B railsford Golf Centre is a thriving proprietary hub skirting the beautiful Peak District , which is at the cutting edge of sustainable practices .
SPRAYERS & SPRAYING
Brailsford finds Berthoud knapsacks weed out the competition
B railsford Golf Centre is a thriving proprietary hub skirting the beautiful Peak District , which is at the cutting edge of sustainable practices .
Shortlisted for England Golf ’ s Club of the Year earlier in 2023 , the centre relies on a tight team of three greenkeepers to keep presentational and playability standards high .
Once a field sports venue before its redevelopment as a 9-hole course , target golf and practice areas , Brailsford ’ s heavily rural aspect demands year-round commitment to weed control .
“ Several areas require us to hand- rather than boom spray ,” says course manager Ben Archer . “ We control thistles between the 2nd and 3rd holes as well as along the 4th and 5th , through pine woodland , spraying fringes of the greens and approaches and keeping weed outbreaks in check ,” he explains .
“ There ’ s also our car parks , paths and gravel tracks across the course to keep free of unwanted growth .”
“ I like the robustness - it stands up well against others available - and you can spray at a comfortable height . The telescopic lance is very handy for hard to reach areas like the six-foot-deep ditch running along the course .”
Ben ’ s been trialling a Pro Comfort knapsack sprayer from Berthoud - sister brand to popular make Cooper Pegler - and likes what he ’ s used . “ I found it comfy with plenty of adjustability for differing body sizes ,” he reports .
“ The cushioned straps , including the chest and belly belts , allow the weight of the knapsack to be spread in a way that limits forces acting on the shoulders and back .
The ability to switch the spray handle from one side of the knapsack to the other is another welcome feature . “ I ’ m left handed but years of pumping with my left means I ’ ve gained a skill set with that hand .
“ If I ’ m carrying an injury , I can pump with my right hand then hold the trigger with my left . That ’ s simply done . The trigger itself is also ergonomically designed , making operation a one finger exercise .”
Ben adds : “ I like the robustness - it stands up well against others available - and you can spray at a comfortable height . The telescopic lance is very handy for hard to reach areas like the six-foot-deep ditch running along the course .”
Under their sustainability strategy , Brailsford limits its applIcation of treatment liquids , Ben explains . “ When winter spraying , we spot treat any disease outbreak on greens , rather than blanket covering , as we don ’ t want to spray unnecessarily .”
Maintenance is always a priority , Ben says . “ We strip down sprayers twice a year , washing and soaking knapsacks thoroughly and clearing filters of anything that might block them .”
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80 GroundskeepingJournal . co . uk | September / October 2023