EVENTS'Y

CALENDAR

FEBRUARYAnnual Grounds MaintenanceShort Course, Sheraton Co-

lumbia Northwest, Columbia, SC. Contact SteveLong, Forest Lake Country Club, P.O. Box 6806,Columbia, SC 29260. (803) 782-7248.

19

25'"27 Western Pennsylvania Turf"- Conference, Pittsburgh Expo

Mart and Marriott Hotel, Monroeville, PA. Co-sponsored by Pennsylvania State University andthe Pennsylvania Turfgrass Council. ContactChristine King, PTC, P.O. Box 417, Bellefonte, PA16823-0417.

MARCHSecond Annual West CoastMulti-Use Turf & Immigration

Maintenance Seminar, San Francisco Holiday Inn,San Francisco. Featuring park, stadium, golfcourse and school maintenance. Contact Rick Ruiz,Buildings & Grounds Maintenance Consultants, P.O.Box 1985, Novato, CA 94948. (415) 898-1281.

4-5

Sports Turf Managers Asso-ciation Seminar, in conjunc-

tion with the Landscape Exposition, Valley ForgeConvention Center, Valley Forge, PA. Fifteenspeakers on sports turf construction and care. Con-tact Dawn Pratt, (800) 243-2815 or Kent Kurtz (714)598-4167.

4

Advances in Turfgrass Culture,University of Florida Extension

Service Auditorium, Orlando, FL Contact UdayYadav, (305) 420-3265.

6

Overseeding Short Course,Deer Run Country Club, Cas-

selberry FL. Contact Uday Yadav, (305) 420-3265.19

Sports Turf Clinic and Equip-ment Rodeo, Ranger Stadium,

Arlington, TX. There will be three hours of instruc-tion and demonstration of equipment. Contact BillKnoop, Texas A&m, 17360 Coit Rd., Dallas, TX75252. (214) 231-5362.

20

26 27 Landscape dedsign Short~ Course, Fisher Auditorium,

Ohio Agricultural Research and DevelopmentCenter, Wooster, OH. Contact Fred K. Buscher,OARDC, Wooster, OH 44691. (216) 263-3831.

THE FRONT OFFICE'Y

OPINION PAGE

GOLF SUPERINTENDENTS BOOST RECOGNITION

Extension agents and a few sports turf man-agers have, up to this year, been the onlyvoices crying out for better sports fields.

They have been fighting for the good cause vir-tually alone. They wanted and needed help.Today, that help is on the way.

One of the most important new voices is that ofthe golf course superintendent. Don't confuse hisworksite with his real focus, turf management. Heloves a challenge too - that challenge goesbeyond the boundaries of his plush golf course orcountry club.

Once you get to know a few of today's stadium and field managers, you'll dis-cover that many used to be superintendents. Or, like Bob Hudzik at PennsylvaniaState University, whom we featured in our last issue, the sports turf manager isresponsible for both golf courses and sports fields.

Take Don Marshall, director of golf operations for the City of Anaheim, Califor-nia. He is responsible for two quality public golf courses as well as Anaheim Sta-dium's field and grounds. After a decade of building and maintaining golf coursesin New England, this graduate of the Stockbridge School at the University ofMassachusetts accepted the huge challenge at Anaheim. Not only do the Ramsand the Angels play at Anaheim Stadium, but the facility hosts mud bogs, con-certs, and even religious conventions. His field takes a beating to say the least.

There is absolutely no doubt that his education andihts experience as a golfcourse superintendent make Marshall the exceptional sports turf manager he is.He was one of the first field managers to order sod grown on sand to avoid com-patibility problems with his sand-based field. He draws constantly on his experi-ence to solve challenges at the stadium.

Now we are hearing about superintendents, such as George Renault at ChevyChase Country Club, Chevy Chase, MD, and Frank Dobie at Sharon CountryClub, Sharon, OH, who are reaching out to their regional golf course superinten-dent associations to provide help to public schools and parks with turf problems.As Renault says, he doesn't want to criticize a school's field or the work of thatschool's maintenance crew. He wants the school administration to requestassistance knowing that it's free and that the current staff will not be left out.

The reasons for a school superintendent to ask for help are contained in EliotRoberts' story in this issue. It's more than preventing injuries; it's providing thesame amount of attention to stadium and practice fields as is currently given tohard surfaces at schools. It's team pride in their home field ... it's proper fieldconstruction ... it's a justified investment in an important school fixture.

Then read Henry lndyk's story on the common mistakes in sports fieldmanagement. Chances are you'll find 99 percent of the reasons for field failureare targeted in this article. Use the stories in this issue as your ammunition togain recognition for the need for better public field care.

When we started sportsTURF, people asked why we combined golf coursesuperintendents with athletic field managers. Our logic was simple. Golf is asport and sportsTURF encompasses all sports. We are convinced this logic issound. There is definite crossover. As Mike Hurdzan says in the main feature,athletic field managers and golf course superintendents have much to share.They face common challenges daily.

We salute those superintendents who contribute their time and expertise tohelp the athletic field management industry. They are making a large differencein the way people perceive sports field care.

As Hurdzan also states, the athletic field manager has experience that canbe valuable to the golf course superintendent. Hopefully, we are building afraternity of all sports turf professionals, something that can help tremendouslyin the future.

January/February 1986 11

One of the mostimportant questions we

can ask today is whatcan the golf course

superintendent and theathletic field manager

do to help each other?

'12 sportsTURF

The Maintenance Link IBy Dr. Michael J. Hurdzan, ASGCA

Besides maintaining scenic beauty, a superintendent also contends with turf wear problemThis is the seventh hole at Hillcrest Country Club, Batesville, IN.

The most intensely maintained turf-grass in the world is on golf greens,golf tees and athletic fields, in that

order. Although each installation servesan entirely different purpose and has itsown peculiar type of problems, there is acommon thread that binds them together.That thread is the goal of producing thebest playing conditions possible throughmanagement of plant growth and controll-ing the use of the turf area.

On one end of the thread is the golfcourse superintendent who has a long tra-dition of expertise in sports turf manage-ment. For more than a century superin-tendents, once called greenskeepers,have worked with nature to produce asports area of high scenic value. Only the

botanical garden or arboretum rivals thegolf course for natural beauty underman's care.

The athletic field manager, on the otherend of the thread, is just starting toreceive the recognition he deserves inproviding a durable, safe surface for othermajor sports played on turf. The history ofthe athletic field manager is one of littlerecognition, with the exception of man-agers of fields at the college and profes-sional sports levels. Most other fields aremanaged by a member of the coachingstaff, janitorial staff or park crew. Somelandscape maintenance companies per-form athletic field maintenance undercontract.

One of the most important questions we

tween Athletic Fields and Golf Turf

nuch to share with athletic field managers.

can ask today is what can the golf coursesuperintendent and the athletic fieldmanager do to help each other? Certainlythere is much for each to share with theother that might make an important differ-ence to the future of sports turf manage-ment overall.

The best place to start is to examine thegoals and purposes the golf course super-intendent or athletic field manager has forhis particular turfgrass installation andthen compare and contrast the manage-ment techniques used to achieve them.

The golf green is intended to providethe smoothest, fastest, most consistentturfgrass surface possible on which gol-fers can test their putting skills. Since put-

ting is acknowledged as a test of preci-sion, with shots rarely longer than 100feet, the putting surface is small in com-parison to athletic fields. This confinedspace, although not intended to withstandsevere tearing by cleats, must withstandcompaction from golfers, pitting from golfballs lofted onto the green from traps orfairway, and the cultural stresses of grow-ing a plant well below its optimum cuttingheight.

The typical specifications for bentgrassor bermudagrass putting greens actuallyincrease the turf's susceptibility toenvironmental pressures of heat, humid-ity and pests. To help the green withstandthese stresses superintendents changepin placements regularly and maintaingreens on virtually an hourly basis. Toassist the superintendents, golf coursearchitects and the United States GolfAssociation have designed greens withspecialized rootzones and drainage sys-tems and, in courses handling a largenumber of rounds, larger greens or dou-ble greens to distribute traffic wear.

Superintendents mow these creepingcultivars of bentgrass and bermudagrassat 1/4 to 5/64-inch cutting heights. Greensare aerified three to six times per year,verticut weekly during active growthperiods and topdressed twice each week.These practices are combined with inten-sive irrigation, fertilization and controls fordiseases and pests.

The athletic field is at the opposite endof the spectrum from golf greens. Its pur-pose is to provide reliable footing andphysical support to users who generallyimpart violent damage to the turf as partof that use. The athletic field surfacereceives not only compaction and cleatabrasion, but also highly concentratedactivity in certain areas.

The field manager can't move the goalposts daily or make the field larger tospread out the wear. There have to beother solutions to heavy use. A few oftoday's stadiums, such as the OrangeBowl, Los Angeles Coliseum, Mile HighStadium, and Anaheim Stadium, hostmore than 100 events per year on a singlenatural turf surface. Some park superin-tendents may even laugh at this figureconsidering the use on their fields.

The activities on athletic fields requireless surface perfection than those on golfgreens. The surface must be smoothenough to prevent player injuries and toassure against bad bounces. With theadvent of artificial turf, more attention hasbeen paid to both the speed of a ball onthe turf and the speed a player can attainwhile playing. Cutting height and type ofturfgrass can affect both.

The most commonly used turfgrasseson athletic fields are varieties of Kentuckybluegrass, ryegrass, tall fescue, and ber-mudagrass. Zoysiagrass is being tried onsome fields in the transition zone. Over-seeding fields with perennial ryegrass forquick repair of divots or to protect dor-mant warm season turfgrasses is a rapidlyexpanding technology for heavily usedfields.

Maintenance of important athletic fieldsin season involves mowing every otherday at one-inch cutting height, aerificationand/or overseeding 10 to 15 times peryear, occasional topdressing, and moder-ate use of irrigation, fertilizers and pesti-cides. However, it is correct to say mostfields in this country receive weekly mow-ing, a single application of fertilizer eachseason, aerification twice a year at best,limited weed and insect control, oneheavy overseeding, and infrequent irriga-tion during dry months.

The main football practice field atTexas A&M University in College Stationwas constructed following USGA Greenspecifications. Even though the TexasAggies play their home games on artificialturf, they practice on a field utilizing golfconstruction standards.

The golf tee is intermediate betweenathletic fields and golf greens. A tee mustprovide a very smooth, level, low-mowedturf for precise shot making. But, it alsoreceives violent abuse from its userswhile providing firm footing and support.Tees receive concentrated and isolatedactivity, with lots of ripping and tearing ofthe surface.

You'll find nearly every type of turfgrasson tees, often mixed together, includingbentgrass, Kentucky bluegrass, ryegrass,tall fescue, bermudagrass, and zoysia-grass. Separate maintenance programsmay be required when year-round playnecessitates management of both cooland warm-season turfgrasses.

Maintenance of tees varies widely withthe course. Tees are mowed two to seventimes per week, irrigated if necessary,aerified three to five times per year, over-seeded or spot-seeded 10 to 15 times peryear, topdressed as needed, and ferti-lized regularly to aid recovery of the turf.

Superintendents and athletic field man-agers can compare their turf based uponthe type of facility or the expectations oftheir superiors. But, they might be able toshare more with each other by looking atless apparent similarities of their jobs.

First is the physiology of turfgrasses.You may have successfully maintainedsports turf for years without knowing thefirst thing about physiology. But, the

continued on page 14

January/February 19116 13

The Maintenance Lini<continued from page 13

underlying secret to management of turf-grasses is their common physiology des-pite obvious differences in appearanceand performance.

The manager of the golf green haslearned the significant importance ofmanaging the micro-nutrients within theroot zone. Putting green turf, like othertypes of sports turf, is always on the vergeof dying. Management of the very littlethings can separate success from failure.

Managing micronutrients begins withroutine monitoring of the pH of the soiland the soil solution. Although the pH ofthe soil may not be in the desired range(6.5-6.8), the plant reacts mainly to thesoil solution. It is not uncommon for a soil

ever, they are vital indications of turfgrasshealth under stressful conditions. Youmay prefer to consult a soil specialist peri-odically and adjust your program to hisrecommendations.

You can carry out your own partial mon-itoring program by purchasing a goodquality pH meter and test kit. Completedata can be obtained by sending a soilsample to the state extension soils labora-tory once or twice each year. This test willalso provide a run-down on micronu-trients in the soil that may require anadjustment in your fertilization program.

One important measurement of soilquality is the calcium to magnesium ratio.It should be in the range of 7:1 to 10:1. Itis common for soil scientists to recom-mend additional magnesium by applying

Dick Jenks stands on an Oregon high school field constructed with his Hi-Play sandrootzone, designed to handle the heavy winter rains of the Northwest.

with a high pH to have an ideal soil solu-tion pH, with proper management. Theturf manager can adjust the pH of the soilwater by applying acid-forming (sulfur) orbase forming (lime) materials.

Routine monitoring also provides im-portant information on the cation ex-change capacity (C.E.C.) of the soil, theamount of water that percolates thru thesoil profile, the temperature of the soil,and the effects of the irrigation water onthe soil. Some of these factors may seemunnecessary and overcomplicated. How-14 sporfsTURF

up to five pounds of magnesium sulfate(epsom salts) per one thousand squarefeet and watering it in thoroughly.

Iron is gaining recognition as an impor-tant influence on turf color. Someproducts being applied to turf are Fer-ramec (PBI Gordon), Lesco Iron Plus(Lesco Inc.) and Panasea (Emerald Isle).Potassium fertilization has also beenunder-estimated. The trend is toward fer-tilizers with a 1:1 ratio of nitrogen topotassium.

The value of organic content in the soil

is recognized but too often oversimplified.Organic based fertilizers have been usedeffectively for much longer than the newerinorganic ones. Milorganite (MilwaukeeSewerage Commission) has been usedsince the 1920s.

But, not all organic products are thesame. Composted sewage sludge pro-ducts can form a crust over the soil sur~face if improperly applied. It is importantto incorporate these products into therootzone through aerification prior toapplication and dragging after. Consult asoils expert before applying organic-based fertilizers to sand-based fields.

In areas with variable quality irrigationwater, it is wise to have the water testedmonthly until seasonal variations are fullyunderstood. Golf course superintendentsmay be able to relate the care of tees toathletic fields. In most instances, golfcourse tees are undersized, poorly placed,badly drained, and recieve a concentratedamount of wear in certain areas, usuallythe center. In addition, golfers knock outhuge divots, one almost on top of another,so vegetative healing of these scars isdifficult. Vigorous growth is necessary topermit the best turf conditions possible,and this most often must be done onnative soils, and not fancy rootzones as ongreens.

The first step to making golf tee turfgrow is to provide the best rooting possiblethrough core aerification, removal of plugsif the soil is poor, and topdressing with a1/4 to 1/2-inch layer of sand which isdragged into the aerification holes. Thesand should be tested for particle size andpH before application.

Starter fertilizer with a high phosphorusto nitrogen and potassium ratio should beapplied to stimulate the germination andgrowth of the seed to follow. Overseedwith a slicer-seeder if possible, but broad-cast spreaders are acceptable.

The choice of overseeding materials isgrowing as turf breeders develop advanc-ed varieties and cultivarsThere have beendramatic advances in the past three to fiveyears in plant breeding as evidenced bythe frequent news coverage about geneticengineering. Newly released turfgrass cul-tivars vary widely in their growth habits,requirements and adaptability.

The sports turf manager needs to knowthe names of cultivars, not just types ofturfgrass seed. For example, managers ofgolf tees have found that some of the morevegetatively aggressive cultivars of Ken-tucky bluegrass, such as Touchdown,Bensun (A-34), Mystic, and Sydsport, canaccelerate the turf recovery process.Some tests have shown plots of these var-ieties have doubled in size in one year.

The United States Department ofAgriculture Research Center in Beltsville,Md., has coordinated national perfor-mance tests of many turfgrass varietiesfor various qualities. It's important to notethat some cultivars will perform better incertain regions of the country than others.

The "links look" of the fourth hole at Hillcrest Country Club, gives modem golfers the feelingof the ancient Scottish courses.

Ask your seed supplier about these testsor contact Jack Murray, USDA-ARS-NER,Reid Crops Laboratory, Beltsville, Md.20705.

Perennial turf-type ryegrasses haveshown marked improvement in pest resis-tance and cutting quality over the best

varieties of a few short years ago. Youcan see that careful selection of over-seeding materials can produce dramaticresults.

This information-sharing relationship isnot one-sided. Athletic field managershave advanced understanding of thatch,

more affectionately known as "mat." Theirexperience has shown that 1/4 to 1/2-inchof mat can dramatically reduce turf wearand improve vegetative recoupability.

Recently, some university turfresearchers, golf course superintendents,and athletic field managers have beentesting both surface and subsurfacefibers and materials to see if they doreduce excessive wear and compaction.The researchers discovered that thatchcould take ten times more wear and abra-sion than some products tested. Theirconclusion was 1/2-inch of thatch may beideal for athletic fields and golf tees, and3/8 to 1/4-inch of mat may be ideal for golfgreens.

There is a definite link between the golfcourse superintendent and the athleticfield manager. Maintenance techniquescan be shared to improve the lot of both.Sharing of this information through tradejournals like sportsTURF benefitseveryone ....

Editor's Note: Michael Hurdzan is pastpresident of the American Society of GolfCourse Architects and a partner in the golfcourse architecture firm Kidwell & Hurd-zan Inc., in Columbus, OH. He is theauthor of the recently-released bookletEvolution of the Modern Green, availablefor $5 from ASGCA, 221 North LaSalle St.,Chicago, IL 60601.

Lely has manufacturedthe most accepted TurfBroadcaster for manyyears. Lely now offers themost ideal FairwayThatching Implement onthe market.

LELY THATCHER

Features• Thatching grass• Stands Grass up for better mowing• Knocks down mounds of dirt• Improves Fertilizer Penetration• Ideal over seed after thatching• 7' Transport on 20' Model (hydraulic)• Removes Weeds• Working speed up to 12 mph• 5 position tine adjustment• 3 pt. hitch

Model 450 & 600

LELY PACIFIC, INC.P.O. BOX 961

ALBANY, OREGON 97321(503) 926-7753

Specifications2-Models20' Thatcher10' Thatcher7' Transport-20'

la' Trensport-l O'5 Position Tine Adj.

Up to 12 tJPHWor king speed

3 pt. HitchHydraulic Lift-20'

Circle 106 on Postage Free Card January/February 1986 15

park and recreational land; corporateand industrial sites; sod fields and

NEW other large turfgrass areas. Ease ofoperation, simple maintenance and

.

! economical mowing are just three ofUsing only the finest American-made the many benefits you will realize withsteel and advanced manufacturing, heat GING the LESCO Fairway Mower.treating and plating processes, LESCO For years of beautiful mowing andbuilds in the quality needed to provide reliable operation, choose the new gangyears of dependable service. The LESCO IN in town. It won't let you down,Fairway Mower features simple bedknife- Our price is $895 for the six-blade unitto-reel adjustment, heavy-duty welds and ... less wheels. Excellent ~(icing is alsoprecislon-hobbed ductile iron gears. available on the five-blade 6/.ndten-blade

To best suit your needs, LESCO offers ,aWN models, the wheels and the frames.its new fairway unit with a five, six or ten- For more information about '.thiSnewestblade reel. The mowers can be grouped on a piece of equipment from LESCO, we invitefive, seven or nine-gang frame - all available from you to contact your LESCO salesman argive usLESCO. And because LESCO manufactures and a call toll free. When you call, ask for Jeff Mack. He'ssells direct to the user, there are no distributors or our equipment product manager and can help answermiddlemen to increase costs. any questions you might have.

Outstanding quality and performance make this (800) 321-5325new mower perfect for use on golf course fairways; NATIONWIDE

LESCO prou~ly introduces thenewest addition to its growing lineof turf maintenance equipment -the LESCO Fairway Mower.

(800) 362-7413IN OHIO

Circle 108 on Postage Free Card

LESCO, Inc., 20005 Lake Road, Rocky River, Ohio 44116. (216) 333-9250

Poor playing conditions detract from any sport. Muddy gridirons have been replaced by modern fields with proper drainage and maintenance

Common Mistakesin Sports Turf Management

All too often, the blast of an official'swhistle signaling the start of an out-door sporting event brings two op-

posing teams together on a barren fieldspeckled with ragged tufts of green. Manyof these tufts are the sad remnants of aonce-proud turfgrass cover, intermingledwith a variety of coarse, aggressive weeds- commonly knotweed, crabgrass andgoosegrass.

In dry weather, the playing surface ishard from compaction, rough from previ-ous activities, dusty from a lack of turfcover, and resistant to the penetration ofan athlete's spikes or cleats.

If it rains a week before the event - orworse, during the event - the surface is18 sportsTURF

by Dr. Henry Indyk

Natural grass has beenand will continue to bethe best playing surfacefor a wide variety ofoutdoor sports and

playground activities.

slippery, muddy and soft, with virtually notraction.

Such conditions give natural turf playingsurfaces a bad reputation and stimulate

visions of miracle grasses, super productsand other surfaces as alternatives.

However, criticism of natural turf fieldsshould be aimed at weaknesses in con-struction or maintenance, not the turfgrassitself.

Natural grass has been and will con-tinue to be the best playing surface for awide variety of outdoor sports and play-ground activities. Its characteristicresiliency and cushion not only contributeto the enjoyment of a specific sport, butalso provide superior footing and reductionin sports-surface-related injuries whencompared to plastic substitutes, howevergreen and glossy they may be.

These advantages, combined with aes-

thetic and economic considerations, makenatural turf and its management high pri-orities for sports in the coming years.

Success in providing superior naturalturf playing surfaces requires serious andcontinuous attention to a combination ofmany factors in the establishment andsubsequent maintenance of turf. It alsorequires overcoming or correcting errors inconstruction. Neglect, for even a relativelyshort period of time, jeopardizes previousinvestment in field construction and main-tenance.

Using appearance as the primary criter-ion for a successfully managed field canbe misleading and generate false impres-sions of natural playing surfaces. Appear-ance is undoubtedly important, but dura-bility to intensive use under a wide rangeof conditions is more critical.

Athletic fields proven to be most suc-cessful are based upon similar principlesin design, planning, construction andmaintenance. Failure of these surfacesalso is based upon a set of similarmistakes.

Failure of natural turf to provide the aes-thetics for the spectator and a safe, firmsurface for the players can be linked to thefollowing causes:• Improper specifications - Too often inthe original construction of an athleticfield, standard specifications are used withlittle or no regard for the varying conditionspeculiar to a specific site. Each proposedsite should be evaluated critically beforeformulating accurate specifications. If thisapproach is not utilized, there exists a highpotential for a field with "built-in" problemsthat are very difficult or impossible to cor-rect with the best of maintenanceprocedures.• Enforcement of specifications - Thebest of specifications are of little or novalue unless construction proceduresadhere to the stipulated requirementsdeveloped for the site. Too often, construc-tion is allowed to proceed without the"watchful eye" of a knowledgeableindividual. Under such conditions, thetemptation to bypass or eliminate criticalprocedures becomes too great for properconstruction, particularly where contractresponsibilities are awarded to the lowbidder.• Improper or inadequate maintenanceafter successful establishment. Once asatisfactory turf of properly selectedgrasses has been established, its futureperformance depends upon the type andamount of attention devoted to a main-tenance program.

The investment in establishing a turfcover is wasted unless proper provision isalso made for maintenance. A well-planned program should include equip-ment, materials, personnel and an ade-quate budget. In addition, supervisoryresponsibilities should be entrusted to aconscientious individual knowledgeable inturfgrass management principles andtechniques.• Abuse in field use - A well-established

and maintained turf can withstand a con-siderable amount of use without seriousdamage. However, there are limits to thetolerance of turf to continued intensiveuse.

Damage will be most serious whereproper construction procedures have beenbypassed, particularly in situations ofexcessive soil moisture. Under such condi-tions, use should be curtailed or minimizedto reduce the damaging impact on the turf.Decisions of this nature, including theresponsibility of determining the' intensityof use of the field, should be delegated tothe grounds superintendent.• Provision for inadequate facilities -Closely allied to field use is the surginginterest in outdoor athletic activities and

the resulting increased pressure on exist-ing facilities. Because of economic rea-sons and/or unavailability of open spacefor the construction of additional fields, theuse of existing facilities is intensified.

Most of the existing fields are improperlyconstructed. As a result, these fields areunable to accommodate more intensiveuse without exhibiting serious deteriora-tion of the turf cover.

As the intensity of use increases, itbecomes imperative for the survival andwear tolerance of the turf that the fields beproperly constructed.

The single most influential factor infailure of natural turf fields is improperdrainage. Poor drainage not only affects

continued on page 20

Circle 109 on Postage Free Card

Proper drainage can prevent a field from being torn apart in the rain. Drainage reduces theamount of repair needed following games.

The poor condition of this field is caused partly by unnecessary events. Bands can cause asmuch damage as football teams.

Common Mistakescontinued from page 19

the playability of the field, but also has astrong negative influence on the growth ofthe turfgrass and increases maintenancecosts.

Various reasons can be cited for over-looking drainage as a critical factor in ath-letic field construction. Perhaps the mostimportant is a lack of understanding orappreciation of the importance of drain-age while formulating the specificationsfor the field or in the finalizing processbefore submitting for bids. Unfortunately,in many instances, adequate drainage iseliminated or reduced to inadequate bycost-cutters who do not realize the futurecost of improper drainage.

In some cases, poor drainage condi-tions prevail in spite of ettorts to improvethese conditions. Such failures most likelycan be attributed to improper specifica-tions and/or other deficiencies in con-struction. Some of the common faults ofineffective performance of drainage sys-tems include:• Provision for surface drainage only -A crowned or turtle-backed field with a20 sportsTURF

few catch basins on the sidelines canfacilitate removal of surface runoff, butwill do little for improving internaldrainage.• Improper design of the drainage sys-tem involving pipe spacing, depth, gradeand outlet.• Installation of drainage pipe onimproper grade.• Backfilling of drainage trenches withheavy textured material restricting perco-lation of water to the drainage pipes.• Improper physical properties of topsoilabove the drainage system.

TopsoilThe physical condition of the topsoil is

a major factor limiting proper functioningof a drainage system.

Soils containing excessive amounts ofsilt, clay, and very fine sand are oftenused above the drainage system as thegrowing medium for the turf. Soils of thisnature tend to restrict proper drainagedue to slow percolation of water. Conse-quently, during rainy conditions such soilstend to be soft and soggy in spite of aproperly installed drainage system.

Soils of this nature compact very read-ily when subjected to traffic. Compactionmakes the drainage problem more pro-nounced. Air porosity tends to be reducedby both moisture saturation and compac-tion. The situation becomes increasinglycomplex, resulting in a less favorableenvironment for proper root growth asreflected in a shallow root system,weakened topgrowth, reduced wear toler-ance and turf deterioration.

Results approaching miracles can beachieved in restoring improperly con-tructed or maintained fields.

Recent advances in turfgrass breedinghave made available superior varieties ofturfgrasses; particularly among the Ken-tucky bluegrasses, turf-type tall fescuesand turf-type ryegrasses.

These can be effectively established inexisting fields by renovation techniques.They include core aerification to relievecompaction and verti-grooving to preparea seedbed without destruction of grade orestablished turfgrasses.

The new seedlings introduced duringrenovation can be nurtured to a mature,dense turf with adequate provision forlime, fertilizer, supplemental irrigation,mowing and restrictions on use. To fullyrestore a field in this way a restricted useperiod of at least six months is needed. Ifthis amount of time cannot be sacrificed,restoration with a high quality sod canprovide instant results.

As impressive and effective as renova-tion may seem, an improperly con-structed field will rapidly decline again.Repeated renovation efforts will follow thesame pattern until inherent constructionproblems are corrected. Reliance on suchprocedures to overcome initial construc-tion weaknesses will be discouraging andcostly.

Natural turf is becoming increasinglyrecognized as a superior surface forsports fields. However, avoidable failuresare a major deterrent to its increasedpopularity. Failure in recognizing andproviding for the factors essential toestablish and maintain a satisfactorynatural turf playing surface is a sure pathto failure.

Success, on the other hand, character-ized by an aesthetically pleasing surfacesupportive of intensive use, is a realisticobjective. It can be successfully achievedand ensured through adherence to essen-tial basic principles involving planning,design, construction, maintenance anduse....

Editor's Note: Dr. /ndyk is professor of turfgrass management, Rutgers UniversityNew Brunswick, N.J. He has been tnstrimental in the development of the Amen-can Sod Producers Association, the NewJersey Turfgrass Foundation, and the NewJersey Golf Course Superintendents Asso-ciation. His involvement in sports turf con-struction and maintenance stretches overthree decades.