November/December 2019
A Publication of the Turfgrass Council of North Carolina
Market Research Explores Considerations Among Decision-Makers in
CHOOSING PLAYING SURFACES
ALL FOR ONE: Fostering Cooperation Across the Turf Industry
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1-888-360-1125 Cary 1900 NC Hwy. 55 Cary, NC 27519 919-836-0492
Charlotte 12600 Downs Circle Pineville, NC 28134 704-525-8873
Hendersonville 583 Jeffress Rd. Mills River, NC 28759 828-681-5000
Mooresville 1060 River Highway Mooresville, NC, 28117 980-444-2347
Raleigh 1225 Farmers Market Drive, Box 19 Raleigh, NC 27603 919-836-0492
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20 16 table of contents November/December 2019
More Features:
16 Feature Story
All for One: Fostering Cooperation Across the Turf Industry
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Market Research Explores Considerations Among Decision-Makers in Choosing Playing Surfaces
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Turfgrass Management in Shade
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From the President TCNC Deluxe Members Welcome, New Members NC State Turf Team Index of Advertisers Calendar of Events
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From the President
A CHALLENGING AND REWARDING CAREER —
GETTING THE WORD OUT
North Carolina Turfgrass is the official publication of the Turfgrass Council of North Carolina 110 Horizon Drive Suite 210 Raleigh, NC 27615 919-459-2070 fax 919-459-2075 www.ncturfgrass.org
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Anna Brooks Whichard, CAE IMI Association Executives annabrooks@imiae.com 919-459-2070 Published by: Leading Edge Communications, LLC 206 Bridge Street Franklin, TN 37064 615-790-3718 fax 615-794-4524 info@leadingedge communications.com
2019 TCNC OFFICERS PRESIDENT
As
I meet and speak with people in the turfgrass industry, one issue seems to be the most concerning. When I benchmark with other turfgrass professionals around the country, they have the same concerns which are finding and hiring quality new employees.
The turfgrass industry needs to do a much better job of educating young people about the opportunities that are available in our industry. A career as a turfgrass professional is both challenging and rewarding and most of our youth are unaware that these careers are available. I have met with high school guidance counselors in the hope that educating them about career opportunities in turfgrass would result in more young people being encouraged to pursue a career in turfgrass. Most of these guidance counselors were completely unaware of the size of the turfgrass industry and the personal and financial rewards it offers. Our challenge is to get the word out. We work in a wonderful industry that produces a product which cleans the air, cools the atmosphere and helps keep sediment out of our water systems. AND the world is a more aesthetically pleasing place because of our work. To all turf professionals, thank you for all you do!
Gene Queen Nature’s Select Premium Turf Services Winston-Salem, NC 336-768-7999
PAST PRESIDENT Damon Dean Keith Hills Country Club West End, NC 910-893-1372
TREASURER Kevin Herrmann Fairway Green, Inc. Raleigh, NC 919-818-9640
2019 DIRECTORS H. Dean Baker Kinston, NC
Best Regards, Jonathan Richardson, NCCTP Green Resource Dunn, NC
Gene Queen
TCNC President
Wilson Sutton Falling Creek Golf Club Kinston, NC Andrew Wampler Southern Ag Hendersonville, NC
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TCNC Deluxe Members Companies wishing to support TCNC with multiple members can join as Deluxe Members. Deluxe Memberships can be purchased in one of three tiers: 1–5 employees; 6–10 employees; or 11+ employees. If you'd like to learn more about the Deluxe Membership, please contact the TCNC office at (919) 459-2070 or info@ncturfgrass.org.
Thank You to Our DELUXE MEMBER ORGANIZATIONS
The Biltmore Company Barefoot & Associates Inc.
Fairway Green
Quality Turf
Fayetteville Technical Community College
Smith Turf & Irrigation
Green Resource
Sod Solutions Inc.
JRM Inc.
Southern Ag
Keith Hills Country Club
Southern Seeds Inc
Leap Frog Landcare Inc.
Town of Cary Public Works
Buy Sod Inc Carolina Farm Credit Carolina Green Corp. City of Raleigh Parks & Recreation
McConnell Golf LLC
The Club at Longview Country Boy Landscaping Inc
Nature's Select Premium Turf Services
UNCG North Carolina A&T State University
Duke University Pennington Seed – ProTurf Division
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Turf Mountain Sod Inc
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Wake Forest University
TCNC New Members Edward Herod Lawn Doctor of VA Beach Inc. Virginia Beach, VA
Millie Jones SAS Institute Inc. Cary, NC
Andrew Hardison SAS Institute Inc. Cary, NC
Eddie Goodwin SAS Institute Inc. Cary, NC
Brian Davis SAS Institute Inc. Cary, NC
Michael Beasley SAS Institute Inc. Cary, NC
Josh Stephenson Keith Hills Country Club Lillington, NC
James Manship Keith Hills Country Club Lillington, NC
Nate Webb McConnell Golf LLC Greensboro, NC
Eric Hutchins McConnell Golf LLC Greensboro, NC
Jordan Harris McConnell Golf LLC Greensboro, NC
Dewayne Krege Avery County High School Newland, NC
Randy Partin Dixie Lawn Care LLC Willow Springs, NC
Chris Hansen MHC – Kenworth Durham, NC
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NC State Turf Team
Index of Advertisers Buy Sod, Inc........................ Inside Back Cover www.buysod.com
CROP AND SOIL SCIENCES Dr. Dan Bowman Professor, Crop Science (919) 515-2805 dan_bowman@ncsu.edu Dr. Rich Cooper Professor, Crop Science (919) 515-7600 rich_cooper@ncsu.edu Emily Erickson Crop Science Lecturer (919) 513-2034 emily_erickson@ncsu.edu Dr. Travis Gannon Assistant Professor (919) 515-2647 (Office) travis_gannon@ncsu.edu Matt Martin Extension Associate – Turfgrass, NCSU Crop Science Dept (910) 675-2314 (Office) matthew_martin@ncsu.edu
Dr. Susana Milla-Lewis Associate Professor, Turfgrass Breeding and Genetics (919) 515-3196 susana_milla-lewis@ ncsu.edu Dr. Grady Miller Professor (919) 515-5656 grady_miller@ncsu.edu Dr. Charles Peacock Professor and Extension Turfgrass Specialist (919) 515-7615 charles_peacock@ncsu.edu
Dr. Tom Rufty Professor (919) 515-3660 tom_rufty@ncsu.edu Dr. Wei Shi Professor, Crop Science (919) 515-2647 (Office) wei_shi@ncsu.edu Dr. Fred Yelverton Extension Specialist (Turfgrass / Forage Crop Weed Mgt) (919) 515-5639 fred_yelverton@ncsu.edu
Carolina Green Corp.....................................11 www.cgcfields.com Carolina Turf Farms, Inc...............................15 www.carolinaturffarms.com CoverSports USA..........................................13 www.coversports.com Divots, Inc.....................................................11 www.divotssand.com Green Resource............................. Back Cover www.green-resource.com Kesmac............................................................7 www.kesmac.com
Dr. Robert Richardson Professor and Extension Specialist (919) 515-5653 rob_richardson@ncsu.edu
Leading Edge Communications....................19 www.LeadingEdgeCommunications.com Mid-Atlantic STIHL..........................................5 www.stihldealers.com
ENTOMOLOGY AND PLANT PATHOLOGY
BIOLOGICAL AND AGRICULTURAL ENGINEERING
Dr. Terri Billeisen Extension Associate (919) 515-7464 tlhoctor@ncsu.edu
Dr. Garry Grabow Extension Specialist and Professor (919) 513-7348 garry_grabow@ncsu.edu
Dr. Rick Brandenburg Extension Specialist (Peanuts & Turf) & Department Extension Leader (919) 515-8876 rick_brandenburg@ncsu.edu
Modern Turf, Inc.............................................9 www.modernturf.com Morgan Sand Company................................22 Progressive Turf Equipment Inc...................18 www.progressiveturfequip.com Smith Seed Services........................................9 www.smithseed.com
HORTICULTURE SCIENCE Dr. Danesha Seth Carley Director, SIPMC & NC IPM Coordinator (919) 513-8189 danesha_carley@ncsu.edu
Lee Butler Extension Coordinator (919) 513-3878 elbutler@ncsu.edu
Southern Seeds, Inc......................................11 www.southernseedsinc.com Southern Specialty Equipment.....................15 www.ssequip.net Super-Sod........................................................3 www.supersod.com
Dr. Jim Kerns Associate Professor and Extension Specialist (Turfgrass Pathology) (919) 515-2730 (Office) jpkerns@ncsu.edu
The Turfgrass Group.......... Inside Front Cover www.theturfgrassgroup.com Turf Mountain Sod, Inc...................................9 www.turfmountain.com Vandemark Farms.........................................13 www.vandemarkfarms.com
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Calendar of Events November 17 – 20, 2019
Southeast Regional Sports Turf Conference & Trade Show DoubleTree Resort by Hilton Myrtle Beach Ocean Front Myrtle Beach, SC
November 18 – 20, 2019 Carolinas GCSA Conference & Trade Show Myrtle Beach, SC
January 23, 2020
TCNC Annual Conference Sedgefield Country Club Greensboro, NC
The Turfgrass Council of North Carolina (TCNC) serves its members in the industry through education, promotion and representation. The statements and opinions expressed herein are those of the individual authors and do not necessarily represent the views of the association, its staff, or its board of directors, North Carolina Turfgrass, or its editors. Likewise, the appearance of advertisers, or TCNC members, does not constitute an endorsement of the products or services featured in this, past or subsequent issues of this bimonthly publication. Copyright © 2019 by the Turfgrass Council of North Carolina. North Carolina Turfgrass is published bi-monthly. Subscriptions are complimentary to members of TCNC. Presorted standard postage is paid at Jefferson City, MO. Printed in the U.S.A. Reprints and Submissions: North Carolina Turfgrass allows reprinting of material published here. Permission requests should be directed to TCNC. 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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Feature Story
TURFGRASS MANAGEMENT IN THE
SHADE By John Sorochan, Ph.D., Plant Sciences Department, University of Tennessee
W
hen it comes to managing turfgrass in shade, an understanding of the actual causes of shade is important. Shade is simply the lack of necessary
light for optimal turfgrass growth. Reduced light, or shade, results in reduced photosynthesis, in turn causing the induced turfgrass stress. A simple definition for photosynthesis is light energy plus carbon dioxide plus water yielding chemical energy (carbohydrates) plus oxygen plus water. Light (sunlight) is the ultimate source of most terrestrial life on earth. The sun provides light in abundance and does not appear to be a limiting factor for most turfgrass growth. However, changes in light, either quantity or quality, have dramatic effects on plants, thereby making it a limiting resource. The components of light include light quality and quantity. Light quality are the wavelengths of light (measured in nanometers, nm), and range from very short (cosmic or x-rays) to long (radio) waves lengths. Turfgrasses, like all plants, require
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visible light from 380 to 700 nm in order for photosynthesis to occur. This visible light spectrum (380 – 700 nm) is known as photosynthetically active radiation (PAR). Within PAR are the blue and red light wavelengths which are important components for turfgrass growth and development. Blue light (≈ 380 – 500 nm) is important for photosynthesis and is the stimulus for short sturdy growth. Conversely, red light (≈ 600 – 700 nm) is also important for photosynthesis and is the stimulus for turfgrass cell elongation. Green light typically is not important for photosynthesis and is reflected giving the turf its green color. Light quantity is the actual particles (photons) of light providing the energy necessary for photosynthesis to occur. Light quantity (energy) is the most important light component for photosynthesis to occur. The shorter the wavelength, the more energy provided; thus, blue light is more important for photosynthesis than red light.
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Variations in light quantity occur with the time of year, latitude, time of day, atmospheric screening, and topography. During the summer, light quantity is greatest; while winter provides the least light energy. Depending on the time of year and latitude, the light quantity can vary greatly. In the northern hemisphere, the further north you go during the summer, the longer the days and greater the light quantity. Between 12:00 and 14:00 the light energy is most abundant and is significantly less during the time of day prior to and after the time when the sun is at its solar zenith. Atmospheric screening reduces light quantity and is caused by anything that has a potential to interfere with the light wavelengths. Clouds, pollution, humidity, and even trees are some examples of atmospheric screening that occurs. In addition to atmospheric screening, topography also influences light quantity. North versus south facing slopes is an example of how topography can limit the turf’s exposure to light energy. Dr. James Beard estimated that over 25% of all managed turf is under some sort of shade stress. Thus, shade stress likely occurs anywhere turfgrass is managed which can include golf courses, athletic fields, and home lawns to name a few. Shade (reduced light) is a reduction in both light quantity and quality. Simply having a shade situation means not enough light energy is being supplied to the turf for efficient photosynthesis to occur. Reduced photosynthesis results in reduced carbohydrate synthesis, and in turn causes turfgrass stress conditions resulting in insufficient growth and development. Tree shade greatly reduces both blue and red light quality, with the blue light being affected most. As a result, the short, sturdy stimulus for turfgrass growth is reduced and turfgrasses elongate from the more abundant red light stimulus and lack the necessary light energy important for optimal photosynthesis to occur.
Morphological changes that occur as a result of shade stress include decreased leaf thickness, decreased density, decreased tillering (rhizome and/or stolon growth), decreased root to shoot ratio, and increased leaf height and elongation. Turfgrass physiological responses to shade include reduced carbohydrate reserves, reduced transpiration, reduced respiration, reduced cuticle thickness, and increased succulence. Environmental conditions that typically accompany shade stress situations include increased relative humidity, more moderated temperatures, restricted air movement, and potential competition for water and nutrients from tree roots. Proper implementation of cultural practices can help when managing turfgrass grown under shade stress conditions. Because root depth is limited as a result of shade, a light and more frequent irrigation schedule should be used. However, avoid
FIGURE 1: Shade and Plant Growth Regulators
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over-watering! Irrigate only as needed to maintain adequate soil moisture for the turfgrass. Also, avoid excess nitrogen. Too much nitrogen will stimulate increased shoot growth; thus making the turfgrass plant more stressed. A good rule of thumb to go by is to fertilize at half the recommended rate for nitrogen requirements for the turfgrass species being grown. If possible, increase mowing height to enable more surface area for light absorption. Unfortunately, for a shaded putting green, increasing the mowing height is often not possible because of the increased demands for faster putting surfaces. Finally, turfgrasses under shade stress conditions have an increased susceptibility to fungal turfgrass diseases. Because of this, fungicide applications are often necessary for turfgrass survival. Other management practices which aid in turfgrass shade stress situations include limiting or redirecting traffic, tree canopy and root pruning, plant growth regulators, and increasing morning light. Limiting traffic is difficult, particularly on putting greens. However, any reduction in wear will help alleviate added stresses to the turf already under shade stress conditions. Trees are usually the major cause for shade problems, especially in golf course situations. Unfortunately, trees are also an important component to the golf course landscape. Trees add depth and aesthetic value to complement any golf course design. However, trees can also grow to exceed their original benefit and cause problems such as turfgrass shade stress. If the tree causing the shade cannot be removed, pruning both the limbs and roots will help reduce some of the problems being caused to the turf. Pruning the limbs will allow for more light to penetrate to the turf surface, and root pruning will lessen the competition for nutrients and water. Several research studies have been conducted to show the benefits of using plant growth regulators (PGRs) on turf under shade stress conditions. The use of PGRs like Trinexapac Ethyl (Primo), have shown to limit shoot elongation and improve photosynthetic efficiency (Figure 1.). Finally, when at all possible, any attempts to provide morning light will greatly help with dealing with shade stress conditions. Morning light is when cool-season photosynthesis is at is greatest, thus enabling maximum photosynthetic efficiency. G
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Feature Story
ALL FOR ONE: FOSTERING COOPERATION ACROSS THE TURF INDUSTRY A superintendent discusses collaborating with professionals in other sectors of turf management and offers steps fellow supers can take to promote a united front. By Logan Freeman, Mountain Branch Golf Club The following story was originally published in the June 2019 issue of GCM and is reprinted with permission.
W
hile there is no debating that the turf industry has come under increased attacks from activist groups and one-sided legislation in the past few years, I believe there is a potentially dangerous gap in our defense.
Though not often talked about, a lack of cohesion among the different professions within turfgrass management has left us isolated and separated. In the specific world of golf course management, we often discuss the importance of communication between the superintendent and golf shop staff, golfers, boards and committees. We also recognize the benefit of camaraderie and shared knowledge among golf course superintendents. Although the collaboration and community in golf is critical to the success of our work, the lack of communication and support across the various sectors of turfgrass management — golf, sports turf, home lawn care, university professionals, distributors, sales representatives — is rarely addressed. (Photo 1) The origin of this divide is difficult to pinpoint. Perhaps we superintendents felt that cultivating this long-term supportive relationship would have taken too much time and effort away PHOTO 1: Sales representatives are among those who bridge the gap between the different sectors of turfgrass management. Here, author Logan Freeman, superintendent at Mountain Branch Golf Club in Joppa, Md., (right) and his assistant superintendent, Erik Dittmar (left), visit with Scott Orndorff, a sales representative from Landscape Supply Inc. Photos courtesy of Logan Freeman
from our immediate day-to-day operations. Or maybe we just saw no value in immersing ourselves in its complexities. Whatever the history, this disconnect now seriously undermines the future of our industry as a whole.
An eye-opening gathering
Like so many in our profession, I used to think that sports turf and lawn care just did their thing, and we as golf course turfgrass managers did ours. That’s the way it had always been and likely would remain. Then I went to a meeting for the formation of a local chapter of the Sports Turf Managers Association. This organic creation of the Mid-Atlantic STMA (https://mastma.org) opened my eyes to an entirely different approach to my profession. Of the hundred or so in attendance, I was the only golf course superintendent in the room. Yet instead of feeling alone and territorial, I felt a sense of connection and an appreciation for my presence. I also felt the support of what the people attending the meeting were trying to achieve. I discovered a side of turfgrass management I had never before experienced, and I formed bonds with local sports turf managers I likely never would have met had I not attended as a sign of support for the new organization. (Photo 2) Immediately following that meeting, I couldn’t stop wondering why the golf and sports sides of the industry were not more jointly associated. After all, we have far more commonalities than differences. We all manage turfgrass for its playability, in addition to juggling the management of people, budgets and the environment. I also began to question why lawn care and other sectors were not a part of this supportive mix. If we are looking to move the turfgrass industry forward and address all the adversity facing us, we must come together in support and appreciation. No matter our titles — golf course superintendent, head groundskeeper, lawn care provider, researcher, distributor — we all have a passion for this industry as well as a part to play in the narrative of its future.
The future of the turf industry
Our industry is increasingly challenged. Part of this growing tension is positive, as ever-restrictive pesticide- and nutrient-management laws lead to innovation, ingenuity and leadership.
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The downside, however, is equally present, as lawmakers who view the turfgrass industry as an easy target issue uninformed, blanket statements with little regard for repercussions. Their caustic words and changing tactics frequently appear as attacks aimed at our methods and the products we use rather than as honest attempts at finding common ground and viable solutions. All too often, legislative bills are introduced at the last second to catch the turfgrass industry off guard. New legislation rarely comes directly on the national level; instead, legislation is brought forth at the county or township level. And while these restrictions are directed primarily toward a specific local aspect of turfgrass management — lawn care, sports turf, golf — the law is often expanded to other issues and geographical areas in subsequent years. This is where a united industry front becomes critical, because legislation that comes uninformed and with destructive intent stands a greater chance of gaining a foothold and becoming commonplace if we remain an isolated and separated body. Now is the time for us to become unified and vigilant.
How golf course superintendents can be part of the solution
Each one of us must make the effort to reach out locally, regionally and statewide. Here are some next steps.
Locally Find out who manages the sports fields in your area. Communicate with them and form a bond by helping each other. This also goes for lawn care providers, sod farmers and others who work with turfgrass in your community, as we are all potential partners. Consider becoming involved in local outreach efforts such as the First Green (https://www.thefirstgreen.org) program, which effectively shows our commitment to area youth and extends past golf into sports turf and lawn care. Engaging young people about the turfgrass industry can help educate away fears or misconceptions they and/or their families might have. Proactively share with golfers, patrons, homeowners, legislators, educators and the general public the environmental benefits of golf course green space. Utilize programs such as Operation Pollinator (http://www.greencastonline.com/operationpollinator) and Monarchs in the Rough (https://monarchsintherough.org) to help you get started in providing habitat to benefit even the smallest of creatures. Simply reducing or eliminating inputs between fairways and in out-of-play areas provides habitat for a whole range of ecology. (Photo 3) Sports field managers and lawn care providers can recommend pollinator-friendly flowers and reduced-input options. Planters outside a stadium and single landscape beds at a home are small actions, but they often lead to educational opportunities and serve as conversation starters. Often, it seems people see our industries as a “silent spring,” adversely affecting the environment by constantly applying dangerous chemicals. The responsibility now falls on us to showcase our benefits and diversity of wildlife, and to educate those concerned. Regionally At the formation meeting of the Mid-Atlantic STMA, I noticed the one common thread among all turfgrass groups: sales
PHOTO 2: Forging relationships with fellow professionals in the various fields of turfgrass management — as Freeman (left) has with Nicole Sherry, head groundskeeper for the Baltimore Orioles — is a powerful piece of any effort to advance turfgrass managers’ collective interests.
representatives/distributors. To me, therefore, it seems obvious that regional sales reps and distributors serve as the primary conduit through which industry information is initiated and exchanged throughout all sectors. University and private researchers are additional common threads that can help the profession coalesce. Chapter leaders should actively encourage joint functions among all the branches, whether the events are social or educational. Communication between different sectors and the leaders within them is crucial in the process. And if open lines of communication do not currently exist between the industry professionals A P u b l i c a t i o n o f t h e T u r f g r a s s C o u n c i l o f No r t h Ca r o lina 17
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in one’s area, an emphasis must be placed on improving and streamlining the exchange of information and mutual support.
PHOTO 3: A field of milkweed — which is monarch butterflyfriendly — at Mountain Branch Golf Club in Maryland.
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Statewide When legislation impacting our industry is misinformed or unnecessarily restricting, it is important that we take the time to educate our legislators regarding our products and their usage. An established method of any proactive body is the development of best management practices (BMPs). The creation/ implementation of BMP documents is already proving to be a powerful tool in the defense of our industry. When our practices are called into question, a BMP manual can provide evidence that we take our profession and its effects on the environment seriously. (Photo 4) We are proud that Maryland was the first state to complete its BMP turfgrass manual (http://www.marylandgolfbmp.org), and we’re beginning to discover its benefit during legislative sessions. The BMP document is a positive first step in unifying the turfgrass industry here in Maryland, and we applaud GCSAA for its effort to encourage all states to follow our lead. Current and future challenges facing the turfgrass industry will require a multifaceted effort. Documentation like the BMPs, community outreach programs like First Green, and proactive communication with legislative officials, the public and all facets of the industry will serve vital roles in shaping the community’s understanding of our industry.
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A unified front
Rather than standing silent, segmented and unengaged, we must work as a fully functioning alliance of turfgrass professionals in order to address today’s challenges effectively. We must personally reach out to the different sectors within our own turfgrass communities, for we will engage more willingly if we have a friend or close colleague being affected by new legislation. Chapters, associations and councils from around the industry must reach out to each other and work as a unified group. For those of us in Maryland, the Maryland Turfgrass Council will serve as a catalyst for solidifying relationships among different turfgrass groups within the state, especially via events like joint turfgrass profession trade shows. National organizations such as GCSAA and STMA can help consolidate industry support through timely messaging via social and print media. Proactive and courageous leadership will be paramount. The true strength of an industry comes down to the passion, engagement and vision of the individuals who underwrite it. It has been my experience that turfgrass management is full of hardworking, dedicated and driven people. I believe that, with the right balance of camaraderie and shared knowledge, our industry will adapt and thrive despite the challenges that lie ahead. G Logan Freeman is the GCSAA Class A Superintendent at Mountain Branch Golf Club in Joppa, Md., and a 10-year association member.
PHOTO 4: Simply reducing inputs in out-of-play areas helps provide habitat for creatures big and small. By working together, diverse branches of the turfgrass industry can facilitate the adoption of such environmentally conscious initiatives throughout the profession as a whole.
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Cover Story
MARKET RESEARCH EXPLORES CONSIDERATIONS AMONG DECISION-MAKERS IN
CHOOSING PLAYING SURFACES C
By Casey Reynolds, Ph.D., Executive Director, Turfgrass Producers International ollege and professional football season are upon us, and sports fans can feel the excitement in the air. As always, preseason polls, national championship
predictions, and other team chatter is in the news, but also making headlines this year are several recent retirements of prominent football players citing in part, concerns over their long-term safety and health. The safety and health of athletes is and should be a top priority for leagues, coaches, parents, and others. However, what other factors are considered when installing new athletic fields? Is it maintenance, costs, environment, or other factors? Is it all of the above? If so, which factors play most heavily in these decisions? This was the topic of research targeted in recent market research conducted in 2018 in the United States and Canada. Six companies submitted proposals for this market research and FleishmanHillard, a global PR firm and digital marketing agency based in St. Louis, MO was selected as the winning proposal. FleishmanHillard is an internationally recognized PR firm that was founded in 1946 that represents businesses including Barnes & Noble, Proctor & Gamble, General Motors, Energizer, EA Sports, and more. They have over 80 offices in 30 countries and as such are able to reach audiences domestically and internationally. First, FleishmanHillard analyzed the current state of affairs in print and social media with regard to natural grass and synthetic turf. Natural grass proponents and synthetic turf companies tout many of the same benefits including cost, environmental impact, durability and safety — many of consumers’ major concerns. They also analyzed the share of each group’s voice in digital media as well as the positive, neutral, and negative perceptions by subject for natural grass and artificial turf. One of the key items that jumped out was that it appears natural grass fields are taken for granted. There are fewer arguments for natural grass, rather than against artificial turf, because natural grass is in the default position. Artificial turf often gets more coverage and has non-neutral articles, in part simply because it is new and debated. In addition to an analysis of print and digital media, FleishmanHillard surveyed 141 decision-makers (coaches, athletic directors, city employees, etc.) in the United States and Canada (Figure 1) to get an idea of what they determined as motivating factors when selecting new playing surfaces for their communities. These respondents were presented with a series of statements revolving around considerations of various playing surfaces and
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TABLE 1
DECISION-MAKERS’ POSITIONS (n=141)
An athletic director or assistant athletic director
18%
A committee and/or board member for my city, county or state
17%
An elected official in my city, county or state
17%
A parks and recreation manager and/or superintendent from the local community/county
15%
A city manager, assistant city manager, city administrator or assistant city administrator
13%
A groundskeeper / grounds manager / athletic field manager
13%
A member of my community’s athletic association
A community leader (serves on local boards, etc.)
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6%
1%
asked for their feedback. Their knowledge and responses to these statements were then compiled for analysis to determine the many factors that go into deciding between natural grass or synthetic turf athletic fields, mulch or rubber playground surfaces, and more. As you can imagine, the safety and health of users was a top response. There are many factors that contribute to the safety of various types of playing surfaces, including but not limited to, construction and management practices, heat, surface hardness, consistency, others, and even footwear. There are many types of playing surfaces that each have a role in communities everywhere. For example, a playground at a child’s daycare center in the southern U.S. may be more concerned about heat loading than a multi-use event complex in the pacific northwest. Inversely, a collegiate or professional soccer or football complex may be more concerned about traction/footing than an outdoor concert venue. As you can imagine, each of these types of venues lend themselves to different playing surfaces and management techniques but a common theme throughout each of them is user safety. Field safety has long been a research topic among the scientific and medical professions and there have been many research papers published in academic journals citing varying differences in surface types. Many of these studies use some type of injury surveillance reporting system to seek out and analyze trends in injuries in different playing surfaces. For example the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) has collected injury data through their Injury Surveillance System (ISS) since 1982 (Kerr et al 2014). The National Football league (NFL) has recorded and reported injuries using a similar system since 1980 (Hershman et al 2012). These types of injury recording systems are capable of capturing data on injury type, weather conditions, playing surface, athlete exposures (AE), and more. These reporting systems allow medical trainers and researchers to access and analyze vast sets of comprehensive data over extended periods of time. Two papers that have been recently published in the American Journal of Sports Medicine focus on injury data analysis from the National Football League (NFL) and the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). Previous research has revealed that football cleats interact differently on synthetic and natural turf, which may lead to a different risk of injury. Divots — when a cleat creates a hole in the field — signal that the grass has absorbed force from the cleat and released the cleat back again, rather than capturing the cleat and releasing the force through a players’ foot, ankle or knee, which could cause injury. Since cleats can easily create divots on natural grass less force is placed on the lower body, which may help prevent injury. Data for the NFL study came from the analysis of all 1,280 NFL regular season games and 213,935 distinct plays from 2012 through 2016, 555 of which were on synthetic turf and 725 on natural grass. All 32 NFL teams reported injuries through an electronic health record system, and each injury report gives full details of the injury and circumstance, such as the contact, impact, activity, time lost, game-day weather, and surface type and conditions. The researchers then examined all cases of lower body injuries along two outcomes: any time loss, and greater than eight days of time loss. They also examined the rates of contactrelated injuries and noncontact-related injuries, since noncontact injuries are more likely to be related to the playing surface. A total of 4,801 lower body injuries occurred from 2012 to 2016 affecting 2,032 players. Play on synthetic turf had a 16
When examining noncontact knee, ankle and foot injuries, play on synthetic turf had a 56% higher rate of injuries resulting in any time loss and a 67% higher rate of injuries resulting in more than eight days of time loss.
The greatest difference in non-contact injury rates between synthetic turf and natural grass were to the ankle/foot: synthetic turf resulted in a 68% higher rate of injuries resulting in any time loss and a 103% higher rate of injuries resulting in more than eight days of time loss.
If all NFL games played on synthetic turf were played on natural grass during the study period,
319 FEWER lower body injuries would be expected.
percent higher rate of lower body injuries than on natural grass. This included contact and noncontact that resulted in any time loss. For noncontact injuries, synthetic turf injury rates were 27 percent higher than injury rates on natural grass. However, when examining noncontact knee, ankle and foot injuries, play on synthetic turf had a 56 percent higher rate of injuries resulting in any time loss and a 67 percent higher rate of injuries resulting in more than eight days of time loss. The greatest difference in noncontact injury rates between synthetic and natural turf were to the ankle: synthetic turf resulted in a 68 percent higher rate of injuries resulting in any time loss and a 103 percent higher rate of injuries resulting in more than eight days of time loss. In the NCAA research, there were a total of 3,009,205 athlete exposures and 2,460 knee ligament and meniscal tears reported by the NCAA Injury Surveillance System throughout the 2004– 2005 to 2013–2014 NCAA playing seasons. Injury rates for all knee ligament and meniscal tears examined during this period were higher during competitions than in practices. Analysis of this data indicate a significantly increased rate of posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) and anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) A P u b l i c a t i o n o f t h e T u r f g r a s s C o u n c i l o f No r t h Ca r o lina 21
Cover Story | continued
Athletes in Division I competitions experienced 199% higher PCL injury rates on artificial turf than on natural grass.
Athletes in Division II and III competitions experienced 213% higher PCL injury rates on artificial turf than on natural grass.
Athletes in Division II and III competitions experienced 63% higher ACL injury rates on artificial turf than on natural grass.
on artificial turf compared to natural grass during competitive events. Although, there were no differences in the rate of medial collateral ligament (MCL), medial meniscal, or lateral meniscal injuries. Specifically, athletes in Division I competitions experienced PCL tears at 2.99 times the rate on artificial turf (199% increase) as they did on natural grass. Division II and III athletes experience ACL tears at 1.63 times the rate of those playing on natural grass and 3.13 times the number of PCL tears as those playing on natural grass. This equates to a 63% increase in ACL tears and a 213% increase in PCL tears to Division II and III football players on artificial turf. Furthermore, the rate of PCL tears during competition in all divisions on artificial turf was 2.94 times higher (194% increase) than on natural grass. The research and scientific communities will undoubtedly continue to investigate injuries among athletes, causal mechanisms, relationships between cleats and playing surfaces, and more. More information on each of these two studies can be found in the original research manuscripts at the citations below. You can also visit www.TurfgrassSod.org/ Resources.
Citations
Hershman E, Anderson R, Bergfeld J, et al. An analysis of specific lower extremity injury rates on grass and FieldTurf playing surfaces in National Football League games. The American Journal of Sports Medicine. 2012; 40(10):2200-2205. Kerr Z, Dompier T, Snook E, et al. National Collegiate Athletic Association Injury Surveillance System: review of methods for 2004-2005 through 2013-2014 data collection. J Athl Train. 2014;49(4):552-560. Loughran, Galvin J., Vulpis, Christian T., Murphy, Jordan P., Weiner, David A., Svoboda, Steven J. Hinton, Richard Y., and Dave P. Milzman. The American Journal of Sports Medicine 2019;47(6): 1294–1301 Mack C, Hershman E, Anderson R, et al. Higher rates of lower extremity injury on synthetic turf compared with natural turf among National Football League athletes: epidemiologic confirmation of a biomechanical hypothesis. The American Journal of Sports Medicine. 2019;47(6):1294–1301 G 22
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