Turf professionals can expect a series of educational treats at this year’s IOG SALTEX show, with a three-day series of focused ‘All Things Turf’ free seminars (September 6-8, Windsor Racecourse) that will inform and enlighten everyone engaged in sports turf, including exclusive insights into some of the latest research findings into sports pitch drainage, grass seed development and sustainable cricket pitches.
In addition, there will be a day-long series of presentations as the BIGGA Golf Education Day will be presented by three leading names from the industry on both sides of theAtlantic:
- ‘Putting Green Potpourri: Managing Water, Firmness and Growth’ by Cale Bigelow PhD, Associate Professor of Agronomy at Purdue University, North America;
- ‘Bunker Reconstruction at The Richmond’ by Les Howkins MG, Course Manager of The Richmond Golf Club; and
- ‘The Ryder Cup Experience’ by Jim McKenzie MBE, Director of Golf Course and Estates Management at the Celtic Manor Resort.
The interests of fine turf enthusiasts will be further indulged by Dr David T Jones from the Natural History Museum as he discusses ‘Microscolex phosphoreus: a new threat to close mown fine turf’.
Microscolex phosphoreus is a small, non-native earthworm that in the last six years has started appearing in bowling greens and golf greens, he says. The initial results of a project to map its distribution suggest it is spreading across the country. This presentation will review the current knowledge of the species.
The latest findings, and updates, from two major research projects – the ECB Sustainable Cricket Project and Sports Pitch Drainage: Sustainable Drainage Systems – will be presented, respectively, by Dr Iain James, Senior Lecturer at the Centre for Sports Surface Technology, Cranfield University, and by Loughborough University.
Iain will present the latest findings from the project which has been benchmarking natural resource consumption, looking at the threats of drought and flood and developing guidelines for clubs to help improve environmental sustainability and to cut energy and water bills while increasing their capacity to provide cricket going forward. Also covered will be the carbon footprint of a typical cricket club.
The latest news in grass seed, too, will be covered – by Steve Denton, Rigby Taylor Grass Seed Development Manager, who will discuss ‘Cultivar engineering’ new seed mixes for intensive winter use where slow growth and low light conditions affect sports pitch management, while DLF Trifolium’s Amenity Sales Manager Derek Smith will present ‘The ryegrass revolution!’
Derek will focus on the new turf type annual ryegrasses and the very latest introduction new turf type, Tetraploid rye grass. The presentation will cover the history, what’s new, how do they work when and where should they be used.
In addition, the STRI’s Steve Gingell will discuss ‘Soil profiles and their effect on sports turf performance’. He will look at organic matter and what is going on underneath the turf, accompanied by the latest research and data from STRI, with an understanding of how this directly influences the different playing qualities of sports turf.
IOG SALTEX www.iogsaltex.co.uk