The Great Turf Company provides Natural Turf Care to UK’s first 100% Chemical Free 18-hole Golf Course
As the revolution of Natural Turf Care spreads across the country, The Great Turf Company teams up with New Malton Golf Club in Cambridge to transform the golfing world with an innovative and groundbreaking approach to sports turf management.
Owner of New Malton, Paul Stevenson and Brian Mudge, took over the course in August 2009, and since then has strived to prove to the world of golf that he can run a profitable golf course by being chemical free and encouraging wildlife, pioneering the concept of the UK's first 100% chemical free 18-hole golf course.
The club's ethos is the opposite of most traditional golf clubs, with the management team breaking down the barriers of superiority and elitism that currently prohibit the golfing world, causing a stir in the industry by welcoming children, eradicating dress codes and offering affordable membership rates, making the sport accessible to all.
As well as taking an innovative approach to running the club, Stevenson and Co-Director, PGA Fellow Brian Mudge and full time ecologist John Atkinson, have chosen a natural alternative to caring for their greens. The 18-hole course has so far been treated using a variety of organic methods and ingredients, Meanwhile, the huge area of non-playing ground is being turned over to ancient meadowland in partnership with the RSPB, to allow grazing of rare species of farm animals and encouraging rare birds, butterflies and plants, whilst providing a haven for local wildlife. By growing all their own vegetables, planting fruit orchards and lavender fields for their own honey they hope to be self sufficient within five years.
Writing the rule book on 1005 chemical free golf courses is a difficult task. To help the Directors achieve this, New Malton has entered into a partnership with another groundbreaking organisation which shares its vision of Natural Turf Care, Fife-based business The Great Turf Company. This commercial arm of The Great Lawn Company corporation was established on the culture of providing 100% environmentally friendly treatments to produce high quality, naturally green turf for sports and leisure grounds.
The Great Turf Company will provide knowledge and expertise in the form of its Technical Director, Scotland's first Master Greenkeeper, Ian MacMillan, who is sharing his 45 years of turf care experience with New Malton to ensure they get the most from their organic land. Ian will consult on and improve the club's current 'compost tea' system, in which he is a specialist. The Great Turf Company will also supply and advise on the use of their unique self-manufactured range of natural treatments which are safe for children and the surrounding wildlife, issues of high importance to New Malton.
The partnership will assist the club in coordinating its natural turf care activities to get the most from the greens whilst providing a safe and chemical free environment. This approach will also help to cut costs and improve the club's reputation and profitability within the industry.
The Great Turf Company Directors are ecstatic about the partnership between the two creative and revolutionary companies and are looking forward to continuing the transformation of the golf industry with Natural Turf Care. Managing Director Andrew Turnbull says, "Ian and I are absolutely delighted to be partnering Paul Stevenson and Brian Mudge in helping them fulfill their dream of operating a profitable and sustainable chemical free golf business. We have here a meeting of minds and outlook on the future of golf course management. Paul is a real pioneer who has put his beliefs into action and we look forward to a long lasting partnership".
For further information on environmental solutions for your golf course, visit www.greatturfcompany.com, Freephone 0800 157 7227 or email help@greatturfcompany.com.
Image: Andrew Turnbull (left), Paul Stevenson (centre) and Ian MacMillan (right) join forces in their quest for Natural Turf Care