italian name on it. Such is his love of Italian
life that he bought a vineyard near Turin,
and built the Italian Quarter on Dublin’s
Ormond Quay. Wallace studied Italian
coaching methods. His passion for Italian
football is so strong that he brings one of his
junior teams to Turin every Easter for ten
days.
In 2000 Wallace bought fourteen acres of
land just outside Wexford town where he
built two football pitches and so Wexford
Youths Football Club was established.
Today there are three teams within the club;
Wexford Youths 18’s, Wexford Youths 19’s,
and Wexford Youths Senior team (who
are currently doing very well in the First
Division).
Four Astro pitches were built in 2003
and in 2005, a club house, complete with
gymnasium, were added. The cost for all this
development was €6 million for which he
received no government aid or FAI grants so
the cost of the development was funded out
of his own pocket. Success for the club soon
followed and in 2007, Wexford Youths won
the Inter League Championship, beating
Galway in the penalty shoot out.
All this success took place during the
construction boom in Ireland which Mick
Wallace was part of. He was a wealthy
man back then but now his property has
devalued and debts have grown.
A 36 seater bus, (refurbished to include
tables) was leased for the soccer club in 2008
at a cost of €210,000. It is used for bringing
the team to away games. It was also used
during his 2011 election campaign, which
saw him win a seat in Dáil Eireann, topping
the poll in the process.
www.gcsai.org
Above: The 36 seater club bus used to take
the team to away games.
Right: Sean O’Shea, groundsman and
coach driver.
The cost for all this
development was €6
million for which he
received no government
aid or FAI grants so the
cost of the development
was funded out of his
own pocket.
44
Feature
Mick Wallace pictured in one of the changing rooms at Wexford Youths FC.
Extra stands were later built and, in 2009,
the annual cost of running the club came
to a staggering €410,000 (which included
repayments for the newly built stadium,
bus running costs and players expenses).
Today, the club’s annual costs are reduced to
around €150,000.
The pitches at Ferrycarrig are maintained
by groundsman Sean O’Shea (who also
drives the coach). A former publican, Sean
was friendly with Mick Wallace and when
Sean sold his pub seven years ago, he was
asked would he be interested in looking after
the Ferrycarraig grounds. He agreed and he
has remained there ever since.
When the pitches were constructed, drains
were placed every 18 inches so that they
could cope with torrential rain falling on the
heavy soil that is typical of the area. Sean
uses a triplex tees mower, set at 29mm, to
mow the two grass pitches. He mows every
second day during the growing season but if
an important match is coming up he would
not think twice about giving three or four
cuts the day prior to and the morning of the
match. Each pitch is topdressed with 80 tons
of sand in Spring and this is repeated again
in Autumn.
There is no irrigation system installed and
Sean recalls a time during a very dry summer
when tractors and slurry tanks had to be
brought in to keep the grass alive. It is a long
45
term plan to install an irrigation system, it all
depends on when finances become available.
The four astro pitches require little
maintenance; a covering of crumb rubber
was given a year ago and the pitches still look
fine. These pitches are rented out to private
clients and this generates a small income
for the club. Five of the six football pitches
are floodlit which means that games can be
played during winter evenings.
Who knows what lies ahead for Mick
Wallace? Whatever is in store, one thing
that is certain is that he will be committed
to looking after his soccer club overlooking
the River Slaney, just a few miles outside
Wexford Town.
greenside magazine | June 2012
FC Metalist Stadium Complex in Kharkov, Ukraine.
Building the
by R ichard H ayden , S T R I
best
In January 2011, STRI were commissioned to design, project manage and direct a new
state of the art natural turf pitch on behalf of FC Metalist in Kharkov, Ukraine. The club
is owned by Oleksandr Yaroslavskiy, a personal friend of Roman Abramovich and a
key figure in the successful Poland Ukraine bid for EURO 2012. Yaroslavskiy lives and
breathes football and a visit to the stadium and state of the art training ground demonstrates
his commitment to football, Kharkov and The Ukraine. The chosen delivery team included Clive
Richardson Limited (CRL) on pitch construction and main contractor, local irrigation installers
Engo Limited on irrigation and undersoil heating and Desso Limited on Hybrid installation.
T
hey say that Christmas never comes
twice, but for myself and Andy
Cole it did in 2011. Following a
series of meetings we travelled to Ukraine
for design team meetings and celebrated
the local Christmas day on January 6th in
-20°C weather conditions. So how do you
design a pitch to function and live in a
stadium environment with all the associated
shade microclimate issues and then survive
-25°C to +37°C air temperatures each
year? The answer is to minimise your risk
with technology and knowhow. Over the
past five years staff at STRI have been busy
in the development of new intellectual
property and technology to improve the
management of natural turf in extreme
www.gcsai.org
environments. One of the fruits of this has
been the development of a new generation
of pitch ventilation and vacuum design
called ISASS (In Situ Air Sparging System).
The design of the system unlike anything
else on the market incorporates a network
of cleverly placed drainage pipes linked to
a series of main artery pipes. They are all
linked to a massive fan which allows air (a)
to pressurise the pitch in vacuum mode,
(b) to pull water from the pitch in suction
mode or ventilation mode (c) to blow hot
air through the profile. Combining the
system with a customised suspended water
table profile, a glycol heated undersoil
heating system and high powered 1,000
watt lighting units creates a micro climate
46
at the pitch surface, allowing grass to grow
and recover in extremely low temperatures.
A fully automatic Toro irrigation system
was also incorporated into the package, as
well as a fleet of state of the art equipment
and a set of supplementary grow lights
from MLR. STRI have perfected the use of
similar technology at the nearby Donbass
Arena since our appointment in 2009. With
a failing pitch and a proposal to move to
synthetic turf, Mr. Alexander Atamanenko
appointed STRI as a “last chance for natural
grass” to turn the pitch around. Together
with the management and groundstaff at
Donbass we managed to turn the pitch into
a European gem with complements from,
amongst others, the management of Arsenal.
Feature
Following a series of trips and meetings with
Alexander Rogachevsky and Sergii Volik the
major phase of planning was well underway.
With the main components of the ISASS
system fabricated and tested at CRL, the
equipment and materials to do the mammoth
task were loaded and transported to
Ukraine. Achieving temporary import of
equipment is a huge task in any bordered
country outside of the EU, but particularly
Ukraine. Every piece of equipment, every
part and every component had to be
labelled, weighed, identified and cleared
separately at customs in what seemed like
a lifetime of four days. The majority of
the equipment came through without a
problem, a testament to the experience of
CRL and ENGO in international logistics
(Fig 1).
It’s often underestimated how much time
and effort needs to go into sourcing suitable
materials for pitch construction. In the UK
Fig 2. Sand loader for train
Fig 3. Train unloading materials
the material and stockpiling it for removal
by Kama truck. With the Europeans at
one end of the pitch removing it and the
Ukrainians at the other end loading the
spoil and hauling it away, the planned
choreography could have been a scene from
any major UK premiership ground (Fig 4).
As work continued the camaraderie built up
between the CRL, ENGO and local crews
and by week 1 we were two days ahead of
schedule. A time consuming task was the
installation of the base of ISASS which
requires a triple sealed geogrid reinforced
base under all the pipework requiring
painful seam sealing over a number of
days through awkward trenches. The pipes
must all have perfect gradients to prevent
backflow problems but also water surge
problems. The pipes used are up to 600
mm in diameter with a smooth bore inside,
providing good water flow control at the
design stage is important (Fig 5). The first
big test of the drainage in the base came
in the second week of construction when
140mm of rain fell in just 45 minutes. Roads
Fig 1. Equipment arrives at the stadium
it’s as simple as picking up the phone, telling
them how much you want and trucking
it to the site in a few days. In Ukraine, we
travelled thousands of miles looking for
sand, peat and gravel to meet the stringent
requirements of the STRI ISASS system.
With STRI project manager Martin Galvin
on site six weeks before construction started
all materials were identified, tested and
controlled before being taken to Kharkov
via freight train and stockpiled on site. A
mobile laboratory on site allowed regular
analysis to take place of the materials used
with the main struggle being stone content
of sands (Fig 2, Fig 3). During this period
some infrastructure works to facilitate the
ISASS air pipes took place which involved
drilling under the recently installed running
track to facilitate the pipe installation for the
ISASS.
On the night of April 15 work began with
a deadline set for 5.5 weeks construction.
This is a long time for a basic standard pitch
construction but when components like
ISASS, Glycol undersoil heating, irrigation
etc. are added the time is tight. With one
digger lost to the wrath of Polish customs en
route we began work on the pitch excavating
Fig. 4: Above: pitch excavation Fig 5. Below: installation of large ISASS Pipes
47
greenside magazine | June 2012
Feature
washed away, paving floated and even
the synthetic pitches around the stadium
turned to lakes but the ISASS design and
installation pulled through and we were
working once visibility was restored. This
gave the client and indeed ourselves an
early confidence boost. Meanwhile, the
engineering ends of the undersoil heating
and irrigation were well underway. In
Ukraine the most popular way of heating
pitches is through electrical wires. These
systems, first investigated by STRI 40
years ago and proven to, do suffer from
consistency of heating problems but also
pose restrictions for aeration etc. Hence
the most reliable way of heating a pitch is
using a heated liquid system. The liquid
which passes through the pipes is heated via
Fig 6. Undersoil heating pipes
Martin Galvin
a heat exchanger. A heat exchanger works
on a principle of heating a baby’s bottle: the
heat from one heating medium - liquid (hot
water) - passes to the desired liquid (Glycol)
across a series of plates with the returning
liquid from the pitch in constant circulation.
In this case the pipe infrastructure was
considerable and was installed at key
times during the pitch construction (Fig
6). On site FC Metalist Chief Engineer
Viktor Shemet embraced working with our
own engineers and surveyors with great
passion. It was a fantastic sight to see such
enthusiasm for quality and exchange of
knowledge and information from all sides
that could have been taken in any major
European club.
The next phase of the operation was the
installation of the lower rootzone. This
was hauled into the site via dumper and
carefully placed over the pipes using a laser
controlled dozer and a number of excavators
(Fig 7). Particular attention had to be
given to the protection of the pipework at
this stage. Significant handwork around
www.gcsai.org
Fig 7. Bottom rootzone placement
irrigation heads and other services allowed
good safe progress. Meanwhile, outside the
stadium, the 85:15 mix of sand and peat
was made. The peat was sourced locally
in Ukraine and following a series of trial
and errors a good product was received.
It arrived in bags, not pallets, just bags,
meaning plenty of handwork and manual
handling. Mixing the peat was carefully
supervised and controlled to ensure
the perfect mix was achieved. With this
complete and the lower rootzone installed,
the final layer of rootzone was applied
and laser graded. At this stage we were
about 5 days ahead of schedule which was
excellent. Regular visits and support from
Yaroslavskiy, both to our own team and his
48
own staff, were an important motivation in
the fifth week of working seven days a week.
(Fig 8).
A base feed and seeding, followed by an
intensive grow in, (and heat of 33-36°C).
On site project manager Martin Galvin’s
10 years experience in The Old Head of
Kinsale and recent trips to Bulgaria and the
Czech Republic allowed us to have a fully
established sward on the pitch, all be it thin,
in under four weeks. Irrigation and disease
management in these conditions is critical.
The solution to pitch provision also included
provision of a full suite of maintenance
machines including tractors, mowers,
sprayers, lights etc. Following an agreed
disease management programme developed
Feature
Fig 8. Rootzone grading
by Andy Cole and Ruth Mann we managed
to have no disease or stress issues during the
initial weeks of pitch grow in.
The next stage was the installation of the
Hybrid reinforcement system (Fig 9). Desso
GrassMaster was chosen in this case as
the hybrid system which allows thousands
of plastic strands to be stitched into the
existing grass sward ensures that the pitch
remains stable. This process took place
in extreme heat with the machines and,
indeed, installation crew tested to the limit
in sweltering heat both day and night. It also
made the management of the pitch more
difficult when considering watering, mowing
Fig 9. Hybrid reinforcement installation
and spraying as the huge machines worked
a 20 hour, two day shift. The pitch initially
took a knock in terms of grass cover after
the hybrid installation, but with confidence
high and an overseeding regime, the pitch
returned back to full grass cover in a matter
of weeks (Fig 10).
The final piece of infrastructure to be
installed was the ISASS air system fan
control system which is, as the article is being
written, currently being installed. STRI staff
Martin Galvin and Kostiantyn Kreminskyi
remain on site in preparation for the ultimate
test of the technology through the winter
period and follow through until EURO 2012.
As the sun goes down on Kharkov, it’s
great to think that having another state of
the art pitch in EURO 2012 in Ukraine will
continue to improve the image of natural
turf in extreme climates and maybe prove
that it is possible to have a
great natural turf regardless
of location. Hats
off to all involved.
Creative thinking is
in fact the realisation
that things don’t
have to be done the
way they always
were.
Fig 10. Pitch perfectly striped
49
greenside magazine | June 2012
Feature
Ecological Management of the Golf Course (Managing to Attract Players and Members)
By Bob Taylor Ecology and Environment Manager, STRI
Bob Taylor of the STRI (their
Ecology and Environment
Manager) had the pleasure of
attending the GCSAI annual
conference held this year at
The Heritage Spa and Golf
Resort in Killenard, Co. Laois
during what turned out to be
one of the hottest early spring
periods on record.
N
ot only was the weather a success
but Bob was able to lead over 30
attendees out onto the course to
discuss practical issues facing the wider
rough management of our golf courses. The
group stayed out for around an hour and
half before finally having to be pulled back
into the clubhouse for lunch. Many questions
were asked during the session, some of which
www.gcsai.org
Bob Taylor gives an outdoor talk at the GSCAI annual conference at the Heritage Spa and Golf
Resort in Killenard, Co. Laois
are to remain sustainable they must become
are covered in further detail below.
more efficient in all aspects of their work,
The GCSAI annual conference clearly
they must reduce waste in all areas. These
provides an important forum for discussion
points were made apparent too by Mark
on current issues in the world of golf. One of
Kirwan, Course Manager of The Heritage.
the key messages emanating from the event,
Bob went on to remark, “Another important
and reiterated by Bob, was that if golf courses
50
Feature
but often overlooked aspect of our rich
golfing heritage is the environment in which
we all love to play. Most golfers will view
the golf greens as the most important asset
of any golf course with minimal thought
to the wider environment. The greens
however are a single entity within a much
wider environment, one where golfers either
subconsciously or consciously seek pleasure.
Playing golf in beautiful surroundings will,
even when playing badly, reward those that
simply take the time to stop, look and listen”.
Another issue is that every golf club must
recognise that they are in fact a business and
like all businesses are subject to increasing
threats, not least from competition. For
golf clubs to stand out they must recognise
what it is that attracts golfers to the facility.
Is it the club or the course or both? Most
greenkeepers are able to provide excellent
surfaces on which to play golf. To stand out,
the club must recognise the contribution of
the rough and how it impacts on each hole.
We need rough to delineate holes and create
challenges without being over penal and
without resulting in frustration or slow play.
The upshot of this is that we all have the tools
at our disposal to develop and manage rough,
leaving the final task of selling the concept to
the golfers.
So when it comes to increasing or managing
the grassland rough the greenkeeper must:
1. Educate the membership through all the
media available.
2. Convince them that rough management
will be phased, will be implemented
slowly and only as confidence and
expertise builds.
3. Understand the difference between the
fringing rough and the wider ecology
rough, to include their differing roles,
functions and indeed their management.
4. Identify priority areas that will be
winnable (successful) and roll the
programme out on a gradual basis
thereafter.
Managing The Fringing and Ecology
Rough
The fringing rough is a band of rough
running from the last band of cut rough
over 3 to 6 metres to the wider “ecology”
rough. It should, when adequately
worked, be allowed to seed and it requires
infrequent management to maintain it.
So why have it? Most of you already have
a band of rough that is perhaps cut once
a year as a token gesture to allow for
ball retrieval. We can however improve
this band of rough with appropriate
management to:
51
•
•
•
Contribute better to the visual quality of
the hole (we can wrap it around the back
of drive bunkers, close the width of the
fairways and create fairer but not over
penal playing conditions).
Reduce the routine management burden
with all associated costs and golfer
disturbances.
Bring the rough closer to the playing
line to create more thought before shot
taking.
From an ecological perspective because
the fringing rough is managed as a thin and
wispy grassland it will provide a buffer to
the adjoining habitats and may even have a
different wildflower interest.
Additional benefit of developing a fringing
rough will be in encouraging greater thought
before shot taking. From the tee the fringing
rough will look different to the more offline
rough and will allow balls entering to be
located and played. This is unlikely to be
the case through the more off line “ecology”
rough and golfers realising this are hopefully
more likely to play a provisional ball so as to
avoid unwarranted time wasting.
Cutting and litter collection (annual)
Where finer grasses already dominate one
to two cuts per annum should be included
greenside magazine | June 2012
Feature
the club should carry out some additional
scarification, and overseeding work, to ensure
recovery of the weaker areas.
The ecology rough
Bob Taylor explains the benefits of water features which provide an important sanctuary for wildlife
during early spring and/or late summer and
the provision for one scarification treatment
every three years should be retained to
reduce any unwarranted tillering that may
develop.
Cutting with scarification and litter
collection (two treatments per
annum)
This work is necessary where coarse and rank
grasses dominate. This operation is geared to
‘fining down’ coarser grass growth and can
be quite aggressive, resulting in a marked
thinning of cover. On links courses this
works (particularly the spring scarification
work) and can be very severe, having a rapid
thinning effect, which in turn will require
reviewing in perhaps just two years. During
quite wet years such as experienced through
2007 to 2009, an additional cut only may be
needed during early to mid-May.
Cutting with scarification and litter
collection (one treatment per
annum)
This operation is used where finer grasses
tend to predominate but where coarser
species such as Yorkshire fog are increasing.
The work normally involves cutting to 50-75
mm during the late summer season, with one
intensive scarification treatment.
can really play an important role. Rescue has
label approval for the control of perennial
ryegrass but will also eradicate Yorkshire
fog. Other coarse grass species vary in their
sensitivity to the chemical. Care must be
given as to how the chemical is applied in
order to ensure complete success. STRI has
seen incorrect application rates (normally too
low), and spraying without first exposing the
grasses (there is a need to treat grass growth
at a low height of cut). I have also seen
limited effect due to spraying directly onto
cut foliage that have not been collected
Summary
Bob explains about gorse management.
The chemical will work, provided that the
recommendations are followed closely and
will, with one to two treatments, oust the
unwanted grass species. Following treatment
Chemical control of unwanted
grasses
The previous techniques are proving very
successful on all courses where they have
been adopted and they should always be the
first stage of working to control coarser grass
growth. It is always the case that, having fined
down the sward using mechanical means
some possibly lower lying areas or other
stubborn areas remain, which the equipment
has missed, or which, for whatever reason,
are not reducing at the same rate as adjacent
areas.
This is where the new graminicide Rescue
www.gcsai.org
The ecology rough, if significant, will be
important to a range of wildlife species
from arachnids, insects and smaller rodents
through to feeding and breeding birds.
Management of these areas should be
undertaken in consultation with a golf
ecologist and may only involve periodic
(three yearly) cutting simply to maintain
tidiness or prevent scrub ingress. These
areas do vary considerably in terms of their
geology and botanical composition.
The above
represents
just one of
the areas
of ecology
covered
during
the course
walk. Other discussions centred on gorse
management, pond and water feature
management and the need for stronger
compliance with new and pending legislation
such as the water framework directive which
will have implications for anyone using water
on site and particularly for those allowing
water to drain off site following wash down of
equipment
52
In summary the above is given to highlight
how the course can be managed better. We all
know of areas that continue to be intensively
managed at great cost simply because they
have always been managed that way. We
need to break that mould and encourage new
members who will shout the praises of the
course and importantly tell their friends of
the great experience of playing golf within
beautiful surroundings, which are effectively
managed for longer term sustainability.
I would like to extend my thanks to the
GCSAI for the hospitality shown to me
and to all who took such an interest in the
proceedings.
Greenside
Brewin Dolphin to be an Official
Sponsor of the Irish Open
Investment management company, Brewin Dolphin, is
delighted will be an Official Sponsor for one of The European
Tour’s most prestigious titles, the Irish Open at Royal Portrush
in Northern Ireland from 28 June to 1 July.
B
rewin Dolphin has offices in both Belfast and Dublin and looks
after clients from all over Ireland - so this is a great opportunity
to raise awareness of the firm across the island.
This year Brewin Dolphin is celebrating its 250th anniversary with a
number of initiatives such as the Chelsea Flower Show in London and
the Commodores’ Cup in Cowes - so adding such an event like the
Irish Open to the events calendar is very fitting.
When the 2012 Irish Open returns to Northern Ireland next
month, it will have been 59 years since one of The European Tour’s
most popular events was contested north of the border, making this
a very special occasion for players and spectators alike.
Philip Browne, Marketing Director at Brewin Dolphin said: “We
are so pleased to be able to join the Irish Open on The European
Tour and it gives us such a wonderful platform to highlight the
presence of our two nearest offices in Belfast and Dublin.”
James Finnigan, The European Tour’s Commercial Director for the
Irish Open, commented: “Brewin Dolphin is a welcome addition to The
European Tour’s family of sponsors and we are delighted that they will be
part of one of the most eagerly anticipated Irish Opens in many years.”
The Brewin Dolphin Group manages £24 billion of funds
for over 130,000 private clients and of this £15.6 billion is on
a discretionary basis. BD has 41 offices throughout the UK,
Ireland and the Channel Islands.
Carr Golf Services to
Redevelop, Rebrand and
Manage Spawell Golf Centre
Carr Golf Services has been selected to manage
Spawell Golf Centre in Dublin. The facility, one of the
largest of its kind in Ireland has been transformed
with Carr Golf Services & Power League assuming
control over the leisure assets on the 30 acre site.
C
arr Golf Services has been appointed by Edmar
Golf to redevelop, and manage the Golf Centre.
The venue comprises of 48 indoor and 12 outdoor
driving bays over two tiers, an 18 hole pitch & putt course,
putting green, squash courts, large meeting room and
retail space.
The addition of The Spawell Golf Centre to the Carr
Golf Services portfolio now brings the number of facilities
under management and maintenance contracts to twelve.
The company also operates eight retail outlets and a tee
time booking portal www.golfdublin.com
At the announcement, commercial director Ed Pettit
stated: “The inclusion of Spawell in our portfolio gives us
economies of scale and a competitive advantage, which
is critical in this competitive market. We are undertaking
a significant refurbishment programme which includes a
new brand and direction for the facility, phase 1 of which
is due to be completed in May. Additional improvement
works will be on-going.”
Volunteers Still Needed
This year’s Irish Open, which takes place at Royal
Portrush from 28th June to 1st July, and will be one
of the most eagerly awaited with top Irish stars as
such as Rory McIlroy, Graeme McDowell, Darren
Clarke and Padraig Harrington taking part along with
current USPGA champion Keegan Bradley. This will be
the first time that three of the current four Major winners will
be taking part in an Irish Open and it is anticipated that this
will be one of the largest ever attended
R
oyal Portrush will be looking for
greenkeeping volunteers to help
out during the tournament and
the days leading up to it. Those interested
should contact Joe Findlay at joe.findlay@
royalportrushgolfclub.com as soon as
possible. Volunteers will be needed from
Sunday 24th June to Sunday 1st July. Meals
and accommodation will be provided. It
will be a truly memorable experience for
those who take part and something to be
proud of on a CV.
US Open champion,
Rory McIlroy
53
greenside magazine | June 2012
News
Tractor Fall Leads to Large
Compensation Award
In a farm accident, which is very related to the golf industry, a 62 year old
farm worker was awarded €172,500 in the Dublin High Court recently.
A
s the farm worker was getting down
from the tractor, even though he had
just placed one foot on the ground, he
slipped & the tractor door swung against him.
This allegedly led to a fractured foot, which has
resulted in chronic pain since.
It appears that the restraining strut of the door,
which normally helps prevent the door from
swinging, was damaged. The worker claimed he
had informed management at the farm of this defect, but nothing
was done.
Additional to the defective door though, the court was told that
the worker had gotten down from the tractor facing forward.
As all workers that have had training are informed, one should
always alight facing the tractor, so one can hold the safety
handholds securely. Facing forwards is much more unsafe.
Though the judge did award the injured worker €172,500 in
damages, he reduced the award by 50%, so that the award was in
line with The Injuries Boards Book Of Quantum.
What implications does this have for your
Golf Club?
These unfortunate cases, which have occurred in workplaces very
similar to the golf industry, once again highlight the need for
proper safety management systems in all workplaces, including the
golf industry. Proper equipment, with all safety features must be in
place & proper/adequate training given to all workers, including
management. Every golf club has equipment which has features
related to these cases, whether that is maintenance equipment,
grass cutting, loading, moving, transport or other equipment, both
mechanised & non. All equipment must be maintained in good
order & where defects are noted, they must be repaired. All Green
Pass training programs covers these subjects.
It would appear that these accidents could have been easily
prevented had such safety management systems been in place &
had common sense been used.
As the old saying goes ‘Prevention is better than cure’.
HSS are the appointed occupational Safety & Health consultancy & training partner to The GCSAI.
Please give HSS a call if you have queries regarding any aspect of workplace Health & Safety, 1890 600 666, or
email: info@hssireland.ie | www.hssireland.ie | www.thegreenpass.ie Kieran Linehan, MSc, CFIOSH, Health & Safety Services (HSS)
Conference & Trade Show Photo’s
Left: Barry Flanagan (Ballinasloe GC), Gerard Dervan (Portumna
GC), Padraic Purcell (Portumna GC), Sean McDonagh (Portumna
GC), John Hurley (Ballinasloe GC)
www.gcsai.org
Left: John Egan (Rathfarnham GC), Giuseppe Serenelli
(Herbatech), Mark Mulcahy (Colaiste Stiofáin Naofa), Paul
Fitzgerald (Castle GC), Ken McManamon (Martyns Grass
Lawns), Simon Lewis (Sutton GC)
54
Trade News
CUSHMAN INTRODUCES
1600XD-R 4X4 UTILITY
VEHICLE
Lely Takes on TYM
Compact Tractor
Range
Cushman, has introduced the newest addition to its
vehicle lineup – the 1600XD-R 4x4 utility vehicle.
Lely has taken on the distribution for the TYM Tractors
range in Ireland and the UK.
E
stablished in 1960,
South Korean company
Tong Yang Moolson
(TYM) specialises in the design,
manufacture and distribution
of high-quality compact
tractors. Headquartered in
Seoul, TYM is a major
contributor to the
country’s economic
development and
produces 10,000
tractors annually to
meet demand from the
USA, Australia and Europe.
In these territories, the brand has established itself as
the tractor of choice among customers as diverse as golf
courses, sports stadiums and equestrian facilities – and Lely
is confident it will prove just as popular among Irish turf
professionals. With models ranging from 23hp to 100hp,
models up to 60hp are particularly suited to the turf sector.
Customers can choose from basic models suited to general
turf management, mid-duty models ideal for larger venues
like golf clubs, or heavy-duty tractors up to 60hp that boast
optional air-conditioned cabs with audio systems.
Throughout Ireland Lely has a comprehensive dealer and
service centre network. Lely will now be looking to leverage
this specialist network to provide first-class service and
support to new and existing customers of TYM products.
T
he 1600XD-R combines four-wheel-drive capability
with a powerful 22 hp, 1,007cc three-cylinder OHV
diesel engine to handle large tasks on tough terrain. Its
performance is further enhanced by an automatic, continuously
variable transmission (CVT) with low – and high-gear ratios, a
user-selectable locking rear differential which can be engaged
in both two-wheel drive and four-wheel drive operation,
four-wheel independent suspension, and exceptional hauling
and towing capacity, with a maximum vehicle load of 726 kgs.
The 1600XD-R is homologated as a tractor and as such can be
licensed for road use in European countries. (Local legislation
may apply as to how the vehicle is registered).
The Cushman 1600XD-R’s many features include:
• 22 hp, 1,007cc diesel engine
• Automatic transmission with selectable gear ratios
• User-selectable 4WD
• User-selectable locking rear differential
• Large payload and towing capacit
• Four-wheel independent suspension
• Durable construction
• Essential safety features
• Ergonomic cockpit design
• Unexpected conveniences
For more information on TYM, call Lely on 045 526170,
email turfcaresales.ie@lely.com or visit www.lely.com
Tines Direct Live
Established twelve years ago, Tines Direct has provided
customers a shop window for replacement tines, blades,
brushes and quality accessories to meet the most
rigorous demands of Greenkeepers, Course Mangers
and Sports Turf Professionals alike.
To further enhance its capability and versatility, the 1600XDR can be equipped with an optional hydraulic power source.
The system can circulate up to 6.5 gallons of fluid per minute
to drive implements such as ploughs, augers and post-drivers.
Quick-connect fittings allow implements to be quickly attached
and detached from the hydraulic system without tools. The
system also allows the vehicle’s cargo bed to be dumped under
hydraulic power.
To customise the 1600XD-R’s performance it can be fitted
with a wide variety of accessories, including fog lamps, skid
plates, work lights, warning beacon, a hand throttle kit, bed side
extensions, among others.
For more information on the Cushman line of lighttransportation vehicles for commercial, industrial and turf
applications, please visit www.cushman.com
Due to popular demand and with immediate effect, Tines
Direct have now expanded the service to make it possible
to order their products on line from their website, www.
tinesdirect.com. The benefits of the on-line ‘One Stop Shop’
is the freedom to order anytime, anywhere you have internet
access, with a quick delivery service. Tines Direct are also
offering free carriage for all orders over £100 with orders
placed online.
Tines Direct is a division of Richard Campey Ltd. To order
products from Tines Direct go to www.tinesdirect.com
55
greenside magazine | June 2012
Trade News
Kubota’s Spring
Cash-Back
Programme on
Selected Products
The purchase of a M130X tractor
will see a cash-back of £2,000 or
£3,000 if a loader is specified. This
offer closes on June 30th.
T
he M130X is a tractor,
engineered for demanding and
wide ranging large implement
work. Equipped with a powerful
and fuel efficient 130hp Kubota four
cylinder common rail system (CRS)
diesel engine, it features an electronic
engine management control system to
deliver more power and torque than
ever before.
High performance hydraulics
offer a 5,800 kg lift capacity, and an
independent hydraulic PTO (540rpm
and 1000rpm) which makes for easy
implement attachment and maximum
productivity. Tight turns are effortlessly
achieved with Kubota’s bevel-gear front
axle and Bi-Speed turn feature.
Also on offer is the £200 cash-back
on a GR1600 or T1800 ride-on mower
or £300 on the GR2100 or GR2120
models.
Kubota’s range of ride-on mowers
incorporate a multitude of performance
enhancing features, including Kubota’s
Glide-cut system for efficiency in cut
and collection. In addition they boast
multiple comfort features, including
a full flat operator platform, deluxe
adjustable seats, ergonomically
positioned controls and power steering,
to ensure ease of operation and reduced
fatigue.
Full details of the possible savings can
be found on www.kubota.co.uk
www.gcsai.org
Ransomes Jacobsen Signs Sales and
Co-Marketing Agreement with DSG TAG
Systems, Inc
Ransomes Jacobsen Ltd has announced
the signing of a strategic agreement with
DSG Tag Systems Inc. of Surrey, British
Columbia in Canada, for the sale and
co-marketing of its TAG-150 product line
and accessories through the Ransomes
Jacobsen distribution network and sales
channels.
D
SG Tag Systems has developed the
TAG-150, a revolutionary fleet
management and tracking system,
designed specifically to help golf course
operators efficiently manage their vehicles
and equipment, as well as labour resources.
The system utilises a combination of wireless
technologies to track and report the exact
location and status of all tagged assets, issue
alerts to facility managers and notifications to
vehicle operators. The TAG-150 is compatible
with any Ransomes Jacobsen mower or E-ZGO or Cushman vehicle, be it petrol, diesel or
electric.
It operates without any Wi-Fi equipment
on site, so there’s no additional installation
expense; it is compatible with all makes of
turf and utility vehicles and there’s even an
option for walk-behind mowers. It also comes
with a lifetime warranty. The first accessory,
the TAG TEXT, is an alphanumeric text
display featuring a rugged weather-proof
The DSG TAG system is compatible with any
Ransomes Jacobsen mower or E-Z-GO or
Cushman vehicle, be it petrol, diesel or electric
case with mounting options for any E-Z-GO
golf car, which adds messaging and distance
measurement capabilities to the TAG-150
vehicle unit. Players now have access to
distance measurement capabilities while the
golf course management has a very affordable
and convenient way to communicate with the
players in the field.
The second accessory is the TAG TOUCH,
a high-definition color touch screen display,
which provides the golfer with a graphic
representation of the hole played and offers
features such as pro-tips, green-view, score
keeping, distance measurement and more.
This new unit is aimed at high-end facilities
interested in creating an exceptional user
experience for their customers.
Dennis & Sisis Turf Care Seminar
The 2012 Dennis and Sisis Turf Care Seminar programme sailed into the Isle of
Man with a very successful and well attended day at the Ballafletcher Sports Club.
D
ennis & Sisis
were pleased with
the event and
their well proven format
certainly drew in the
crowds. Over 70 people
attended the day which
encompassed a mix of technical presentations
and demonstrations ‘on the pitch’.
Mike Atherton from King William College
was delighted that Dennis & Sisis chose the
Isle of Man. “We’ve never had an event like
this here before,” he commented. “It’s not
been for the lack of trying, but the wait has
been worthwhile. Having been aware of the
Dennis & Sisis seminars, which are held all
over the country, I can only offer my thanks
to them for their level of commitment to
their customers and Groundsmanship in
general, by way of committing so much
56
effort in coming to the Isle of
Man. We’re all so pleased to
have been able to take part in
such a successful seminar.”
Sentiments echoed by Allan
Pizer from The Douglas
Borough Council who ‘gained
a huge amount of useful information and
remarked on the brilliant speakers.’
George Platt, Instructor and NPTC
Assessor gave his views, “This has been a
well organised seminar. No time has been
wasted and plenty of information has been
imparted. There was a good choice of topics
and a good selection of machinery.”
It was left for Mike Atherton to sum up,
“It is a pleasure for us on the Island to play
host to all the speakers and companies
involved. The delegates got a lot out of the
day- thanks to Dennis & Sisis.”
Trade News
Four Machines now Badges as
‘Dual Use’ Across Both Artificial
and Natural
Wiedenmann UK now offers four ‘dual use’ fleet items and such
versatility is helping clients stretch their budgets that bit further.
B
oth the Terra Brush and the Terra
Groom have been designed from
the outset to be equally at home
on either surface. On artificial, both
brushes, albeit slightly different in size
and zig-zag formations, offer intensive
and even brushing. They brush sand and
rubber crumbs back into the infill zone,
straightening and levelling the surface
in a smooth pass. On natural grass they
dispense with early morning dew and
brush in top dressing and facilitate worm
cast removal. Importantly, wherever they
are used and whatever surface, they make
the grass ‘stand tall’ and well presented.
Solar-Powered
Golf Cars
Tee Up 70%
Energy Saving
The Wiedenmann Whisper Twister
was originally earmarked for leaf and
debris blowing on parkland. However it
was quickly found to be just as effective
at blowing rubbish from artificial pitches;
the 270° swivel head and directional vent
making it easy to gather in piles without
blowing off the infill.
The Combi Clean sweeper was
engineered for snow, dirt and soil
sweeping and collecting. However, quite
a few clients have seized on the fact that
the front-mounted Combi Clean lends
itself very nicely to brushing and infilling
synthetic pitches.
Terra Brush
Terra Groom
Whisper Twister
Combi Clean Sweeper
Club Car has introduced the Precedent
i2 cars, which are fitted with state-ofthe-art solar-panelled roofs, enabling
the vehicles to complete up to five 18hole rounds on just one charge - double
the number of a normal electrical
charge. This will deliver substantial
energy savings – as much as 70% - and
will see a rapid return on investment,
especially during peak season.
The solar-panelled cars will enable
golf clubs to optimise their usage and
time on the golf course without having
to worry about each vehicle’s battery
charge levels.
In addition to the vehicles being
emission-free, the solar-panelled roofs
can significantly help extend battery life.
Ransomes Spider Mini Remote Controlled Slope Mower
Ransomes Jacobsen has launched the
Ransomes Spider Mini, the latest addition
to their range of radio controlled slope
mowers, which also includes the proven
Spider 1 and Spider 2.
Compact in size at only 1040 mm x 900 mm
with a 56 cm width of cut, the Spider Mini
can access smaller and more difficult areas on
wooded slopes, riverbanks and other constricted
areas. At only 130kg its light weight ensures
low fuel consumption and emissions, a turf
friendly foot-print and easy transportation.
Power comes from a 6.5hp Briggs and Stratton
petrol engine with hydrostatic transmission
and it is capable
of speeds up to 4
km/h. The single
rotary blade has
a cutting width of
56 cm (22 inches)
with a height of
cut ranging from
40mm to 90mm.
The industrial quality remote control unit allows
the operator to control the drive, steering, engine
start and, if required, emergency shutdown. The
height of cut and blade engagement is controlled
manually on the machine. As with the two
larger machines, the use of radio remote control
57
allows the operator to safely control the
mower without the need to stand on
sloping ground and, of course, there are
no hand and arm vibration issues.
Unique chain portals ensure a reliable
maintenance-free drive and help to
provide a lower centre of gravity for
greater stability. It will climb 25 degree
slopes and with productivity up to 1500
sq metres per hour on a single litre of fuel, the
Spider Mini is the ideal, cost-effective mower for
difficult to access areas that require a maintained
finish, such as lakes, dams, pastures and sloping
lawns.For more information on Ransomes
Jacobsen visit: www.ransomesjacobsen.com
greenside magazine | June 2012
President’s Report by Damian McLaverty, Ballinasloe Golf Club
Contact Points
Alan Mahon (Communications Manager)
Rathjarney Piercestown, Co. Wexford.
Tel/Fax: 053 9158606 Mobile: 087 6260889
Email: alan@gcsai.org
Damian McLaverty (President)
Ballinasloe Golf Club - 086 8301048
Email: mclaverty@eircom.net
Michael McFeely (Vice-President & FEGGA Rep)
Westmanstown Golf Club - 087 234 2051
Email: michaelmcfeely@hotmail.com
A Cháirde
As I am writing this report on the 1st of May we are all busy preparing our
courses for the summer ahead. Mother nature has been unkind to those of
us who hollow cored in the last few weeks, as growth has been unnaturally
slow for the time of year, and good greens recovery has been hard to
achieve. Hopefully by the time you read this, temperatures will have risen
and your greens restored to their picture perfect best.
A
s you all know we had our conference/trade show in The Heritage in the
last week of March. As promised, it proved to be a fantastic venue and the
mixture of practical talks together with outside demonstrations proved to
Tom Carew (Treasurer)
Craddockstown Golf Club - 087 6260182
Email: carewtc@yahoo.ie
Michael Loughran
(Education Officer, Immediate Past President)
Hilton Templepatrick - (0044) 797 4229343
Email: michael.loughran@hilton.com
Michael F. O’Connor (SW Rep)
Killarney Golf & Fishing Club - 087 1276764
Email: michaelfoc@lycos.com
John Egan (Hon Sec, NE Rep)
Rathfarnham - 086 3470388
Email: jalegan@eircom.net
Mark Murphy (SE Rep)
Tullamore Golf Club - 087 2609255
Email: marktgc@gmail.com
GCSAI Website:
www.gcsai.org
www.gcsai.org
be a big hit for all who attended. Thankfully, for all the outside talks, the sun shone,
and there was no need for wet gear. In fact record temperatures for the month of
March were recorded during the two days of the event; unfortunately since then
we haven’t seen much sun and temperatures have dropped significantly. To all our
Trade members, and, in particular, to our two main sponsors, Bayer and Ransomes/
Jacobsen, who supported the event and showed their loyalty to Irish greenkeepers, I
thank you most sincerely. The GCSAI continue to provide educational events, such
as our conference, and bring up to date information to Irish greenkeepers on the best
maintenance practices. Your continued support is therefore invaluable. Now, more
than ever, as greenkeepers, we need events like our conference to network, and learn
from others, on how best to maintain the standards at our clubs. As an Association
we are dedicated and committed to continue to bringing as much education and
practical advice to Irish greenkeepers as possible. For that reason I would urge you,
as greenkeepers, to engage more with the Association, be it at regional or national
level, and communicate to us the topics and issues you want to see addressed. Future
events depend on greenkeepers, participating and attending, so get involved and
you will reap the benefits.
I wish you all a good summer, perfect greens, plenty of golfers, sunshine and,
hopefully, an enjoyable few months of greenkeeping.
Is Mise le Meas
Damian McLaverty
Some of the attendants at this year’s GCSAI annual conference
58
GCSAI Trade Members
The GCSAI thank each and every one of our Trade Members for supporting us throughout
these challenging times. Please support them when purchasing goods or services.
Company Name
Contact
Telephone
Email
Advanced Landscape Services
Amenity Turf Supplies Anthony D’Arcy Ltd
Barenbrug UK Ltd
Bayer Environmental Science
Breslin Brothers Ltd
Campey Turfcare Systems Ltd Cropcare Ltd
Dar Golf Construction Ltd
Declan Branigan Designs Ltd
Drummonds Ltd Dublin Grass Machinery
Eddie B. Connaughton Ltd
Emerald Lawns
Everris
Goldcrop Ltd
(Re) Golf Design
Harris Turf Improvements
Headland Amenity Ltd
Horta Soils Ltd Irish Grass Machinery Ltd
James Coburn & Son Ltd
Jeff Howes Golf Design
JFB Golf Supplies Ltd John Deere Ltd John Lindsay Professional Sportsturf Kevin Broderick Ltd
Leinster Turf Equipment Ltd
Lely Ireland Ltd
Major Equipment International
Martyns Grass Lawns Ltd
MSK Silversands Ltd
National Agrochemical Distributors Ltd Rainbird
Reel-Tech
Sanrose Ltd Sea Nymph (Galway Bay Marine) Ltd SOL Golf Course Construction Ltd. Spraychem Golf Ltd
Summerhill Instant Lawns
Syngenta
Tacit Golf Course Equipment
Teagasc The Buggyman Ltd
TurfCare Group
Unichem Ltd
Whites Agri Karl Dooley
Shay Phelan
Patrick Murphy
Paul Warner
Conor Egan
John Breslin
Brian O’Shaughnessy
Rose O’Donovan
James D’Arcy
Ronan Branigan
Rosalyn Drew
Robert Mitchell
Eddie Connaughton
Colin Sherrard
Colman Warde
Mark Booker
Jeff Lynch
Mark Harris
Andy Russell
Priscilla McFarland
Michael Smyth
William Cartmill
Jeff Howes
Frank Byrne
Joedy Ibbotson
John Lindsay
Kevin Broderick
Derek Inglis
Richard Harris
Eibhlin Murphy
Brian Martyn
Michael Kelly
Liam McMahon Kneale Diamond
Barry Drennan
Bernard Kinsella
David Casburn Michael O’Leary
Yvonne Ritchie
John Cribbin
Caroline Scott Giles McDonagh
Pat Suttle
Liam Ross
Pat Galavan
Niall Dunne
Jer Doran
087 9402650
087 2765259
0402 38261
00441359 272000
086 2643001
087 2772770
087 9274521
01 2874485
087 2573550 041 9846627
041 9838986
01 8386867
01 6283300
01 6852655
087 7799527
087 9580110
086 8239991
087 2540166
00 44 1223 597834
048 38852888
01 8991212
048 40662207
056 7701007
087 2374285
00441949 860491
048 38339229
01 2572255
086 8308033
045 526170
094 9630572
093 38012
087 2887016
01 8437808
00447979 651765
087 6388955
053 9137208
087 6788481
064 7751006
01 8293990
087 2749860
00441223 883466 087 9441174
01 8459032
045 878200
045 409330
01 8351499
01 8438521
advancedlandscapeservices@eircom.net
sphelan@amenityturfsupplies.com
info@darcysands.ie
pwarner@baruk.co.uk
conor.egan@bayer.com
jbreslin@unison.ie
brian@campeyturfcare.com
info@cropcare.ie
james@dargolf.com
ronan@declanbranigandesign.com
rosalyn.drew@drummonds.ie
dublingrass@eircom.net
eddiebconn@eircom.net
colin@emeraldlawns.ie
colman.warde@everris.com
mark.booker@goldcrop.ie
jeff@regolfdesign.com
info@harristurf.ie
andy.russell@headlandamenity.com
hortasoilslimited@btinternet.com
sales@irishgrassmachinery.ie
sales@coburns.co.uk
jeffhowes@jhgd.com
jfb_golf@yahoo.com
hartdavid@johndeere.com
sales@lindsayturfcare.com
kbroderick@brodericks.ie
sales@leinsterturfequipment.ie
turfcaresales.ie@lely.com
info@major-equipment.com
martyngrassslawns@eircom.net
msksilversands@gmail.com
liam@nadirl.com
knealediamond@hotmail.com
barry@reeltech.ie
sanrose@eircom.net
david@sea-nymph-ireland.com
info@solgolfconst.com
yvonne.ritchie@spray-chem.com
john@summerhilllawns.ie
carolinescott@syngenta.com
giles.mcdonagh@tacitgolf.co.uk
pat.suttle@teagasc.ie
liam@buggyman.net
pgalavan@turfcaregroup.com
sales@unichem.ie
jerdoran@whitesagri.com