NESTMA Blade - New England Sports Turf Managers Association

New Engl and
Blade
N e w E n g l a n d S p o r t s T u r f M a n a g e r s A s s o c i at i o n
Inside This Issue:
Artificial vs Natural
grass Fields
Meet your 2016 NESTMA
Board of Directors
...and more!
Spring 2016
New England Blade ▶ May 2016
2 0 16 B o a rd o f D i re c to r s
NESTMA
New England Sports Turf Managers Association ▶ www.nestma.org
President's Message
by Rich Calarco, CSFM
New England Sports Turf Managers Association
940 High Street, Westwood, MA 02090 • Web: www.nestma.org
Welcome to another edition of
the Blade...The 2016 season is
upon us already!
Officers
President: Rich Calarco, CSFM
Town of Hebron Parks and Recreation, Hebron, CT 860-228-5971 ext.
136 | [email protected]
Vice-President: Victoria Wallace
UConn Extension, Norwich, CT
860-885-2826 | [email protected]
Secretary: Ben Polimer
Town of Weston, Weston, MA
508-294-3538 | [email protected]
Treasurer: Chris McGinty
Town of Framingham Parks Dept. Framingham, MA
508-532-5960 | [email protected]
Past-President: Nick Caggiano
Town of Nashua Parks and Recreation, Nashua, NH
603-589-3370 | [email protected]
Special Advisor: Mary Owen
UMASS Turfgrass Program, Rochdale, MA
508-892-0382 | [email protected]
Board of Directors
Matt Tobin
Pioneer Athletics
5 Chelsea Circle
Saco, ME 04072
207-229-4801
[email protected]
Greg Frederick
Read Custom Soils
5 Pond Park Rd, Suite 1
Hingham, MA 02043
617-997-6603
[email protected]
Brian Boesch
University of Rhode Island
65 Sweetmeadow Dr.
North Kingstown, RI 02852
401-222-9252
[email protected]
Ed Olsen
Town off Needham, MA
500 Dedham Ave.
Needham, MA 02492
781-455-7534
[email protected]
Art Goodhind
Town of Natick, MA
75 West St.
Natick, MA 01760
508-647-6558
[email protected]
Christopher Filadoro
Town of Lexington, MA
201 Bedford St.
Lexington, MA 02420
781-274-8355
[email protected]
Kim Britton
St. Anslem College
100 St. Anslem Dr.
Manchester, NH 03102
603-641-7000
[email protected]
Michael Wade, CSFM
Dartmouth College
142 Daniels Hill Rd
Keene, NH 03431
603-686-9154
[email protected]
Brian Luccini
Tom Irwin Inc.
11A St.
Burlington, MA 01803
781-799-9450
[email protected]
New England Blade is the Official magazine of NESTMA. The materials
contained in this publication are designed to provide accurate, timely and
authoritative information with regard to the subject matter covered. The
opinions reflected within are the opinion of the author and not necessarily
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For advertising rates and information email:
[email protected]
2
President,
Rich Calarco, CSFM
As we start our 2016 year with all our challenges that New
England weather can bring, your Board of Directors has set its
2016 training schedule,
About this issue
Welcome to the 2016 spring edition of NESTMA’S BLADE Newsletter!
We hope this new year bodes well for you as we begin to kick off
another season of sports and turf management in New England!
So you may be wondering...’ Why didn’t by BLADE come in the
mail this month?’ Please allow us to explain what’s going on. NESTMA is
currently transitioning to a new media publisher that will partner with us going forward and
manage all the publishing aspects of the BLADE. During this transition period, we have taken
the opportunity to test online and email versions of the newsletter as an alternative to print
production and will determine if this format better serves our members.
I ask that you hold these dates for our upcoming event series:
NEPA/NESTMA: Wednesday, June 22 at Sanborn Regional High
School-Kingston NH
Summer Field Day: Thursday, August 4 Babson CollegeWellesley MA
Fall Workshop: Wednesday, October 12 at Johnson & Wales
University-Providence RI
As you can see we are using an e-newsletter format, I would
appreciate if you can get back to me at [email protected] to let
me know if you like this format or would like a printed newsletter.
I then can bring information back to the Board of Directors with
your input.
In March we had over 160 people attend our annual meeting
which is run in conjunction with New England Turf Foundation.
Finally, at STMA 2016 National Conference three of our
members received foundation awards, see article on page 10
which outlines awards. Mike Buras won The Dick Ericson Award,
Mary Owens won Dr. William H. Daniel Award, and Ben Polimer
won George Toma Golden Rake Award
Congratulations to all three for winning these notable awards.
As always, I look forward to seeing you at the upcoming
workshops.
You also might have noticed this issue is lacking the wonderful ads that
normally grace each of our pages with beauty and musing commerce.
Since the beginning, these ads have been the financial lifeblood of our
newsletter, allowing NESTMA to bring informative content to its members
each year. We are deeply appreciative of our vendor community’s support
and their kind patience as we transition. Soon we will have new advertising kits available
for our vendor supporters, which could include packages for both digital and print
advertisement.
To all our members: thanks again for making NESTMA one of the largest and most
active groups of sportsfield managers in the country. Our board of directors work hard
to continually improve your membership benefits, such as: programed events, seminars,
networking sessions and other professional content we deliver much like the BLADE.
Your opinion counts and we always want to hear from you. Please comment on this edition
of the BLADE and let us know if you like the format. We want to hear from all our members to
better understand if print or digital delivery of the BLADE matters to you. ■
On the Cover...
Send us and email with your feedback to:
Worcester
Academy
Athletics
Baseball Field
[email protected]
Worcester, MA
3
New England Blade ▶ May 2016
NESTMA
PROFILES
Meet your NESTMA board of directors
team for 2015-2016!
Richard Calarco
NESTMA President
New England Sports Turf Managers Association ▶ www.nestma.org
Each year NESTMA elects its board of
directors and executive positions in July. Not
every position is up for re-election each year,
and term limits vary by position. NESTMA has
over 400 members across New England, and
we are proud to say that our board members
are a true representative sample from across
this region. We encourage all members
and sports field managers alike to get
involved with NESTMA or join a committee,
Additionally, if able, we welcome members to
serve on our board and help make a difference
to our industry and member community.
“NESTMA/STMA recognized the importance of fostering and improving professionalism within the sports turf
industry”
Rich comes from the seaside community of Port Chester, NY and now lives in Brooklyn, CT. He earned
his degrees; Bachelor of Science in Business Management, and Master of Science in Recreation Education
at Syracuse University. He also is a graduate of the UMASS Green School. Rich has held the title of Director
of Parks and Recreation for the city of Torrington, CT and town of Killingly, CT, and has also worked at the
SportsPlex in Vernon, CT. For the past ten years he has been the Director of Parks and Recreation for the town
of Hebron, CT. Rich first became involved on the NESTMA board of directors in 2009, and previously held the
position of board Vice-President. Rich has been a STMA Certified Sports Field Manager for 8 years, and is an
accredited Organic Land Care Professional and Supervisor of Pesticides in the state of Connecticut.
Nick Caggiano
NESTMA Past-President
“I became involved with NESTMA to promote the professionalism of our industry.”
Nick’s original hometown is in the “Brass City” of Waterbury, CT, and he currently resides in Weare, NH.
He graduated from SUNY Cobleskill in 1980 with an Associates of Science degree in Recreational Land
Management. Nick previously worked for the Trugreen company as a Field Service Manager. Since 2000, he
has been the Superintendent of Parks and Recreation and Tree Warden in the town of Nashua, NH. He became
a NESTMA member in 2001 and was elected to the BOD in 2002. Since serving on the board, he has held
positions of Secretary, Vice President, served 3 terms as President, and has played an active role as editor of
The Blade Newsletter and NESTMA’s member directory. Over the years Nick has earned several awards and
honors: 2006 & 2008 Nashua Arborist Association Community Beautification Award, NH Recreation and Park
Association 2002 Program award, 2003 Aquatics program award, National Recreation and Park Association 2005 Dorothy Mullins Arts
and Humanities Award, 2009 NH Preservation Alliance Achievement Award, Holman Stadium Awards 2003 Preservation Achievement
Award, 2003 APWA Project of the year, 2003 Atlantic League Field of the Year, and 2004 EPA Merit Award.
Vicki Wallace
NESTMA Vice President
“The sports turf sectors were new and growing sectors in the turfgrass industry. It was exciting to be involved
with associations as they became identified and more recognized. I provided a great amount of technical support
both in the New England region and nationally for seed recommendations for athletic fields, parks, and other
turfgrass areas that fell under the “turf manager” purview. Becoming involved with NESTMA and STMA allowed
me to become more familiar with demands of the sports turf manager outside New England and allowed to see
similarities of need as well as differences of need. Once I became involved with the associations, the networking
opportunities became invaluable and subsequent friendships everlasting.”
Vicki is from the Lehigh Valley region in Easton, PA, and is currently a resident of Exeter, RI. She earned
her Bachelors of Science in Ornamental Horticulture at Penn State University, and Masters of Science in Plant
Pathology at the University of Rhode Island under Dr. Noel Jackson. For much of her career, Vicki has been an Agronomist and Sales
Representative in the Turf Seed industry. For the past five years, she has been a UConn Extension Educator in Sustainability for Turf/
Landscape. Vicki has been a NESTMA member since 1992 and became an elected board member in 2009. Since then she has held
positions as Secretary and Vice President and worked on several committees with NESTMA. She also served on
the STMA board from 2001-2005.
Ben Polimer
NESTMA Secretary
“I got involved with NESTMA through past president Mike Buras, I wanted to be more involved in the industry,
learn new techniques, and network.”
Ben originally is from the town of Sharon, MA and currently resides in Franklin, MA. He earned his Bachelor
of Science degree in Ag and Environmental Science, with a specialty in Turfgrass Management, at Delaware
Valley College in 2006. Since earning his degree Ben previously held a position as Sports Turf Manager at the
4
Longwood Cricket Club in Chesnut Hill, MA. Ben currently works at the Worcester Academy School, where he has been their Sports
Turf Manager for the past five years. Ben first became involved with NESTMA in 2006 and formerly chaired the Field Makeover
committee. In 2014, Ben received the STMA President’s Award for Leadership.
Art Goodhind
NESTMA Member at Large
“I became involved in NESTMA to help represent the best interest of our Members. Having a diverse work
experience and MBA I thought that I would have lots to offer to the Board and be able to contribute effectively in
many ways from workshops to financial decision making.”
Art originates from the town of Shutesbury, MA and currently resides in the town of Marlborough, MA. He
earned his Associates degree in Turfgrass Management and Bachelor of Science degrees with a concentration
in Business in 2000 and 2002 respectively at Umass Amherst. Art formerly held positions as Assistant Golf
Course Superintendent at Stockbridge GC and Wahconah CC. He also was an Operations Manager for
Turflinks Inc, and Grounds and Transportation Manager at Bentley University. Art is currently the Supervisor
of Land Facilities and Natural Resources, and Tree Warden in the town of Natick, MA, where he has worked the past three years. He
first got involved on the NESTMA Board of Directors in 2014, and previously hosted a summer field day for the association at Bentley
University.
Kim Britton
NESTMA Member at Large
“I wanted to get involved in NESTMA to give back to and to be part of something that I felt was extremely useful
tool for all sports management folks out there. Just the feedback from folks in situations similar to yourself and to
let them know there are a group that can be useful, and I wanted to see more people get involved in NESTMA.”
Kim is a native of Houlton, ME, and currently resides in New Boston, NH. She attended the University of
Maine/Machias and in 1985 earned her Bachelor of Science in Commercial Recreation/Business Management.
Kim has experience as an Assistant Golf Course Superintendent in Maine, in addition to employment with the
Trugreen/Chemlawn Company. For the past 24 years she has held the position of Supervisor of Grounds for St.
Anselm College. She was first elected to the NESTMA BOD in 2012 and continues to serve. Through the years,
Kim has earned the following honors: Sports Turf Manager of the Year, Walter Gallo Alumni award from Saint
Anselm, and elected to Athletic Advisory Board for Saint Anselm.
Greg Frederick
NESTMA Commercial Rep
“Meet more colleagues and clients involved in the sports turf business.”
Greg is a native of Westford, MA, and now lives in Townsend, MA. He earned a Bachelors of Business
Administration in 1991. For several years Greg has been involved on the sales end in the Sand & Gravel
business. He has experience working with the Nardone Sand & Gravel Company, but for the past five years he
has been a Sales Consultant with Read Custom Soils. Greg first became active on the NESTMA board in 2013.
Matt Tobin
NESTMA Commercial Rep
“I became involved with NESTMA because of the philosophy NESTMA holds in regards to providing
information, training, and networking in New England. I will continue to promote NESTMA and the
professionalism within the industry.”
Matt comes from the town of Dexter, ME, and he currently lives in Saco, ME. He holds a Bachelors of Science
in Education and Minor in Health from the University of Maine/Orono. Matt currently works for Pioneer
Athletics as a Sales Representative, a position he has held for 13 years. He was first elected to the NESTMA
BOD in 2005 and has remained active as a Commercial Rep and has worked on numerous committees. Matt
was recently awarded the STMA George Toma “Golden Rake” Award.
Ed Olsen
NESTMA Member at Large
“I have always enjoyed continuing my education, as well as networking with my peers and helping others
advance in their careers. I love the groundskeeping profession and would like to give back in any way I can.”
Ed’s original hometown is Brockton, MA, and he now resides in Needham, MA. He earned Bachelors degrees
in both History and Plant and Soil Science with a concentration in Turfgrass Management from UMASS
Amherst. Ed has held positions as Golf Course Superintendent in both New York and Massachusetts and was a
Class A GCSAA member. For the past 6 years he has been the Superintendent of Parks & Forestry in the town
of Needham, MA. He has been a NESTMA member for 5 years and was recently elected to the BOD in 2014.
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New England Blade ▶ May 2016
New England Sports Turf Managers Association ▶ www.nestma.org
Brian Boesch
NESTMA Member at Large
“I love working in the Turfgrass/Sportsfield industry. Communication, networking and promoting the
professionalism of this industry are paramount for achieving personal success and growth within the industry. I
joined NESTMA because I enjoy meeting new people and working together on these common goals.”
Brian is a Rochester, NY native and currently resides in North Kingstown, RI. He earned a Masters of Science
degree in Environmental Science & Turfgrass Management from the University of Rhode Island in 2006. He
also holds a Bachelors of Science in Biochemistry from the University at Buffalo, 2000, and an Associates in
Golf Course Management from Horry-Georgetown College in Myrtle Beach, SC, 2003. Brian is currently the
Turfgrass and Sportsfield Manager at the University of Rhode Island, a position he has held ongoing for 8 years.
He has been a NESTMA member for 5 years and was elected to the BOD in 2013. Brian is the current active
editor for “The Blade” newsletter and NESTMA member directory.
Brian Luccini
NESTMA Commercial Rep
“I believe that outdoor recreation is essential to the quality of life of any community. Therefore, I also believe that
the people that steward our sports fields, parks, and open spaces hold an invaluable position in our society. I joined
the NESTMA board to help promote and advance the careers of my clients and be an advocate for our industry.”
Brian is from the town of Franklin, MA where he still currently lives today. In 1993 Brian completed the
UMASS winter school for turf managers, and in 1996 earned his degree from Rutgers University in Professional
Turfgrass Management. He has deep knowledge and experience working in the turfgrass industry starting out
working on golf courses in the mid 1980’s. He has been Assistant Golf Course Superintendent for Blue Hill CC
and Wellesley CC, and was the Superintendent at Laurel Lane Golf Club from 1997-2004. In 2005 Brian began
a new career on the sales and consulting side of the industry working for Turf Products Corporation, and now
currently for Tom Irwin Inc., as a Client Representative for Sports Turf and Grounds which he has enjoyed for almost 11 years. In 2008
he was elected to the NESTMA board. Since his involvement with NESTMA and Tom Irwin Inc., Brian has been awarded Vendor of
the Year Honors by the association.
Chris Filadoro
NESTMA Member at Large
“I joined NESTMA back in 2002, I was more acclimated in the golf industry and when I became more involved
in the turf service business I learned that sports turf managers were beginning to elevate their profession as did golf
course superintendents. I saw a large need for advanced services, products, equipment, and networking.”
This article originally appeared in the Virginia Turfgrass Journal, March/April 2015 issue. The author has kindly
granted permission to reprint the article here for NESTMA.
THE PROS AND CONS
Chris is from the town of Wakefield, MA and currently lives in Chelmsford, MA. He has earned an Associates
degree from the Essex Agricultural School. Chris has experience on the golf and services side of the industry
as a Golf Course Superintendent at the Country Club of Billerica, and Environmental Services Operations
Manager for Turf Links. He is the current Superintendent of Public Grounds and Tree Warden in the Town of
Lexington, MA where he has worked for the past four years. Chris was elected to the NESTMA board in 2012,
and previously served on the Extreme Field Makeover Committee for four years. Since working in the town of
Lexington, his department has been ranked #90 in the country for APWA Accredited DPW.
Michael Wade, CSFM
NESTMA Member at Large
“I just wanted to be involved with NESTMA/STMA to learn and share information with other sports turf managers. It was a great way
to meet new people and be a part of a great community of turf managers.”
Mike is originally from Clinton, MA and now resides in Keene, NH. He attended UMASS Amherst for turfgrass management and
earned a B.S. degree in plant and soil science in 2004. Mike started his career in the golf industry working as Assistant Superintendent
first at the Golf Club of New England and later at Manchester Country Club. He transitioned into sports turf landing a job as Sports
Turf Manager for Keene State College. In 2013, Mike started as the Athletic Field Manager for Dartmouth College. In 2012 Mike joined
the board of directors for NESTMA and is still serving. As a highlight to his career, he has been an STMA certified sports field manager
since 2011. ■
of Artificial and Natural Grass Athletic Fields
I
By Michael Goatley, Jr. Ph.D., Professor and Extension Turfgrass Specialist, Virginia Tech
nstallations of synthetic fields have
rapidly grown in the 21st century due
to population growth in urban areas
and the associated increased demand for
playing surfaces by athletes of all ages,
shapes, skills, and sizes. New generation
synthetic fields also play more like natural
grass than ever before with the rubber
infill fields being the most revolutionary
systems in use.
An immediate advantage of synthetic fields
is how much more traffic they can tolerate, especially during inclement weather.
Management and maintenance programs
on synthetic fields are also commonly
cited as inherent advantages with synthetic
fields, and I have no doubt that one does
not need an agronomic degree to successfully manage these fields. Plus crumb
rubber infill fields offer a major means of
recycling used tires (a very desirable benefit in an era focused on sustainability and
recycling) and the rubber infill has revolutionized the performance characteristics of
synthetic fields that are more comparable
to natural grass than ever (Figure 1).
However, synthetic fields come with huge
price tags at installation AND they are far
from being maintenance-free as they were
so heavily touted in the earliest stages of
the release of synthetic infill systems. And
within the past six months synthetic infill
fields have had a renewed focus on their
safety, and this time it is not associated
with heat loads or foot/leg injuries.
Pay attention
The 2015 legislative session in
Virginia saw the introduction of HB
2317, legislation that proposed a 3 year
moratorium on the installation of crumb
rubber-infill synthetic fields within
the boundaries of a public or private
elementary or secondary school, public
or private preschool, or recreational park
by any (i) public or private elementary or
secondary school, (ii) public or private
preschool, or (iii) local governing body. The reason for concern? The very crumb
rubber that has revolutionized their
playability characteristics can contain
heavy metals and release volatile organic
compounds. The bill died this session, but
it will not be surprising if it reappears in
the future.
What sparked this sudden interest in
the safety of synthetic fields to its users? I
strongly suspect it was the fall 2014 NBC
news story that suggested a link between
cancer in several women soccer goalies in
Photo 1. (above) Meeting the specifications for the subgrade are just as important for synthetic fields as
those for natural turfgrass systems.
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7
New England Blade ▶ May 2016
New England Sports Turf Managers Association ▶ www.nestma.org
‘humiture’) in regards to player safety. It
has guidelines to follow regarding the
necessity for athletes taking periodic
breaks, maintaining player hydration
and so forth. However, it doesn’t appear
that the Heat Guidelines address the
elevated temperatures that occur on
synthetic systems during the highest heat/
humidity conditions of the summer. If
this information is there, it isn’t easily
accessed based on my searching of the
VHSL website. To be fair, the heat loading
of synthetic fields can be advantageous
during colder periods and very beneficial
in terms of enhanced snow melt on
synthetic turf compared to natural grass.
Costs
Photo 2. Crumb rubber infill revolutionized the playing characteristics of
synthetic turf, but its use continues to be controversial due to perceived health
concerns.
Washington-state to chronic exposure to
crumb rubber infill synthetic fields. Is the
evidence conclusive? Absolutely not. Will
(or should) synthetic field installations
cease? Absolutely not. They remain
valuable tools for sports fields in areas that
simply don’t have enough space to support
natural turf systems with use demands.
However, there certainly is a need for more
research in the area of human health, and
it seems logical that this research needs to
come from within the medical profession
rather than from an agronomist.
Some basic comparisons on
requirements.
Let’s make some comparisons of
synthetic and natural grass fields and let’s
start by stating these facts:
• Both systems require specifications
in construction and maintenance
that must be followed for long-term
success
• Either can be cost prohibitive.
• Both require expertise and
management.
• Either of these systems can fail.
• Either can meet expectations if
properly managed.
Natural grass fields are cheaper
to establish, quick and reasonably
affordable to renew/repair, and provide
water filtration, soil stabilization,
temperature moderation, CO2 fixation,
and replenishing O2. Synthetic fields
offer theoretically unlimited use under a
wide range of weather conditions, playing
surface uniformity, and overall reduced
maintenance requirements.
Natural grass fields require an informed
manager who is astute in the use of
equipment, chemicals, and irrigation
8
AND managing/training people in the
proper use of the field. When it comes to
managing soils, turfgrass, and traffic, there
is no doubt that the expertise and tools
required to manage a heavily trafficked
natural grass field is quite large compared
to the tools and training/experience
required to manage synthetic fields.
However, there is a continuing
perception by the general public that
synthetic systems are ‘maintenance-free’
and that is a huge mistake in terms of
maintaining their warranties/guarantees
AND their safety. To their credit, the
Synthetic Turf Council has done an
excellent job recently in emphasizing the
importance of a planned maintenance
program on their website. Without proper
brushing and cleaning, synthetic fields can
have serious field surface hardness issues
(more on this later) that are a player safety
concern, as well as a concern in voiding
their warranties.
The heat load question.
Field temperature extremes during
high heat weather patterns are a regular
concern on synthetic turf systems. Surface
temperatures of synthetic systems on a
day when ambient air temperatures are
80 to 90F can be 40-60 degrees higher.
Irrigation can provide temporary relief in
moderating synthetic field temperatures,
but the effect is short lived, typically lasting
15-20 minutes.
In Virginia, the Virginia High School
League has its own set of Heat Guidelines
(http:www.vhsl.org/doc/upoad/smac-heatguide-July%202010.pdf) that considers
both ambient air temperatures and
relative humidity (often termed as the
It is difficult to make comparisons in
costs because systems (modified sandbased soil versus native soil? rubber infill
vs another synthetic system? comparisons
across systems?) are so highly variable.
In general it is almost always going to be
the case that a synthetic system is going
to have a much larger installation cost,
but the synthetic field is touted as lasting
somewhere between 6-10 years based on
the type of field installed AND how closely
maintenance programs are followed.
How many events can they host?
Synthetic fields will easily handle 100+
events per year independent of weather
conditions, whereas a natural grass field
can handle 50 events per year, but it can be
seriously damaged by just one event during
or soon after a significant rain event.
Natural grass systems require numerous
pieces of equipment and practices in daily
management whereas synthetic fields
need less. New strategies in synthetic
management such as Fraze mowing are
expanding the boundaries of natural
grass performance. Synthetic fields will
ultimately have significant disposal costs
that are in the $115,000 range, and then a
new carpet must be purchased.
I believe the Sports Turf Managers
Associations’ “Guide to Synthetic and
Natural Turfgrass for Sports Fields”
(found at www.STMA.org) does a great
job detailing the selection, construction,
and maintenance considerations between
the systems, and one of the most widely
cited parts of the publication are the cost
comparisons. This publication is definitely
worth a close look when comparing the
systems.
What’s new or likely coming
very soon?
I encourage anyone that manages
synthetic turf or is exploring the possibility
of an installation to pay attention to the
research programs at the University of
Tennessee and Penn State University.
There continues to be great work doing
side by side evaluations of bermudagrass
and synthetics in Knoxville, and cool-
season grasses and synthetics in State
College. In particular, research continues
to try to identify new infill materials that
result in less heat load in the synthetic
systems.
Both programs also continue to research
the interactions between footwear and
synthetic surfaces. One thing that appears
to be pretty consistent when talking about
injuries and synthetic turf systems is the
importance of playing with the correct
shoe for the field and its surface conditions
(particularly when it comes to surface
moisture).
Hybrid systems offer many of the
advantages of both types of playing surface
with the most celebrated sites in the
United States being the Desso Grassmaster
fields at Green Bay and Denver for their
NFL teams. This system has an extensive
series of synthetic fibers that are sewn
directly into the natural turf field. There
are always synthetic fibers underneath the
natural turf, so there is always a surface to
provide traction as the natural grass wears
due to traffic. The system has been very
popular for years in Europe for many of
the Premier League teams.
The latest hybrid system that is in
its early stages of implementation is
the XtraGrass system that is being sold
through Graff Turf Farms of Colorado.
This system utilizes a biodegradable mat
that is installed on a prepared soil at the
sod farm and it is then seeded with a
cool-season grass (Kentucky bluegrass in
that part of the world). The product is
harvested and installed as it would be for
a standard sod. It provides immediate
improved wear tolerance and traction from
the synthetic mat, and over time the mat
degrades.
In the world of natural grass,
Chad Price, CSFM and CFB of
Carolina Green Inc., detailed
‘Game On’ grass at the VTC
Conference in January. This
product is a thick bermudagrass
sod grown entirely on plastic and
its sheer size, weight, and root/
stem mass afford it immediate
playability upon installation and
exceptional wear tolerance.
The other grassing system to
pay attention to is the possibility
of zoysiagrass as a sports turf.
Dr. Milt Engelke (formerly of
Texas A&M University and
now with Team Zoysia) gave
two presentations at the VTC
Conference that showed that
with the right equipment
and management programs,
zoysiagrass has the type of biomass and
stem architecture that are very desirable
for a sports turf surface.
Field monitoring of surface hardness
is already being practiced in many urban
areas (Figure 3). The American Society for
Testing and Materials has a standard for
testing and reporting surface hardness of
athletic fields. ASTM recommends using
the F355 device for measuring hardness
on the basis of Gmax values (the harder
a surface is, the faster the weight that is
dropped stops and the greater the Gmax
value), while researchers at Penn State
conclude that the much more affordable
Clegg Hammer can provide equally valid
information on surface hardness using
its own scale of Gmax values. Either
way, anticipate such data collection and
reporting to likely become a standard
activity on all fields, synthetic and natural
grass.
Photo 3. A Clegg hammer is one
tool that can be used to assess
surface hardness of synthetic and
natural turfgrass athletic fields.
Closing thoughts
A well-maintained natural turfgrass
surface is almost always the preferred
playing surface by athletes of all skill
levels, ages, and sizes. The key phrase is
‘well-maintained’ natural grass fields.
Improperly maintained and/or However,
synthetic systems will always be an
important tool at facilities with multi-use
fields under intensive, repetitive use. Both
systems require clear specifications in
the contract regarding their construction
because drainage, water movement,
and infiltration are keys to success for
both natural and synthetic systems. Ask
questions of contractors bidding on
projects and check their experience and
previous work for both systems. ■
NESTMA is Hoping
to Hear From You!
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Blade?
Do you have some ideas, suggestions on
how we can improve?
Do the topics we cover in our newsletter
interest you?
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publish it in our newsletter?
Your comments, suggestions and content
solicitations are always welcome. We
want the Blade to reflect the needs and
interests of our member readership.
Send your comments to:
[email protected]
9
New England Blade ▶ May 2016
New England Sports Turf Managers Association ▶ www.nestma.org
STMA AWARDS
The National Sports Turf manager Association
held its annual conference and awards ceremony,
and NESTMA had three members receive
founders awards. Please see below to read about
our winners and their awards. NESTMA, would like
to congratulate these distinguished members
for their accomplishments. In addition, NESTMA
is the largest chapter in the country. We would
like to thank all our members who have made
this possible. Hope to see you at the our annual
meetings at the New England Regional Turf Show
and all our annual seminars and events.
STMA Award Winners: (from left to right) fmr. STMA
President, Dr. Mike Goatley, Ben Polimer, Mary Owen & Mike
Buras.
Ben Polimer
George Toma Golden Rake Award
George Toma is one of the Founders of STMA, one of its supporters and has served and continues to serve as a
mentor for many of those in the sports turf industry. He continues to emphasize the importance of the entire crew in
effective sports turf management. He also has proven that starting from the ground up, it’s possible to achieve your
highest goals – if you love what you do and give it your all – and then some. To honor all that Toma has achieved and
to keep the “and then some” spirit growing and thriving within STMA, the George Toma Golden Rake Award has been
established. This award is to be issued annually to someone who is on that quest to reach their goals. The George
Toma Golden Rake Awards acknowledges the superior performance of a sports turf member in “on the job” activities
and in community service.
Mike Buras
The Dick Ericson Award
Dick Ericson is one of the Founders of STMA. Besides his own sports turf management activities, he has made
significant contributions to the Sports Turf Managers Association, including serving as its first President in 1981-1982.
He continues to have an impact in raising the level of professionalism within the industry. To honor all that Ericson has
achieved and to continue the focus on effective management and increased professionalism within the sports turf
industry, the Dick Ericson Award has been established. The award is to be issued annually to someone who plans and
executes the sports turf management of their facility, who effectively leads their team to accomplish their goals in field
maintenance, and who positively impacts the sports turf industry.
Mary Owen
Dr. William H. Daniel Award
Dr. William H. Daniel was one of the Founders of STMA and as one of its supporters; he also set the pattern for
educator/researcher involvement in the Association. The partnership between the educators and researchers in this
industry and the sports turf managers who incorporate the knowledge, training, and research advances in practical,
on-the-field applications is key to providing better and safer sports turf areas. To honor all that he achieved, the
Dr. William H. Daniel Award (formerly the Excellence in Research Award) recognizes an individual who has made
significant contributions to the sports turf industry through his or her research, teaching or extension outreach. The
influence of the individuals in this segment of the industry may be highly visible or behind-the-scenes. ■
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NESTMA
AWARDS
Sports Turf Manager of the Year
Jon Bengston
Field Superintendent for New England Patriots at Gillette Stadium
Responsibilities include maintaining 3 outdoor natural grass fields, one indoor
practice facility, synthetic game field and landscapes around stadium. Has juggle
turf care around both the demands of the New England Patriot team and New
England Revolution schedules as well as major events such as concerts that are held
at Gillette. Dedicated and respected turf manager.
He has always accepted and accommodated students as part of his turf care team.
Students have been from URI, UConn, UMass, and Michigan State. Students are
actively engaged with day-to-day maintenance activities as well as large scale
projects .
In 2015, Jon helped NESTMA BOD coordinate Summer Field Day at Gillette and
provided in depth tour of the facilities as part of the workshop program.
Vendor of the Year
Bill Dixon
Site One (John Deere Landscapes)
Has been a long-time member of NESTMA, always willing to “go the extra
mile” for his clients. Always attends field days and workshops and has been a
great supporter of NESTMA
Student Scholarship Winner
Jeremy Langlois
UMass Student, finishing Junior Year
Focus has been sports turf management. Past 2 summers interned at Buffalo Bisons,
Buffalo, NY and Salt Lake Bees, in Salt Lake City, Utah.
Was appreciative of scholarship as he had to pay his way out to his summer
internships and pay for housing.
Competed at STMA Student Challenge for past 2 years. ■
11