FALL 2012
The Prince and the pauper...
A Look at Sports Field Renovations at UMCP
The Poor Man’s Winter Cover for Golf Course Putting Greens
PLUS, Highlights from the UMD
Turfgrass Research Field Day, July 19
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contents • Fall 2012 7
UPCOMING EVENT
Save These Dates!
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COVER STORY
The Prince and the Pauper... A Look at Sports Field Renovations at UMCP
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MTC Turf News
14 TURF TALK
16 RECENT EVENT
Poor Man’s Winter Cover for Golf Course Greens
UMD Turfgrass Research Field Day, July 19
departments 06 President’s Message 18 University of MD Turf Team 18 Calendar of Events 18 Index of Advertisers
MARYLAND TURFGRASS COUNCIL 12 Pressie Lane | Churchville, MD 21028 (240) 413-4312 | www.mdturfcouncil.org MTC Turf News is published quarterly for the MTC by: Leading Edge Communications, LLC 206 Bridge St. Franklin, TN 37064 615-790-3718 (phone) 615-794-4524 (fax) info@leadingedge communications.com
2012 Board of Directors PRESIDENT
Bill Patton, Sr. Turf Center Lawns Spencerville, MD 301-384-9300 (office) 301-980-3094 (cell) turfcenterlawns@yahoo.com Kevin Monaco Turf Equip & Supply Jessup, MD 20794 410-799-5575 (office) 443-250-1182 (cell) kevinmonaco@turf equipment.com
TWO-YEAR DIRECTORS
Vernon W. Cooper All States Turfgrass Consultants St. Michaels, MD 410-745-9643 (office) 443-742-6618 (cell) vernon@allstatesturf.com
Harry Kenney Agrium Advanced Technologies Ellicott City, MD 800-235-6138 (office) 410-375-6148 (cell) hkenney@agriumat.com
VICE PRESIDENT
Brian Gietka Fountain Head Country Club Hagerstown, MD 410-218-0131 briangietka@gmail.com
Lester Dubs Larchwood Landscape Co. Pasadena, MD 443-623-1745 (cell) ldubs@verizon.net
SECRETARY/TREASURER Cheryl A. Gaultney Churchville, MD 410-836-2876 (home) 410-322-8275 (cell) sandqueen10@aol.com
PAST PRESIDENT
Nick Gammill American University W. Hyattsville, MD 202-885-2340 (office) 202-498-8020 (cell) ngammill@american.edu
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Michelle LoConte Montgomery Village, MD 240-413-4312 (office) 240-597-1420 (fax) mdturfcouncil@verizon.net
THREE-YEAR DIRECTORS Rick LaNore MRW Lawns, Inc. LaPlata, MD 301-870-3411 (office) 301-609-1852 (cell) rick127928@rocketmail.com
Bill Warpinski Central Sod Farms Centreville, MD 800-866-1387 (office) 410-827-5000 (cell) billw@centralsod.com
ONE-YEAR DIRECTORS Randall Pinckney Manor Country Club Rockville, MD 301-929-1707 (office) 240-286-1989 (cell) rpinckney@mail.manorcc.org Tom Ritter Avenel Community Assn. Potomac, MD 301-299-5916 (office) 301-299-7169 (fax) tritter@avenel.net Jamie Roell Anne Arundel Co. Rec. & Parks Millersville, MD 410-222-6250 (office) 443-370-2582 (cell) rproel09@aacounty.org
Fall 2012
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From the President
Looking Forward to More Events — and Cooler Weather — Coming Soon
W
ell, I don’t remember a summer that started as early and delivered as many triple-digit temperatures and stifling humidity as this year’s season. For professional turfgrass managers, this type of weather poses numerous challenges. Then again, if we had perfect-picture weather, there would be a lot less need for sod farmers, lawncare companies, professional grounds managers, golf course superintendents and athletic field managers! A major initiative of the MTC for this year is to enhance our membership and expand our email list to better communicate with our members. At this year’s recent University of Maryland Turfgrass Field Day (see page 16 for highlights), more than 100 participants completed applications for membership. Remember, membership in the MTC is free for 2012. So, sign up now, or call Michelle at 301-990-7286. You will soon see discounts to registrations, special events for members and a subscription to this magazine. If you know of a turf professional that is not yet a member, please pass on Michelle’s information. I hope you’ve marked your calendar for Tuesday afternoon, October 2, when the Annual Angie Cammarota Golf Tournament for Turfgrass Research will be hosted at the renowned University of Maryland Golf Course in College Park. Get your team together, and contact our MTC Golf Tournament committee members Kevin Monaco (410-799-5575), Tom Ritter (301-370-5485) or Brian Gietka (410-218-0131). Give one of them a call if you would like to sponsor a hole or help out in other ways. The 2012 tournament will be slightly different from past years’ events, so keep an eye out for more information. Another upcoming event is Turfgrass 2013 on January 7–8. Once again, it will be held at the University of Maryland Stamp Student Union, but we think we have incorporated some new changes that you will like. Dr. Mathias has put together a very interesting program of education, and the tradeshow promises to keep and hold your interest. Don’t miss this chance for education, renewing acquaintances and creating networks to help you personally and professionally. Each year, the MTC board of directors loses three of its nine directors. We are always looking for individuals who are willing to give back to their profession. The board meets monthly to keep the organization running and address any issues to help our members or any facet of our industry. If you have ever considered serving on the board, give me a call. Come join in a meeting, and see if you want to commit to helping the industry, our industry, your industry!
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It is with a sad heart that I must report that MTC past president and current board member Bob Shumate has tendered his resignation to the board in preparation of his retirement. He and his wife Katy are moving to North Carolina and building a new home. Please join us in wishing them all the best and a well-deserved retirement. They both have been dedicated to MTC and the betterment of the turfgrass industry in Maryland. We are fortunate that Brian Gietka, superintendent at Fountain Head Country Club in Hagerstown has accepted the appointment to fill Bob’s remaining term through 2013. Please welcome Brian when you see him. Lastly, Cheryl Gaultney has served as the secretary/treasurer of the MTC since 1976. After 36 years of dedicated service, she will be stepping down after Turfgrass 2013. We will sorely miss her input and dedication to this organization! Cheryl has served on the board for almost as long as I have, and we have seen many changes in the turfgrass industry. If anyone is interested in this position (or knows of someone who may be interested), please contact me or any of the MTC board members. Keep the turf green side up!
Vernon W. Cooper 2012 MTC President
upcoming event
SAVE THESE DATES! » October 2, 2012 «
» January 7–8, 2013 «
Annual Angie Cammarota Golf Tournament for Turfgrass Research
Turfgrass 2013… MTC Annual Turfgrass Conference & Tradeshow
University of Maryland Golf Course College Park, MD
University of Maryland Stamp Student Union College Park, MD
Fall 2012
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Cover Story
The Prince and the Pauper‌
A Look at Sports Field Renovations at UMCP By Kevin Mathias, Ph.D., University of Maryland
Many
sports field managers are now expected to manage athletic facilities that cover the gamut of natural to synthetic-turf surfaces. At the University of Maryland, sports field managers have their hands full with different playing surfaces used at both the intercollegiate and intramural level. Sports field management at the University of Maryland is divided into two departments: management of the intercollegiate fields is run through the Department of Intercollegiate Athletics, and P.J. Ellis is the Director of Grounds for Intercollegiate Sports, while the intramural fields are managed through Campus Recreation Services (CRS), and Bill Reinohl is their Sports Field Manager and works closely with David Flumbaum, Assistant Director of Facilities and Projects for CRS. Two major field renovation projects have occurred in the past year at UMCP, including both a natural-field renovation on a low budget and a multimillion-dollar improvement with a state-of-the-art synthetic surface at Byrd Stadium. The decisions to renovate these fields varied, but one consistent theme was to improve playability and increase additional revenues by way of hosting more summer camps, outdoor concerts and other athletic events.
The Pauper Campus Recreation Services manages 4 field areas, which encompass just over 17 acres and consist of two synthetic-surface fields and two natural-turf fields. Currently, one full staff member and several student employees are involved
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with maintaining the intramural and club fields. The Engineering Field complex, which consisted of a tall fescue/ Kentucky bluegrass turf, was renovated in 2005 with a sand-based medium and an irrigation upgrade. Due to a number of summer camps, however, the cool-season turf began to decline. In 2011, Campus Recreation decided to move from a cool-season turf field to a warm-season turf (bermudagrass) under the guidance of Bill Reinohl. ‘Patriot’ bermudagrass was sprigged at 400 bushels per acre and then fertilized with a nitrogen/ potassium fertilizer. Also, a section of the Engineering Field complex that was not sprigged in 2011 was sprigged in late May 2012. To date, the cost of the bermudagrass conversion for approximately 7 acres was $8,000 for the first sprigging and $4,500 for the second sprig-
Photo 1. The Engineering Field in September 2010, with turfgrass loss and goosegrass encroachment.
ging. With less water being needed for the bermudagrass turf, savings in irrigation costs are expected. The fields receive 6 pounds of nitrogen per 1,000 square feet per year, with 0.5 lb. of N applied every week from late May through August. Also, in fall 2011, an intermediate ryegrass was overseeded for color enhancement and playability. An innovative cost-saving step was initiated that involved taking aerification cores from the intercollegiate fields and then topdressing, raking and rolling these cores into weak areas on the intramural fields. This practice has resulted in excellent stand-density improvements for the intramural fields. To date, Bill and Dave have received many positive comments — such as, “The fields are the best they have looked in years” — on their low-budget renovation project.
Photo 2. Sprigged section of Engineering Field in June 2012.
Photo 3. Bermudagrass Engineering Field, looking across Campus Drive on August 1, 2012.
Fall 2012
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Cover Story • continued
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Photo 4. Removing the crown of the Capital One Field and beginning to install subsurface drainage.
Photo 5. Excavation of the east end of the field for the storm drainage system.
Photo 6. Gravel being applied to the field and the storm drainage system (orange pipes) installed and being filled in with gravel.
Photo 7. The shock and drainage layer produced by Brock International was placed beneath the carpet.
MTC Turf News
continued • cover story
The Prince
Photo 8. Field installation shows the different layers above the gravel. Right above the gravel base is a black fabric, and on top of the fabric is the white shock and drainage layer. The carpet sits on top of the shock and drainage layer.
The Department of Intercollegiate Athletics manages 10 fields that vary from baseball and softball fields to a practice golf facility. The intercollegiate fields encompass just over 18 acres and consist of 3 synthetic-surface fields, 6 natural-turf fields and a baseball field that consists of a synthetic infield surface with a bermudagrass outfield. Currently, seven full staff members and one student employee are involved with maintaining these intercollegiate fields. An administrative decision was made in May 2012 to go forward in replacing the Capital One Football Field in Byrd Stadium to a state-ofthe-art synthetic surface. Although many upgrades have occurred to Byrd Stadium with regards to stadium seating and the Gossett Football Team House, no major work had been done on the field since the facility opened in 1950. One of the major challenges in preparing the bermudagrass field for the football season was the lack of internal drainage. The field consisted of a native soil that relied on surface drainage. Over the last several years, various rain events during the playing season required covering the field for extended periods of time. This resulted in poor turf quality and playability. Also, the need to overseed during this time period (to increase aesthetic conditions on a warm-season turf stand entering dormancy) further complicated field preparation. Through private donors, a multimillion-dollar upgrade to the field in Byrd Stadium took place this summer. The Capital One Field is reported to be the first synthetic-infill field in the U.S. to incorporate several new technologies designed to reduce temperatures, improve player safety and increase the longevity of the field. For instance, the field uses a heatreducing technology referred to as “Cool Play,� which incorporates a cork material along with sand and crumb rubber in the infill mix.
Fall 2012
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Cover Story • continued
Photo 9. Sweeping of the crumb rubber, sand and cork into the carpet.
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MTC Turf News
The manufacturer is reporting a reduction of 15ºF in this system, compared to traditional crumb rubber and sand infill systems. Also, in an attempt to improve player safety and improve drainage, a shock-absorbing layer by Brock International was installed below the carpet. The carpet itself, by Field Turf, consists of a new filament referred to as “Revolution” fiber, which is reported to increase longevity of the carpet and help dissipate heat buildup. Construction of field was completed on August 3, 2012. The sequence of the construction project is illustrated in Photos 4–9. One interesting aspect, with regards to stormwater runoff, is the collection system mandated by the Maryland Department of Environment and installed under a portion of the field. Canopy and subsurface infill temperatures, along with surface hardness data, will be collected monthly, and this information will be presented at the 2013 MTC Winter Conference. •
Turf Talk
By Bob Vavrek, Senior Agronomist, North Central Region, USGA Green Section
With
days getting shorter, morning frost delays will soon arrive. Mowing will transition into leaf removal, and it will be time to think about how to put the golf course to bed for the winter. Do you cover the greens or not? What kind of cover is best, or do you need different covers for different greens? Do you have enough labor to install and remove covers efficiently? Do you have adequate space to store the covers? What do you tell the boss if winterkill still occurs under the cover? There are no simple, clear-cut answers to these questions. Of course, the debate ends instantly if your golf course simply cannot afford covers, but there is still an economical option to consider for providing a basic level of winter protection to greens. A moderately heavy application of sand topdressing to the putting surfaces during late fall/early winter after snow mold fungicides are applied will provide a fair amount of protection from wind desiccation during an open winter. If you follow a few basic topdressing rules, there is significant reward for little risk at minimal cost. The two biggest mistakes are burying the greens in way too much sand and attempting to apply sand with heavy equipment when the greens are soft and wet.
How much sand? What is the right amount of sand? It’s difficult to make a specific recommendation because greens at different courses go into winter at different mowing heights, and the physical properties of sand vary
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between suppliers. A rate of sand that may smother a green being mowed at 1/10" of cut may be just right for a green going into winter at 5/32". Shame on superintendents going into winter at 1/10", but that is a topic to discuss some other time. In general, most courses apply too little sand to greens during the season, partly due to complaints from golfers who don’t like sand on the ball and equipment managers who don’t like dull mowers. As a result, it will be difficult for some superintendents to apply any more than a dusting to greens before winter, which is basically a waste of their time. A good rule of thumb for standard topdressing during the summer is to apply about 1 cu. ft. of sand per 1,000 sq. ft. of putting surface (approximately 100 lbs. of sand for an average 5K sq. ft. green) every 10 to 14 days, depending on how fast the greens are growing. This would be a good place to start when considering a late-season topdressing application. Apply no less than the summertime standard, and apply more if the greens go into winter a bit shaggy. On the other hand, don’t bury the greens in sand. Superintendents that make this mistake find they spend a considerable amount of time removing excess sand from the greens before the turf can be mowed during the following spring. The process of removing sand can cause a great deal of abrasion to the semi-dormant turf, already stressed by ice cover or thaw/freeze injury. Moreover, an extra-heavy blanket of sand can be partially displaced by rain or melting ice/snow. Greens with severe contours will be affected the
A moderately heavy application of sand just before the snow arrives can help protect turf from wind desiccation. The keys to success are (1) to topdress when the greens are firm enough to accommodate the equipment without rutting, and (2) to apply just the right amount of sand to bury the crowns of the plants without smothering the turf.
most. Small ridges of sand accumulation will impede surface drainage and smother the turf. Make sure there is enough sand to bury the crowns of the turf and still see the blades of grass poking up through the topdressing.
When to topdress? It’s better not to topdress at all than to topdress when the greens are wet and soft. Shallow ruts made by the tires of topdressing equipment are often the areas that hold a little water during a thaw and end up being the sites affected most by crown hydration. Dead Poa annua along the tire tracks of topdressing units is seen on a number of courses every spring, usually the result of applying sand to a soft green. Try loading the topdresser with just enough sand for one green (or a part of one green) to reduce the overall weight of the equipment. Furthermore, late fall topdressing serves another very useful purpose, even when consistent heavy snow cover protects turf from winter stress. The sand will be slowly assimilated into the upper root zone the following spring and help dilute organic matter accumulation during a time when greens are typically too soft to accommodate heavy equipment. The majority of courses seen on TAS visits could use more sand in the upper root zone, and late fall topdressing can help achieve this goal without causing dull mowers or annoyance to play. • Source: USGA Green Section Record, October 17, 2011. Bob Vavrek, rvavrek@usga.org or 262-797-8743
Fall 2012
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Recent Event
University of Maryland
Turfgrass Research Field Day By Vernon Cooper, MTC President, and Kevin Mathias, Ph.D., University of Maryland.
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MTC Turf News
On
July 19, UMD’s 2012 Turfgrass Research Field Day was held under ideal weather conditions — sunny, hot, and humid! An estimated 250 turfgrass professionals participated in this year’s field day, in which 30 research studies were unveiled. The studies covered such hot topics as fertility programs that will comply with the 2011 Fertilizer Use Act, numerous NTEP studies and weed, disease and insect control studies. Dr. Peter Dernoeden was recognized by the Mid-Atlantic Association of Golf Course Superintendents (MAAGCS) for his 32 years of service enhancing agronomic practices pertaining to golf turf operations. Also, John Strickland (MTC past president) spoke briefly about how important the University of Maryland was in making his former business (Egypt Farms) successful, and because of that support, he wanted to give back to the University by creating a $50,000 endowment. The endowment, “The John and Ronnie Strickland Turfgrass Fund,” will support student scholarships and turfgrass research at the University of Maryland. The Field Day ended with a picnic sponsored by the MAAGCS and coordinated by Stephen Potter, golf course superintendent at Woodholme Country Club. Steve and his crew always do an amazing job and somehow make each year’s picnic even better than the previous Field Day’s feed. Thanks to Steve (who is also an MTC past president) and all the cooks who put up with the heat to prepare the great food, and a special thanks to the businesses that assisted by providing a lot of the food, drinks and supplies needed for this event. • Photos by Dr. Mathias. Top » Dr. Pete Dernoeden, reviewing a dollar spot control study. Middle Left » Grand chef Steve Potter, who was in charge of food preparation for the picnic after the Field Day. Middle Right » Dr. Tom Turner, discussing NTEP studies. Bottom Left » MAAGCS president Scott Wunder (right), presenting a Certificate of Appreciation to Dr. Dernoeden, in recognition of his support of golf turf research. Bottom Right » Ronnie and John Strickland (far right), presenting a $50,000 check to start an endowment fund to support student scholarships and turfgrass research. Receiving the check (left to right), UMD turfgrass researchers and teachers Dr. Peter Dernoeden, Dr. Mark Carroll, Dr. Kevin Mathias, Mr. Ken Ingram and Dr. Thomas Turner.
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Fall 2012
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Turf Industry Calendar of Events
October 2
MTC Angie Cammarota Golf Tournament for Turfgrass Research
index of advertisers
January 9–11, 2013
All States Turfgrass Consultants, LLC .............11
Baltimore Convention Center Baltimore, MD
www.basf.com
Mid-Atlantic Nursery Trade Show
University of MD Golf Course College Park, MD
January 15–19, 2013
Green Industry & Equipment Expo
Daytona Beach, FL
Kentucky Exposition Center Louisville, KY
January 28–31, 2013
Capitol Sports Fields . .....................................10 www.capitolsportsfields.com
Central Sod Farms of Maryland, Inc. . .............15 www.centralsodmd.com
Collins Wharf Sod Farm...................................17
VTC Annual Turf & Landscape Conference and Trade Show
December 11–13
Buy Sod.............................................................5 www.buysod.com
STMA Annual Conference & Exhibition
October 24–26
BASF...............................................................12
www.collinswharfsod.com
CoverSports USA.............................................15 www.gerogroup.com
Fredericksburg Expo & Conference Center Fredericksburg, VA
East Coast Sod & Seed............ Inside Back Cover
February 6–7, 2013
Oakwood Sod Farm, Inc..................................17
35th Annual MTC Turfgrass Conference & Trade Show
San Diego Convention Center San Diego, CA
www.summithall.com
Adele H. Stamp Student Union University of Maryland College Park, MD
February 14–15, 2013
Virginia Tech’s Turfgrass Short Course Fredericksburg Expo & Conference Center Fredericksburg, VA
January 7–8, 2013
Golf Industry Show
www.eastcoastsod.com
Maryland Turfgrass Association..............................Inside Front Cover www.oakwoodsod.com
Summit Hall Turf, Inc......................... Back Cover
Syngenta Professional Products .......................7
Chesapeake Green 2013 – A Horticulture Symposium Maritime Institute & Conference Center Linthicum Heights, MD
www.syngentaprofessionalproducts.com
The Turfgrass Group....................................3, 13 www.theturfgrassgroup.com
TitanFescue.com.............................................17 www.smithseed.com
Weedman........................................................17 www.weedmanfranchise.com
Winfield Solutions, LLC......................................5
University of maryland turfgrass team Pete Dernoeden, Ph.D.
Tom Turner, Ph.D.
Mark Carroll, Ph.D.
Kevin Mathias, Ph.D.
Dave Funk
Dept. of Plant Science & Landscape Architecture University of Maryland College Park, MD 301-405-1337 pd@umd.edu
Dept. of Plant Science & Landscape Architecture University of Maryland College Park, MD 301-403-4431 tturner@umd.edu
Dept. of Plant Science & Landscape Architecture University of Maryland College Park, MD 301-405-1339 mcarroll@umd.edu
Institute of Applied Ag. University of Maryland College Park, MD 301-405-4692 jkm@umd.edu
Paint Branch Turfgrass Research Facility University of Maryland College Park, MD 301-403-8195 dfunk@umd.edu
MTC Turf News is the Maryland Turfgrass Council magazine. Subscriptions are complimentary to MTC members. The statements and opinions expressed herein are those of the individual authors and do not necessarily represent the views of the association, its staff, its board of directors, MTC Turf News, or its editors. Likewise, the appearance of advertisers, or their identification as MTC members, does not constitute an endorsement of the products or services featured in any issue of MTC Turf News. Copyright ©2012 by the Maryland Turfgrass Council. MTC Turf News is published quarterly. Presorted standard postage is paid at Nashville, TN. Printed in the U.S.A. Reprints and Submissions: MTC allows reprinting of material published here. Permission requests should be directed to MTC. We are not responsible for unsolicited freelance manuscripts and photographs. Contact the managing editor for contribution information. Advertising: For display and classified advertising rates and insertions, please contact Leading Edge Communications, LLC, 206 Bridge Street, Franklin, TN 37064, (615) 790-3718, Fax (615) 794-4524.
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