2016 Summer Newsletter - Colorado Sports Turf Managers
Transcription
2016 Summer Newsletter - Colorado Sports Turf Managers
A better course, a better cut. Every time. Potestio Brothers is your one stop for John Deere Sports Turf Equipment. Start a partnership with us today, and we’ll work with you to boost efficiency and help you keep a healthy bottom line. SUMMER 2016 COLORADO SPORTS TURF MANAGERS ASSOCIATION THE ROCKY MOUNTAIN HALF-TIME Proven brands and service. From our family to yours. Visit us online at www.PBEquip.com Mon-Fri 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Sat 8:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. COLORADO SPRINGS PARKER 7380 Space Village Ave 719-550-0680 19020 Longs Way 303-841-2299 AN OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE COLORADO SPORTS TURF MANAGERS ASSOCIATION Keeping you right on course. Depend on Potestio Brothers, Colorado’s number one supplier for John Deere Sports Turf Equipment. Proven brands and service. From our family to yours. Visit us online at www.PBEquip.com Mon-Fri 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Sat 8:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. COLORADO SPRINGS PARKER 7380 Space Village Ave 719-550-0680 19020 Longs Way 303-841-2299 Feature Article... MANAGING INFIELD BALL SPEED DON’T MISS THIS EVENT! FALL SEMINAR/DEMO DAYS AUGUST 17 BROOMFIELD COUNTY COMMONS PARK Are Your Bases Covered? AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION No shifting. No sacrifices. No nonsense. ©2015 The Toro Company. All rights reserved. Your Head Groundskeeper and crew need to negotiate rigorous – and often unpredictable – issues regarding the playing surface at your stadium. That’s where the Sports Turf Managers Association comes in. STMA members are expertly equipped to deal with these issues and are up-to-date on all the latest information in the industry. Their expertise in resource utilization, operations management, and agronomics allow you to protect your players on the field and reduce your expenses while doing it. Support your grounds crew’s STMA membership for access to the latest information, education, and industry developments. For over 30 years, STMA members have ensured their fields are among the safest, most playable and most beautiful around. Are your bases covered? Is there an STMA member on your grounds crew? To become a member, go online to www.stma.org or call 800-323-3875. Workman HD Series ® Get more work done with the hardest working utility vehicles on the market today. Hefty payload capacities and towing capabilities deliver increased productivity. With a category-leading two-year warranty, improve your return on investment through the strength, reliability and durability of the Workman. LL Johnson Distributing Company 4700 Holly Street, Denver, CO 80216 303-320-1270 www.lljohnson.com SUMMER 2016 • THE ROCKY MOUNTAIN HALFTIME TABLE OF CONTENTS President’s Message . . . . . . . 2 CSTMA Photo Quiz . . . . . . . . 3 Fertilizers 101: Basics You Should Know. . . . . . . . . . 4 Managing Infield Ball Speed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 Member Profile. . . . . . . 14-15 Glendale Infinity Park Networking Day. . . . . . . . . . 18 22nd Annual LMO . . . . . . . . 18 STMA Environmental Facility Certification Program. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 2016 CSTMA Scholarships . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 CSTMA Spring Seminar . . . 23 1 CSTMA BOARD OF DIRECTORS President Cody Witham Dick’s Sporting Goods Park 6000 Victory Way Commerce City, CO 80022 Phone: 720-363-9577 Email: [email protected] Past President Dave Radueg Columbine Equestrian Center 6900 S. Platte Canyon Road Littleton, CO 80128 Phone: 303-859-3245 Email: [email protected] Vice President Steve Shoultz Douglas Co. Parks & Rec. 9651 S. Quebec Street Littleton, CO 80130 Phone: 720-933-0452 Email: [email protected] The Rocky Mountain Half-Time is published quarterly by the Colorado Sports Turf Managers Association www.CSTMA.org CSTMA 3758 East 104th Ave., #69 Thornton, CO 80233 Editor - Steve Shoultz E-mail: [email protected] John Frankenfeld, CSFM City of Thornton 13399 York Way Thornton, CO 80241 Cell: 720-355-5411 Email: [email protected] Ryan Jensen City and County of Broomfield 3001 W. 124th Avenue Broomfield, CO 80020 Phone: 303-464-5687 Cell: 303-901-8577 Email: [email protected] Gabriel Aksamit City of Boulder 5200 Pearl Street Boulder, CO 80301 Cell: 303-551-2188 Email: [email protected] Chuck Klafka Douglas County Parks, Trails, & Grounds 9651 S. Quebec Street Littleton, CO 80130 Phone: 720-733-6984 Email: [email protected] Commercial Officer Ben Boehme Golf Enviro PO Box 49039 Colorado Springs, CO 80949 Phone: 719-491-0591 Cell: 719-773-9619 Email: [email protected] Commercial Office Elect Todd Morris DBC Irrigation Supply 5805 East 39th Ave Denver, CO 80207 Cell: 303-981-0788 Email: [email protected] SUMMER 2016 DIRECTORS Jon Kingsley City and County of Broomfield 3001 W. 124th Ave. Broomfield, CO 80020 Phone: 303-356-2631 Email: [email protected] Executive Director Drew Barber Town of Erie Parks and Rec 150 Bonnell Ave. Erie, CO 80516 Phone: 303-926-2890 Fax: 720-598-0484 Cell: 970-846-7163 E-Mail: [email protected] COLORADO SPORTS TURF MANAGERS ASSOCIATION 2 THE ROCKY MOUNTAIN HALFTIME • SUMMER 2016 President’s Message Cody Witham, Dick’s Sporting Goods Park President CSTMA Chapter Y ou know the saying, “You get what you give”? Give no respect and get none in return, or give the effort to get the better result. Or even, give to a good cause and get the satisfaction of making a difference. Do you suppose this can relate to the role of a Sports Turf Manager? Spring has passed us by and summer is here folks. So I challenge you as a Sports Turf Manager to find better and more efficient ways to give in order to get better results on your fields. Here are a few examples that comes to mind and they don’t involve much of your time. Give your staff the recognition they deserve and maybe you’ll get a little more effort and understanding from them. Many of us rely on seasonal or part-time staff to get us through, so do not forget that you’ll never win the battle alone. Give field users a clear understanding of the rules on the field. Pets, vehicles, tents, stakes, liquids, and such. Some don’t think of those things before they head out to the game, so I’ve found they often appreciate a knowledgeable explanation. Then remind them to have fun and enjoy their time on your field. How about giving a bit of your time to assist another department or group within your organization? Yea, you may not see eye to eye on field use and event load, but there’s no need to take the “It’s not my job” approach. Often you’ve got the equipment and manpower to pitch in and lend a hand. Eventually the tables will turn and you will get a favor in return. Lastly, give something to the entire community of Sports Turf Management. We are part of a huge network and every one of us has something to contribute. You’re busy, but why not reach out or accept the responsibility of giving something. I’d say what you get in return will likely be worth at least what you give. One easy way is to become involved in CSTMA. As a board we are always open to others who wish to share their thoughts and ideas. Plus, giving your time is worth getting the satisfaction of being part of a great group. This fall we’ll be accepting nominations for new 2017 Board Members, so please consider. Before summer passes us by, please take a look at what you have to give. I often do, and it rarely does me wrong. Keep in touch with your Chapter and look for regular updates on the CSTMA website and within this newsletter regarding upcoming events and announcements. This is your organization, so if you want to get what it can offer, you’re going to have to give the effort to become involved. On behalf of the entire Board of Directors, please stop by, our doors are always open. SUMMER 2016 • THE ROCKY MOUNTAIN HALFTIME CSTMA PHOTO QUIZ Can you identify this sports turf problem? Problem: Yellow spots and lines Turfgrass area: Baseball Outfield Location: Platte Valley Middle School Football field Grass Variety: Kentucky Bluegrass SEE ANSWER ON PAGE 20. If you would like to submit a photograph for the Photo Quiz please send it to CSTMA, 3758 East 104th Ave., #69, Thornton, CO 80233 • call 970.846.7163 or email [email protected]. If your photograph is selected, you will receive full credit. All photos submitted will become property of Colorado Sports Turf Managers Association. 3 4 Fertilizers 101: Basics You Should Know THE ROCKY MOUNTAIN HALFTIME • SUMMER 2016 By Susan Haddock T urfgrass fertility management is a year round task, so a review of fertilizer basics may be helpful. Generally, fertilizer is defined as any substance containing one or more recognized plant nutrients that promote plant growth. Checking with the Department of Agriculture in a number of states results in a mixed bag of definitions. Many states include any substance that controls soil acidity or alkalinity, provides other soil enrichments or provides other corrective measures to the soil in the fertilizer definition. Most states exclude unmanipulated animal or vegetable manure and some states exclude marl, lime, limestone, wood ashes, peat and/or compost that has not been shown to have value in promoting plant growth. There can be confusion over the terms natural organic, synthetic organic and organic fertilizer. Natural organic refers to products that are derived from either plant or animal products containing one or more elements, other than carbon, hydrogen and oxygen, which contribute to plant growth. These products are derived from living organisms and may include dried blood, composted manure, fish bi-products, bone meal and cottonseed meal. Synthetic organic refers to products that are manufactured chemically from elements or other chemicals. Synthetics go through some sort of manufacturing process, although they may come from naturally occurring mineral deposits. Synthetic products may also be referred to as inorganic fertilizer. environmental impact (product leaching or volatilization). Nitrogen is the most critical nutrient source that promotes turf growth, so turf performance depends on the nitrogen source in the product. In general, there are three nitrogen release sources: fast release, slow release and controlled release. That being said, there are many environmental and cultural factors that critically affect the ability of turf to uptake nutrients and produce acceptable turf quality. These factors must be evaluated, monitored and corrected, if necessary, before creating a fertilization plan. Soil tests are the basis for developing a fertilization plan and provide information on what the soil needs or does not need to provide for turf nutrient requirements. Additionally, tissue testing can reveal whether the turf is effectively taking up the nutrients. This article will focus on synthetic products. Fast release sources are referred to as soluble due to their high solubility in water. Fast release nitrogen sources release nitrogen very quickly and may have a quick greening response that lasts just a few weeks. Multiple applications are usually necessary to maintain turfgrass quality. Nitrogen deficiency symptoms may occur between applications due to the cycling between high and low nitrogen levels. Fast release sources may promote excessive shoot growth and readily volatilize or leach. Common examples include urea, ammonium sulfate, ammonium nitrate and calcium nitrate. Important considerations are the expectation on product release rate (how quickly turf greens up), product duration (how long the product produces a greening effect), and Slow release and controlled release sources provide nitrogen gradually over time and promote more consistent turf quality and fewer deficiency symptoms. Organic fertilizer, in the strict sense of definition, refers to a product containing carbon and one or more elements needed for plant growth, other than hydrogen and oxygen. Organic includes both natural and synthetic products. Hence the confusion, as most who desire an organic fertilizer really want a natural organic or non-manufactured product. These sources also minimize losses due to volatilization, leaching and excessive shoot growth. The terms slow release and controlled release are frequently used interchangeably. Here, slow release refers to uncoated products and controlled release refers to coated products. Uncoated products are homogenous, meaning that the composition is the same throughout particles. Examples of uncoated products include ureaform (UF) and methylene urea (MU). These uncoated products contain about 40% nitrogen and rely on microorganisms to mineralize the nitrogen. Because of this reliance on microorganisms the nitrogen release rate can be quite variable, usually between 8 and 12 weeks, depending upon pH, soil temperature and soil moisture. During cool or cold seasons UF and MU may not be the products of choice, as microorganism inactivity will prevent the nitrogen from being released. Another example of an uncoated product is isobutylidene diurea (IBDU), containing 32% nitrogen. IBDU is soluble and releases nitrogen by hydrolysis, like the fast release nitrogen sources, except that it has low solubility and therefore releases nitrogen very gradually over time depending upon soil moisture. Because of the reliance on soil moisture, dry or drought conditions will delay nitrogen release. Additionally, low pH and high temperature will accelerate the release of nitrogen. Since IBDU is not dependent on microorganism activity it is a preferred product for cool season application. Coated products include sulfur-coated urea (SCU), polymer-coated fertilizers (PCF) and hybrid polymer-coated sulfur-coated SUMMER 2016 • THE ROCKY MOUNTAIN HALFTIME fertilizers (PCSCU). SCU is 30 to 40% urea nitrogen coated with sulfur and sealed with, typically, wax. Imperfections, micro pores and cracks in the coating allow water to enter and dissolve the urea rapidly. Once water enters, the urea can release very quickly and is sometimes referred to as catastrophic release. Coating thickness and imperfections control the release rate, so particles release at different rates, usually between 6 to 16 weeks. Microorganism activity is needed to break the sealant to expose the sulfur coating. During cool seasons microorganism inactivity and coating variability can cause a mottling effect on turf. When the sulfur coating is too thick, the nitrogen does not release, and is referred to as lock-off. These particles may rely on some physical disturbance, such as mowing, to break the particle and eventually release the nitrogen. Polymer-coated fertilizers release nitrogen by diffusion through a polymer coating. These products may contain other nitrogen sources such as ammonium nitrate, or other nutrients such as phosphorous and potassium. There are a variety of methods and chemistries used to produce the coating. Regardless, manufacturers are able to produce quite predictable release rates depending upon the number of layers and thickness. Water diffuses through the coating to dissolve fertilizer inside. The fertilizer then moves out of the polymer coating into the soil. Eventually, over 8 to 52 weeks, all of the fertilizer is dissolved from inside the polymer coating. Polymer-coated sulfur-coated urea is produced with a polymer layer around the sulfur layer instead of a wax sealant. The polymer layer provides more protection and results in even more predictable and uniform nutrient release. Water must diffuse through the polymer coating, dissolve the urea through imperfections, micro pores and cracks in the sulfur coating and then diffuse back through the polymer coating into the soil. Another brand layers the polymer coating on the urea granule with a sulfur coating and wax sealant on the outside of the particles. With either production method, release rates are longer and less temperature dependent, and surge growth after application is reduced. Labels All fertilizer labels will provide a Guaran- 5 teed Analysis. The Guaranteed Analysis is the manufacturer’s guarantee for minimum percentage of nutrients claimed for the product. In the guaranteed analysis, nitrogen must be guaranteed as Total Nitrogen (N). If chemical forms of nitrogen are claimed, the forms will be shown in the Guaranteed Analysis. No particular order of forms of nitrogen is required. When a fertilizer contains determinable forms of nutrients that are slowly available and a slowly available claim is made, then the guarantee is shown as a footnote, rather than as a component in the guaranteed analysis. See below. To determine the slow release component or percent divide the slowly available nitrogen by the total nitrogen and multiply by 100. GUARANTEED ANALYSIS • • • • • • Total Nitrogen (N) x% x% Ammoniacal Nitrogen x% Nitrate Nitrogen x% Urea Nitrogen* x% Other Water Soluble Nitrogen x% Slowly Available Water Soluble Nitrogen • x% Water Insoluble Nitrogen • *x% Slowly available urea nitrogen from _______ (nitrogen source material) Forms of nitrogen and their sources that may appear in the Guaranteed Analysis include: • Ammoniacal Nitrogen sources include monoammonium phosphate, diammonium phosphate, ammonium sulfate, ammonium nitrate, urea ammonium nitrate, ammonium polyphosphate, calcium ammonium nitrate and ammonium thiosulfate. • Nitrate Nitrogen sources include urea ammonium nitrate, ammonium nitrate, potassium nitrate, calcium nitrate and sodium nitrate. • Urea Nitrogen can come from sources that include urea ammonium nitrate, urea, urea triazone, sulfur coated urea and polymer-coated urea. • Other Water Soluble Nitrogen can come from sources that include methylene urea, urea triazone, methylene diurea, dimethylenetriurea, dicyandiamide, triazone, ureaform and urea-formaldehyde. • Slowly Available Water Soluble Nitrogen sources include methylene urea, urea triazone, methylene diurea, dimethylenetriurea, dicyandiamide, triazone, ureaform and urea-formaldehyde. • Water Insoluble Nitrogen sources that include ureaform, isobutylidene diurea, urea-formaldehyde, feather meal, blood meal, corn gluten meal and other natural organic materials. So, which fertilizer source is the best? First and foremost, you must practice sound agronomic practices: perform soil and/or tissue testing, improve soil conditions and correct detrimental cultural practices. Plan nutrient management based on environmental and seasonal influences such as temperature, rainfall and/or irrigation, use intensity and proximity to water bodies. The type of turfgrass, expected quality and budget also influences management strategy. In addition to fertilization management, you may wonder if the use of biostimulants will produce higher quality turf. Dr. Keith Karnok from the University of Georgia says turfgrass managers recognize biostimulants to be a product/material that is non-traditional in that it is not a fertilizer or pesticide per se, but is applied to the soil or plant in hopes of improving turfgrass performance (usually roots and shoots). Humic acid, seaweed extract, salicylic acid and plant hormones are commonly used turf biostimulants. Research has shown that biostimulants may improve turfgrass response to environmental or culturally induced stress conditions; however, it needs to be applied before the stress condition. Predicting stress conditions, such as summer stress, drought or disease may be pertinent in the successful use of biostimulants. Researchers at Virginia Tech (Drs. Xunzhong Zhang and Richard Schmidt) have performed studies on turf response to various biostimulants in regard to enhanced root and shoot development, drought tolerance, salt tolerance, disease resistance, UV light tolerance and heat tolerance showing that biostimulants can improve turf health and stress tolerance. The consensus regarding use of biostimulants is to research products diligently, avoid products that make boastful claims without evidence from scientific studies performed by independent or university backed research, communicate with other turf managers about products that work, test on small areas prior to widespread application and do not substitute biostimulants for a fertilizer management plan. Susan Haddock, B.S., MBA, is an Agent II for the University of Florida, IFAS Extension, Hillsborough County. 6 THE ROCKY MOUNTAIN HALFTIME • SUMMER 2016 YOUR HOME FIELD ADVANTAGE The #1 Conditioner for Safe & Playable Fields Find a distributor and field maintenance videos at www.Turface.com or call 800-207-6457. 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MostTrustedTravelingIrrigationSystems Since1964 800.372.6639 • • • Englewood,CO.licensed*bonded*insured www.academysportsturf.com Portabilitytoirrigatemultiplefields withasinglemachine Softensfield&reducesplayerinjury Moreaffordablethanin-ground systems Your Local Kifco Dealer (303) 241-0258 • [email protected] 8 Managing Infield Ball Speed “What height are you mowing that infield at now?” F or all of us involved with baseball in the sports turf industry, this is a question we are asked quite often, from high school baseball all the way up to the big leagues. The question comes not only from players and coaches. With nearly everybody having mowed a lawn at some point, many in society feel knowledgeable on the subject. Thus, the question on height of cut is directed at us from administrators, executives, media members, fans and parents. It seems to be a straightforward question, and you can provide an answer any way you would like. Some possible responses: • • • • • “About an inch and a quarter.” “One and five-sixteenths inches.” “Higher than last season.” “None of your business.” “Twenty-four millimeters.” That last response is the one I like to use here at our ballpark. It is more or less the height we have been at since 2010; it’s an accurate answer and makes people think a bit. Twenty-four millimeters is .94 inches by the way. Baseball is interesting with its tradition of not regulating the height of cut for turfgrass in any way. At the major league level, stories have long been told of managers conspiring with groundskeepers to speed up or slow down infield ball speed by manipulating the height of cut. Sometimes this has to do with the makeup of the team. In other situations, the physical dimensions of the ballpark will influence the team’s approach for the speed of the infield. In a small ballpark where the ball carries well and hitters are favored, management may want a slower infield to help out the pitching staff. While soccer appears to be more interested in monitoring mowing heights (the En- glish Premier League Handbook states simply that the height of the pitch grass shall not exceed 30mm), baseball continues without any requirements. The subtle variations in turf and infield management at each ballpark, due to climate or team preferences, are an appealing part of the game for serious baseball fans. Of course, as turf managers we are well aware that height of cut is not the single determining factor in how fast, slow or consistently your field plays on a daily basis. So consider what your infield is made of, and how your cultural practices can influence the speed and playability of your turfgrass. Having worked for 20 years in professional baseball, my current view is that it is the job of the turfgrass manager to execute a maintenance program meeting the needs of the players and coaching staff. For our discussion here, we will focus on the speed and pace of ground balls. In baseball, we do not have a technical device such as the Stimpmeter used on golf greens. What we do have is an opportunity daily to watch hundreds of ground balls in batting practice, both from fungoes and live hitting. This can serve as a good, preliminary informational resource for the turf manager. From there, you can watch game situations and seek input from key players and members of the coaching staff. Finding the right mowing height/ball speed relationship is something that evolves at the ballpark. Your job is to look to accommodate your team, find what works for them, and manage the turf from there. Perhaps you have had the opportunity to construct or renovate your infield turfgrass recently. Consider your rootzone material. The physical structure of your rootzone will have a real and noticeable impact on how your infield plays. We value sand for its compaction resistance, drainage capacity and aera- THE ROCKY MOUNTAIN HALFTIME • SUMMER 2016 By Larry Divito tion properties. We also know that an ideal rootzone has nearly equal parts of air and water filled pore space. When building or renovating, it is critical to have particle size testing done on your rootzone. A helpful document to acquire is the ASTM’s “Standard Guide for Construction of High Performance Sand Based Rootzones for Sports Fields.” This guide has detailed information to help you understand the details within your test results. Two things to consider are particle sizing and Coefficient of Uniformity (Cu). It is recommended that you avoid any extreme percentages of angularity or roundness in your sand particle sizing. Related to that is the Cu calculation, which measures the uniformity in particle sizing. The ASTM range for Cu of sand based athletic fields is at 2.5-4.5, with the lower end of the Cu range meaning a more uniform particle size and better resistance to compaction. So what does all that mean for your ground balls every day? My opinion is that a Cu near or above 4.0 is higher than you would want for a baseball infield. You do not want the sand or soil below your turf to help accelerate the speed of a ground ball. While you need a certain amount of firmness for footing, a rootzone that compacts too easily can tend to play a little harder than you would like. I feel that a Cu near 3.0 is a nice target number. With a Cu higher than 3.5, compaction has the potential to prohibit the rootzone matrix from absorbing the force of the batted ball. Type of grass Your type of turfgrass is of course an important consideration. Be it Bermuda, Kentucky bluegrass or perennial ryegrass, the key point here is to grow a dense, healthy stand of turf. I recall an excellent talk I attended at the STMA SUMMER 2016 • THE ROCKY MOUNTAIN HALFTIME Conference in 2012 by Dr. Karl Danneberger from Ohio State University. The lecture was titled “Solar Radiation is the Driving Force of Sports Turf Management.” It sounds simple, but after 20 years of doing this, I continue to be astounded by the positive impact of bright sunlight on turfgrass. Of course, the other side of that is the infield tarp. Quite often, many of us at the college and professional levels have our infield tarp on during daylight hours on a game day. The threat of rain or light snow in the spring leads to a great deal of sunlight being denied to the turfgrass. By blocking light to the plant, the wear tolerance of the turf decreases significantly. Because of that, we like to focus on pre-stress conditioning by keeping potassium levels high and using biostimulants in our spray program. Tarping for extended periods of time also increases the disease pressure on the turfgrass. I find it useful to have the infield and other turf under the tarp on a separate fungicide program. Daily evaluation of the turf and anticipating problematic weather conditions will drive the use of contact and systemic fungicides. Given that you are likely mowing at 9 your preferred height of cut at least four times per week, keep in mind the goal is to maximize the density of the plant. Along with that, we try to avoid having the turf laying over due to continued mowing of the pattern with reel mowers. At the professional level, the expectation is usually for the turf to be mowed every game day at a consistent height during the season. If you are looking to speed up or slow down your infield, you can simply increase or decrease your frequency of cut over the course of a week without changing mowing heights. Our preference here in Minnesota is to mow a neutral cut every third day during a homestand. Starting at first base and mowing to third base, we then mow back over the same path in the opposite direction. When the team is out of town, we mow in that same procedure from different angles. Frequent mowing at a lower end height of cut will help improve turfgrass density in cool season turfgrass. Improved seed varieties of both Kentucky bluegrass and perennial ryegrass will tolerate mowing heights between 7/8” and 1” quite easily. My experience with warm-season grass was during my four seasons at Dodger Stadium, where I had the benefit of working for Eric Hansen. As soon as the team was out of town, Eric’s program for the 419 Bermuda turf was to take the height of cut down a bit, maybe 1/8” or 3/16” and mow in three directions. This reduced the grain in the 419, eliminated any puffiness of the turf, and helped transition out the ryegrass by exposing more of the Bermuda to sunlight. With fertility and some time, the 419 would settle back into its game day condition in about a week. Again, remember your goal throughout the season is to increase turf density and maximize the leaf surface of the plant. One challenge we face in baseball is timing of irrigation during home stands. With games daily for 7-10 days, and start times that vary greatly for TV, infield irrigation is not at all on a set program. Consider also that during a homestand the tarp may be involved quite a bit as well. For about the past 10 years or so, I have been exclusively hand watering the infield turf during home stands. This keeps our baselines, cutouts and dirt edges from being oversaturated and gives me time to evaluate the turf as well. If we are playing a day game, we never water the turf in the morning, preferring to do so the night 10 before if necessary. Working around the schedule, and watching weather patterns, the goal is optimal rootzone moisture while still having time to dry down the upper canopy of the turf. plan, there may be other events scheduled for the field. Time of year and type of turfgrass will influence your plan for those weeks. With cool season turf, I like to be sure we slice seed the infield on two different occasions prior to I use a Turf Guard sensor on the infield, June 1. Core aerification occurs when which gives me moisture content read- there is a proper window for recovery ings at a 2” and 7” depth. Depending on prior to our next game. Because our time of year and expected weather, we rootzone has a Cu slightly below 3.0, may want to be 12% or 14% moisture we pull cores on the infield as follows: on average for the two depth readings 1. Topdress with USGA sand. 2. Core on a sand-based field. Regarding wetaerify 3. Hand rake cores. 4. Roll in two ting agents on the turf, I prefer to use a directions with the greens roller. This penetrant type. If I am hand-watering process eliminates any wheel indentathe morning of a night game, I need to tion from the weight of the topdresser, be sure that water is moving downward and gives us a pool table effect on our that morning. We don’t want to overflat infield turf after using the greens water at all, but also try and avoid situa- roller. tions where the rootzone would dry out too much during a game. My goal is for During the summer months and the turf and soil matrix to absorb the through the end of September, we take force of the baseball. This leads to truer every opportunity we can to execute bounces and better consistency. solid tine aerification. Dependent on timing, this can be with either needle There is no time to rest when a big tines or slicing tines. Any time we can league team heads out on a road trip. get oxygen into the rootzone is a posiCultural practices need to commence tive for us. I have also been very pleased right away. In addition to your work THE ROCKY MOUNTAIN HALFTIME • SUMMER 2016 by the benefits of having a lightweight greens roller the past few years. It gives an excellent finish after coring, particularly on newly sodded areas when you are coring to break up the sod layer in the upper rootzone. Again, our goal is a dense stand of turf, with a firm enough but not overly hard rootzone. Fertility What about your fertility program? It is nice to write up a preseason plan for feeding your infield turf, but I prefer to monitor as I go through the season. Because of the tarp, poor timing with weather may lead to weeks without natural rainfall. Or you may get heavy rainfall when the team is out of town and your tarp is not on. We enjoy that natural rain, but it also can mean nutrients get flushed from a sand-based rootzone. We are trying to grow dense, healthy grass, but we do not want to overfeed it. Excessive nitrogen can lead to lush, slick and divot-prone cool season turfgrass. It may also slow the baseball down more than you would like. I prefer nitrogen to potassium SUMMER 2016 • THE ROCKY MOUNTAIN HALFTIME ratios of 1:2 with granular products. For instance, I may apply a granular 6-0-12 product, all soluble nitrogen, at a rate of .25 lbs. N/ .50 lbs. K every 18-21 days. Should rainfall flush any of that application, I will tighten up the interval as needed. Along with the granular applications, spoon-feeding of the infield is supplemented by foliar feeding as well. This allows us in between home stands to apply micronutrients and biostimulants such as humic and fulvic acids, plant sugars, and sea plant extracts. We will also add about .10 lbs. N to our spray just prior to the home stand. At different points in my career, my favorite infield conditions have been with turf that is primarily perennial ryegrass. I enjoy its uniformity at a lower height of cut and like the way the baseball moves across it. Also, as a finer bladed turfgrass, there is better overall nutrient uptake of foliar spray applications, which means more control of week-to-week fertility. What about plant growth regulators? PGR use will give you an increase in turfgrass density as well as controlling clippings. Better lateral growth from PGRs improves the overall leaf surface of the plant, forming the dense mat and strong tensile strength you are looking for to get optimum playability. PGR use results in greener turf due to reduced leaf elongation, thus concentrating chlorophyll in the smaller blades. Along with thoughtful fertility and sound cultural practices, PGR use enhances the turfgrass through prestress conditioning. The most commonly used PGR is trinexapac-ethyl. Research into the use of Growing Degree Day models to gauge intervals for applications of PGRs is becoming quite useful to turf managers. The product will break down more rapidly during times with high air temperatures. For the steadiest growth regulation of your turf, it is common to start with a half-rate application, followed by lower rates of trinexapac-ethyl applied more frequently to benefit the turf. If using a 11 PGR, you may consider avoiding areas of extreme traffic where you need aggressive growth to combat wear in those isolated spots. We have focused quite a bit on the turfgrass and rootzone of the infield. What about the skin areas? First of all, you can help or hinder the playability of your infield tremendously with how you manage the dirt area in front of home plate. That is often where ground balls begin. By keeping the area soft and consistently moist, you can take speed and topspin off the baseball. If it is too hard, it will produce acceleration and increased topspin. This not only speeds up the ground ball, it also can lead to a high bounce on the last hop for the fielder, due to the increase in topspin. To work the dirt in this area, you can drop eight to ten bags of calcined clay there and rototill it into the top three or four inches (stay a foot away from the foul line, where players leave the batter’s box). Level it out, roll it and soak it down. Give it at least a week to settle down. The increased volume of calcined clay will retain more moisture for you and help minimize the force of the ground ball off the bat. More on dirt What about your infield dirt in general? We always stress keeping good moisture in the infield skin area. You need to think about watering through the entire dirt profile going into a homestand. A heavy soaking needs to saturate the dirt and perc all the way through. The first key to good bounces on your dirt is having that moisture all the way though the profile. The time to do a heavy soaking during a homestand is right after a game, giving you the next day to start your prep work on the dirt. From there, your game day routine involves working the upper ¼” or so of the dirt with your nail drag, rakes, mat drag and walking roller. Pregame watering should be a touch up for game conditions, taking into effect the sunlight, wind and dew point that day. Topdressing materials and quantities seem to vary due to personal preference. An abundance of calcined clay as topdressing will help hold moisture in the dirt, but it also changes the pace of the ground ball. It is hard to describe in writing, but the correlation of speed of the infield grass and the infield dirt is a key factor in achieving optimum playability. For instance, a shortstop would generally not like an infield with tall, dense cool season turf and dirt that is a bit dry and fast. The pace of the ball will change in that case. My goal is for the infield to play a bit on the fast side, not excessively though, with the turfgrass evenly cut to form a dense mat, and the dirt to be firm and moist. Part of that program is mowing height and frequency, part of it is turf fertility and part of it is infield dirt topdressing, which we like to be consistent and sufficient rather than excessive in volume. The other key factor is water management of both the rootzone and the infield skin. The goal with the pace of the ground ball is for it to be consistent from turf to dirt. This is especially important for middle infielders and their mental “game clock” when it comes to making decisions on plays. The consistent pace will lead to an increase in double plays turned and better overall play. It is not my intent to offer one fixed and absolute way of doing things. Generally, better playability comes when the turfgrass and dirt have enough give to minimize the force of a batted ball. Ultimately, what is most important is to first gain an understanding of what the ideal speed and pace of the ball is for your facility. From there, take into consideration all of the variables discussed here. Put it all together and achieve the level of playability that makes you, the players and your coaching staff happy. Larry DiVito is Head Groundskeeper for the Minnesota Twins. 12 THE ROCKY MOUNTAIN HALFTIME • SUMMER 2016 Amy Graff 303-518-8999 [email protected] Deep Tine Aeration LeRoy Butler 303-598-6109 [email protected] Topdressing Soil Compaction Relief Field Renovation/ Construction www.greenoneindustries.com Infield Mixes Infield Conditioners WArning Tracks Topdressing materials Mound Clay Complete field renovations Top Quality Materials for Your Infield Exclusive Stabilizer Distributor R R R A Grassroots Perspective. Jason Aerni Denton Kurtz Warehouse (970) 231-5632 (970) 230-0450 (866) 437-5727 HD golfandsportsolutions.com Hilltopper Stabilizer StaLok Players may only see what’s on the surface but we know it’s long hours, dedication to excellence, and attention to detail that makes your turf stand out. Simplot Partners works with you by providing the right mix of quality turf products and consulting services that keep your turf looking great and your players happy. Contact your local Simplot Partners representative for more information. R 4195 Oneida Street, Unit H Denver, Colorado 80216 simplotparners.com Sports 2.0 VITALITY sodgolfsports.gvt.net HD Sports 2.0 is the new standard in high density performance sports turf sod. Extremely wear and traffic tolerant, HD Sports recovers rapidly from cleated play. Call or click for more information. Bruce Scott 303 726-6148 [email protected] Joe Wilkins III 303 359-5793 [email protected] Jack (303) 961-0141 Eric (303) 961-0092 Office (970) 284-6030 13159 N. US Highway 85, Littleton, Colorado 80125 • (303) 798-6764 • www.gvt.net V3009 EG R COLO STMA 2015_T1025-A Feb&Nov BB/EG Sprttrf04 2015-01-12 5:15 PM Page 1 SUMMER 2016 • THE ROCKY MOUNTAIN HALFTIME 13 Outsmart Mother Nature... Year Round! EVERGREEN™ TURF COVERS With 30 years of field proven experience and the longest warranties, EVERGREEN™ from COVERMASTER is the smart choice SMART EDGE TECHNOLOGY™ • Hems and grommets are not required • Unlike Polypro fabrics, EVERGREEN™ will not unravel • Can be cut to custom sizes and shapes on site • Anchor pins can be placed anywhere on the cover UNIQUE DESIGN CREATES A TRULY 4-SEASON TURF COVER • Winter blanket • Early spring green-up • Summer overseeding & repair • Frost protection • Extend your growing season BE SURE TO ASK FOR EVERGREEN™, THE ONE WITH COLOR • Provides additional light spectrum benefits for the turf • Choose color based on your climate Can be cut or shaped without fraying thanks to Smart Edge Technology™ The with and without look of natural turf using the EVERGREEN™ cover ™ COVERMASTER AHEAD OF THE GAME GOLF ENVIRO SYSTEMS, INC. “Experienced Based Solutions” 800-225-1311 Call Toll Free: 1-800-387-5808 Int’l: 416-745-1811 • FAX: 416-742-6837 E-mail: [email protected] www.covermaster.com © 2013 Covermaster Inc. covermaster.com/evad/ Going Green and Scoring Points! Colorado Owned & Operated for 24 Years www.golfenviro.com Does your sports turf stand out in the field? If not... Call Ben Boehme today: 719-491-0591 GES Sports Turf Specialist Gary Schinderle Owner/Account Manager 719-491-0590 Nutrients, Protectants, Seed and so much more... Amy Graff 303-518-8999 [email protected] www.humalfa.com 14 THE ROCKY MOUNTAIN HALFTIME • SUMMER 2016 QA MEMBER PROFILE Jon & Kingsley City and County of Broomfield Parks Services Division Where are you from and how did you end up where you are today? I grew up in Broomfield, CO and currently reside in Westminster. What attracted you to the Sports Turf Profession? My first summer job was working for the City of Broomfield in 1996 doing ball field maintenance. I really enjoyed working outdoors and learning the ins and outs of athletic field maintenance. I look back and chuckle at some of the maintenance practices that were common years ago. This industry has come a long way. What types of fields to you care for? Baseball, softball, football, soccer, lacrosse. Both natural grass and synthetic turf fields What do you enjoy the most about the Sports Turf Industry? The people who are in this industry have a passion for what they do and take enormous pride in their work. The thing I enjoy most is working with my fellow crew members who are constantly looking for ways to improve the condition of their fields. What do you enjoy the least about the Sports Turf Industry? Our sports seasons run from March into November, but we are only fully staffed during the summer months with seasonal help. Only having three months for the athletic facilities to look their best is the most frustrating thing and what I enjoy the least about the working in the industry What is something you’ve learned working in Sports Turf that you would like to share with others? Getting to know the representatives from the different user groups is a must. Communication between everyone involved helps better serve the needs of the fields, the sports organizations, and the athletic facilities managers. Can you tell us about your trip to the STMA National Conference in San Diego? Being able to attend the STMA National was a great opportunity to network with other sports turf professionals and national vendors. A common theme is that many sports turf managers face similar obstacles no matter what part of the country you live in. Most of us deal with restrictive budgets, over-scheduled fields, and not enough manpower. The STMA National Conference provided great educational opportunities, and the high level of professionalism throughout the entire conference was evident. SUMMER 2016 • THE ROCKY MOUNTAIN HALFTIME QA 15 MEMBER PROFILE John Frankenfeld City of Thornton Parks Division Where are you from and how did you end up where you are today? I am from Goodland Kansas. In 1995 I graduated from Kansas State University with a bachelor’s degree in Agriculture/Turf Management. While attending KSU I worked at Manhattan Country Club, after graduation I was offered the assistant superintendent position at Salina Country Club in Salina Ks. I changed my career path in 1998 by accepting a job with the City of Thornton parks Dept. What attracted you to the Sports Turf Profession? The attraction for me was the opportunity to work closely with athletics. As a collegiate baseball player and avid sports fan, I thought what better way can I utilize my agronomic background and turf management skills and be close to something that I really enjoy. What types of fields to you care for? Currently I manage Thornton Trail Winds Park; this includes 16 acres of soccer/football natural grass fields and 3.5 acres of synthetic field turf, 85 acres of open/natural space and The Thornton Veterans Memorial Aquatic Center grounds. What do you enjoy the most about the Sports Turf Industry? My greatest joy comes from providing a safe, enjoyable sport facility for all & users. I also enjoy the many challenges of managing a high use facility. What do you enjoy the least about the Sports Turf Industry? The lack of respect and professional courtesy turf managers receives from our recreational and competitive sports user groups. There are many of us that take this job very seriously and truly love what we do, it is a struggle to convey to our coaches, and parents the importance of basic management practices we perform daily to ensure safe and high quality fields for their children. What is something you’ve learned working in Sports Turf that you would like to share with others? The best advice I have ever received from was my superintendent in Manhattan Kansas, he said to me “if you listen to your turf, it will tell what it needs”. This may sound odd but it makes a lot of sense when you take everything into consideration when turf problems arise. Consider your soil moisture, heat, disease pressure, insects, humidity, soil compaction by excess activity, all microclimates and macroclimates involved and you will easily find the solution to your problem. I use this type of thinking all time in my job. Bottom line, don’t over think it and rely on your experience and education. Can you tell us about your trip to the STMA National Conference in San Diego? I had a great experience at the 2016 STMA conference I attended educational classes, learned important information, interacted with fellow turf managers, and enjoyed the local scenery. I was there for the full conference and took advantage of all the activities and opportunities that were offered. The highlight for me was the Friday night awards banquet because it was encouraging to see our profession represented and celebrated by so many professionals in the turf industry and I was recognized for receiving my CSFM. What did winning a trip to the 2016 STMA National Conference mean to you? Shortly after being notified that I had earned my CSFM, Drew Barber called to let me know that I was selected to receive one of the scholarships. Going to San Diego was a great way for me to celebrate my hard work and increase my knowledge. 16 THE ROCKY MOUNTAIN HALFTIME • SUMMER 2016 Save The Date Fall Seminar/ Demo Days Wednesday August 17th Broomfield County Commons Park Watch for more details 2016 CALENDAR OF EVENTS Lawn Mower Open July 12 @ The Ridge, Castle Rock, CO Summer Seminar August 17th, Broomfield County Commons Park Annual Meeting December 7th @ RMRTA Conference SUMMER 2016• THE • THE ROCKYMOUNTAIN MOUNTAINHALFTIME HALFTIME WINTER 2014 ROCKY 175 newstripe is field painting Going Green and Scoring Points! NewriderTM 5000 airless ride-oN field sTriper •Builttohandlethedemandsofmedium tolargesizeathleticfieldcomplexes. •Rearwheelsteeringfortighterturning radiusandincreasedmaneuverability. •Theconvenientfootoperatedcontrolsof theNewRiderTM 5000providemaximum commandoftheairlessspraysystem fromthecomfortofthedriver’sseat. •Theinnovativelowerdeckheightdesign optimizestheoperatorslineofsightfor straighterandmoreaccuratelines. •FieldPainting&StripingMachines •BaseballFieldDrags&InfieldGroomers •BaseballFieldChalkers 4600TM sp self-propelled airless walk behiNd •Thevariablespeedfrictiondrivesystem allowsforincreasedoperatorcontrol makingstripingeffortless. •The4600™ SP comesequippedwitha non-pulsatinghydraulicairlesspumpto provideevenandconsistentlines. •Thefourwheeldesignprovidesstraighter linesandtheruggedconstructiontackles thetoughestoffields. •ProudlyMade in the USA,thisaffordable self-propelledstriperismadewithquality componentsandisbuilttolast. ecoliNerTM plus baTTery powered field sTriper •Equippedwitharapidcharge120volt pluginbatterycharger. •Onboardcleanwaterreservoirallows forinstantaneouspurgingofthespraying system. •Detachablespraygunwith10’hose providesforeffortlesspaintingofstencils andcornerkicks. •Ruggedanddurabletiresthatmeetthe rigorousdemandsofsurfacesandturf. •AthleticFieldLayoutSystems Amy Graff 303-518-8999 [email protected] •FootballField&MascotStencils AurorA, co | 1-800-624-6706 | www.newstripe.com •AthleticFieldStripingPaint www.humalfa.com 18 THE ROCKY MOUNTAIN HALFTIME • SUMMER 2016 Glendale Infinity Park Networking Day The 2016 CSTMA Networking Day event took place Saturday, April 23rd at Infinity Park in Glendale, CO. Nearly 65 members and their family took the opportunity attend the event and rugby match. Former CSTMA President and CSFM recipient, Ross Kurcab of Champion Sports Turf Systems provided a great presentation on the challenges of field management before, during and after large events. CSTMA would like to send a special thanks to Noel Harryman, CSFM, and the Infinity Park crew for an amazing event and facility. 22nd Annual p pen lawn mower Tournament Information ENTRY FEES PER PLAYER . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . HOLE SPONSOR . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . FOURSOME. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . FOURSOME & HOLE SPONSOR . . . . . . . . . . $138 $100 $550 $650 PLAYER OPTIONS BIRDIE PACKAGE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $35 CLOSEST TO PIN HOLE, (2) DOUBLE YOUR MONEY HOLES, PAR & POKER*, AIR CANNON LAUNCHER, 6 RAFFLE TICKETS & 2 MULLIGANS-$50 VALUE PURCHASE DAY OF TOURNAMENT: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $50 Tuesday, July 12th 2016 The Ridge at Caste Pine North 8:00am Shotgun Start Modified Scramble Registration 6:30-7:30am ALL ENTRIES MUST BY RECEIVED BY JUNE 26TH Followed by Lunch, Raffle, Silent Auction 6 RAFFLE TICKETS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $5 25 RAFFLE TICKETS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $20 2 MULLIGANS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $10 TOURNAMENT CONTESTS Closest to Pin Double Your Money Inside Circle Stay on the Green Longest Drive Straightest Drive Hole in One Contests Par & Poker SUMMER 2016 • THE ROCKY MOUNTAIN HALFTIME 19 20 THE ROCKY MOUNTAIN HALFTIME • SUMMER 2016 STMA Environmental Facility Certification Program The Environmental Facility Certification program was designed to promote environmental stewardship and awareness for STMA members by documenting the impacts of their management practices on the environment. The program has four components: 1. Self Assessment tool - Gathers information on 10 different Best Practice areas. These areas include storm water management, fertilization, pesticide/integrated pest management, recycling, composting, mowing, energy conservation, shop buildings and storage areas, irrigation, and educational outreach. 2. Attesting - One very important component of this certification process is to have another person validate your responses by doing a walk-through of your facility with you. STMA will provide the attester form and instructions. 3. Certification - For a facility to achieve certification, it must achieve a score of “complying”; the Environmental Committee is still working on determining what that “score” is. Once achieved, the facility will be certified for a certain number of years, and certification stays with the facility even if the sports field manager changes. 4. Renewal Process -- STMA Environmental Committee is still formulating this process. STMA is piloting this program on a broad scale this year. If you are interested in participating in the pilot, please contact Kim Heck, [email protected]. The information submitted by pilot testers will be considered an official application for environmental certification. If your facility qualifies by meeting the yet-to-be-determined percent of Complying and the attesting component noted above, environmental certification will be awarded from your pilot process when this program is officially rolled out in 2016. ANSWER TO CSTMA PHOTO QUIZ - PAGE 3 Every year the FFA along with the AG department host a 3 day long stock show. Over 50 head of beef and dairy cows are shown on the field. The yellow stripes are from the fencing and the round spot are from the cows doing their business. If you have any interesting photos and would like to submit them for the next newsletter, please contact us at [email protected]. GroundSolutionsFP_Layout 1 1/22/14 9:13 AM Page 1 SUMMER 2016 • THE ROCKY MOUNTAIN HALFTIME NEED LANDSCAPE NEEDSUPPORT LANDSCAPE SUPPORT SERVICES? SERVICES? LEGENDARY Sustainability Simplified ON EVERY TERRAIN SPECIALIZING IN HIGH-SPEED MATERIAL PLACEMENT Gain a competitive advantage with our cost-effective and time-efficient installs Jacobsen TR-3™ with 7 blade reel and grooved front rollers The Jacobsen TR-3TM is a world-class cutting and climbing reel trim mower. It hugs contours with ease and provides Jacobsen’s legendary quality-of-cut on even the steepest of hills. The full-time, all-wheel drive traction, weight transfer control and reliable braking allow operators to mow with confidence and tackle tough terrain. Designed for tee boxes, approaches and surrounds where high-level power and quality is needed. 5080 Paris Street Denver, CO 80239 303-375-4913 www.bettermowers.com 1.888.922.TURF | www.jacobsen.com n n n 970.776.8150 WE DO MULCH, TURF AND COMPOST DIFFERENTLY! n Compost Blankets/Logs Terraseeding Mulch and Bark Placement Compost Top Dressing No messy end dumps. We use conveyor slinger trucks to deliver material directly to your project site. All inclusive service via material, delivery, install & clean up. TRY OUR NEW TURF REMEDIATION Our compost blankets provide erosion control, a growth medium and a soil amendment all inclusively at a fraction of the cost to tear out, amend soil and replace sod. Contact: Jordan Kamps | 970.776.8150 www.groundsolutionsco.com www.bedrockslingers.com Players Stay in Prime Condition, So should your field. 12 Rocky Mountain Locations Providing All Your Landscaping Needs www.DBCirrigation.com Denver Highlands Ranch Sheridan 5805 E 39th Ave Denver, CO 80207 303-295-1777 3810 Norwood Dr Littleton, CO 80125 303-470-3332 1890 W. Hamilton Pl Sheridan, CO 80110 303-762-9339 Longmont Wheat Ridge 51 1st Avenue Longmont, CO, 80501 303-678-9929 12750 W. 42nd Avenue Wheat Ridge, CO 80033 720-726-8750 7250 W. 116th Place 720 881-7711 Lip Removal Laser Grading Tilling & Tire Rolling Edging & Realignment deep Tine Aerating Overseeding Topdressing Soil REnovation total Sod Removal & Replacement Cheyenne, WY Colorado Springs Loveland-Fort Collins 1442 Woolsey Heights Colorado Springs, CO 80915 719-314-4010 6385 Aviation Circle Loveland, CO, 80538 970-461-0600 Greeley Parker Neumark Irrigation Albuquerque, NM 6222 W 10th Street Greeley, CO 80634 970-356-7456 18810 Longs Way Parker, CO 80134 303-339-8400 811 Rankin Road NE Albuquerque, NM, 87107 505-345-7847 501 Parsley Boulevard Cheyenne, WY 82007 307-638-2300 Bigfoot Turf’s Maintenance and Renovation services Bigfootturf.com (970) 284-6000 21 22 THE ROCKY MOUNTAIN HALFTIME • SUMMER 2016 2016 CSTMA Scholarships The 2016 Colorado Sports Turf Managers Association Board would like to offer you a new look at continuing education or assisting in your degree program to be a Sports Turf Manager. In years past only students were able to receive these benefits. Please look over the different scholarship programs we now offer and think about furthering your education. CSTMA is committed to allowing all Sports turf personnel the option to better themselves through this new program. Visit our website at www.cstma.org under CSTMA Resources, to download the application and instructions to get you started down the path to receive one of these great benefits. Two Year Horticulture Student Scholarship- $500 each 2 Will Be Awarded • Student must be enrolled full time at a 2 year college in Colorado • Student must be a member of CSTMA • Enrolled to attend classes towards a degree or certificate in a sports turf industry field Four Year Horticulture Student Scholarship - $1,000 2 Will Be Awarded • Student must be enrolled full time at a 4-year college in Colorado • Student must be a member of CSTMA • Enrolled to attend classes towards a degree or certificate in a sports turf industry field Employee Continuing Education Scholarship- $500 each 4 Will Be Awarded • Employee must be employed full time • Employee may not be enrolled full time at a college • Studies must be sports turf industry specific • Employee must be a member of CSTMA in good standing CSFM Scholarship- $350 each • Must be a STMA & CSTMA member in good standing • Scholarship will be paid once completion of the CSFM certificate is provided to the board. • Member must work in the Sports Turf Industry • Must apply before taking CSFM exam National STMA Conference Scholarship (2016) • Must be a CSTMA member in good standing • Member must work in the Sports Turf Industry COLORADO SPORTS TURF MANAGERS ASSOCIATION SUMMER 2016 • THE ROCKY MOUNTAIN HALFTIME 23 CSTMA Spring Seminar Sports Authority Field at Mile High Stadium The 2016 Spring Seminar took place on May 25th at Sports Authority Field at Mile High Stadium. Over 100 members took the opportunity to tour the facility and attend the seminar. Chris Hathaway, Turf Manager at the Sports Authority, gave a wonderful speech on field maintenance and the transition of the playing surface over the past year. The seminar included an opportunity to meet many CSTMA sponsors, a tour of the facility, lunch and the presentation. The CSTMA Board of Directors would like to thank the entire Broncos crew and all the members that attended. A better course, a better cut. Every time. Potestio Brothers is your one stop for John Deere Sports Turf Equipment. Start a partnership with us today, and we’ll work with you to boost efficiency and help you keep a healthy bottom line. SUMMER 2016 COLORADO SPORTS TURF MANAGERS ASSOCIATION THE ROCKY MOUNTAIN HALF-TIME Proven brands and service. From our family to yours. Visit us online at www.PBEquip.com Mon-Fri 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Sat 8:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. COLORADO SPRINGS PARKER 7380 Space Village Ave 719-550-0680 19020 Longs Way 303-841-2299 AN OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE COLORADO SPORTS TURF MANAGERS ASSOCIATION Keeping you right on course. Depend on Potestio Brothers, Colorado’s number one supplier for John Deere Sports Turf Equipment. Proven brands and service. From our family to yours. Visit us online at www.PBEquip.com Mon-Fri 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Sat 8:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. COLORADO SPRINGS PARKER 7380 Space Village Ave 719-550-0680 19020 Longs Way 303-841-2299 Feature Article... MANAGING INFIELD BALL SPEED DON’T MISS THIS EVENT! FALL SEMINAR/DEMO DAYS AUGUST 17 BROOMFIELD COUNTY COMMONS PARK 24 THE ROCKY MOUNTAIN HALFTIME • SUMMER 2016 Slide into a Ewing location near you and experience the Ewing advantage today. BUILD THE FIELD OF DREAMS. We know the game is only as good as the field it’s played on. 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Visit our website for more information on the technology behind Introduces Yeti Grass High Durability Fast rooting, sand-based sod Excellent dark green Color Exclusive seed blend Macro-Sorb and to view details on our full line of products. Distributed by: Golf Enviro Systems 800-225-1311 macrosorb.com Bigfootturf.com 970-284-6000 Are Your Bases Covered? AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION No shifting. No sacrifices. No nonsense. ©2015 The Toro Company. All rights reserved. Your Head Groundskeeper and crew need to negotiate rigorous – and often unpredictable – issues regarding the playing surface at your stadium. That’s where the Sports Turf Managers Association comes in. STMA members are expertly equipped to deal with these issues and are up-to-date on all the latest information in the industry. Their expertise in resource utilization, operations management, and agronomics allow you to protect your players on the field and reduce your expenses while doing it. Support your grounds crew’s STMA membership for access to the latest information, education, and industry developments. For over 30 years, STMA members have ensured their fields are among the safest, most playable and most beautiful around. Are your bases covered? Is there an STMA member on your grounds crew? To become a member, go online to www.stma.org or call 800-323-3875. Workman HD Series ® Get more work done with the hardest working utility vehicles on the market today. Hefty payload capacities and towing capabilities deliver increased productivity. With a category-leading two-year warranty, improve your return on investment through the strength, reliability and durability of the Workman. LL Johnson Distributing Company 4700 Holly Street, Denver, CO 80216 303-320-1270 www.lljohnson.com