Winter 2021
Snow Removal on Sports Fields Fall Turf Day Recap PLUS
Spotlight on Nick Mol – Brown University
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CHUCK BRAMHALL CAPE COD CBRAMHALL@HARRELLS.COM (508) 400-0600
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JIM COHEN EASTERN MA & ME JCOHEN@HARRELLS.COM (978) 337-0222
MIKE KROIAN RI, MA MKROIAN@HARRELLS.COM (401) 265-5353
KENT LEMME WESTERN MASS KLEMME@HARRELLS.COM (413) 281-8087
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MIKE DUKETTE CT MDUKETTE@HARRELLS.COM (860) 930-8888
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CONTENTS • Winter 2021 FEATURES 100 R ecent Event: Fall Turf Day
DEPARTMENTS 140 S now Removal of
160 D isease Update:
Natural and Synthetic Sports Fields
Snow Mold Recap
6 President’s Message
COLUMN
MEMBER SPOTLIGHT
120 I ndicators and Techniques to
190 N ick Mol,
Avoid Early Turf Replacement
5 Index of Advertisers
8 NESTMA News Find this issue, Podcasts, Events and More: TheTurfZone.com
Brown University
ON THE COVER: Brown University athletic fields, Providence, RI. Photo credit: brown.edu
Officers
Directors
Board of Trustees
President
Tom Barry, CSFM Greens Farms Academy Greens Farms, CT
Kim Britton Saint Anselm College Manchester, NH
Chris McGinty Framingham Parks Department Framingham, MA
Advancing professionalism in sports turf management and athletic field safety through education, research, and scholarships. The official publication of the New England Sports Turf Managers Association (NESTMA), the New England Blade is dedicated to educating, advising, and informing members of the profession and furthering the goals of the Association. The New England Blade carries news and features related to the sports turf management profession. Publisher is not responsible for unsolicited material and reserves the right to edit any article or advertisement submitted for publication and to refuse advertising not in keeping with the goals of the Association. Publisher assumes no responsibility for the validity of claims in connection with items appearing in the New England Blade. Mention of a commercial product does not imply endorsement by the New England Blade, NESTMA, or Leading Edge Communications, or preference over similar products not mentioned. The New England Blade is published quarterly. Subscriptions are complimentary to members of NESTMA. Presorted standard postage is paid at Jefferson City, MO. Printed in the U.S.A. Advertising: For display and classified advertising rates and insertions, please contact Leading Edge Communications, LLC, 206 Bridge Street, Suite 200, Franklin, TN 37064, (615) 790-3718, Fax (615) 794-4524.
4 • New England BLADE • Winter 2021
President Elect Brian Boesch University of Rhode Island Kingston, RI
Treasurer
Art Goodhind Town of Natick Natick, MA
Ed Downing Read Custom Soils/ A.D. Makepeace Wareham, MA Ian Lacy Tom Irwin, Inc. Burlington, MA Ed Olsen Town of Needham Parks & Forestry Needham, MA
Past President Ben Polimer Town of Weston Weston, MA
Jason Puopolo, CSFM City of Nashua Nashua, NH
John Cunniff Walpole, MA Victoria Wallace University of Connecticut Storrs, CT
Management Team Virginia Wood, Executive Director Peggy Benjamin Kristen Dreyer Charissa Sharkey
NESTMA Headquarters 67 West Street Medfield, MA 02052 (508) 653-1241 NESTMA.org NESTMAinfo@gmail.com
Technical Editor Evan Steele Pioneer Athletics Billerica, MA
Victoria Wallace University of Connecticut Extension Storrs, CT
INDEX OF ADVERTISERS Beam Clay................................................... 6 www.BEAMCLAY.com Broyhill........................................................ 7 www.broyhill.com Harrell’s LLC............Inside Front Cover www.harrells.com Perkins Power Equipment................ 13 perkinspowerequipment.com
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The Charles Hart Seed Company.... 17 www.hartseed.com The Turf Zone......................................... 11 www.theturfzone.com
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Winter 2021 • New England BLADE • 5
PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE
UPCOMING EVENTS
DECEMBER 7, 2021 4:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.
PROMOTING OUR PROFESSION
H
ow many times have you been at a party when you’re faced with the inevitable question, “So, what do you do for a living?” The cynic in me wants to respond, “What DON’T I do?” but I stop myself and give the quick answer, “I’m in charge of the parks and athletic fields in Framingham.” With that, they usually nod their head and move on. The good news is we now have a resource to help us to better answer that question and promote the importance of our profession. STMA’s new video highlights the vital role green space and sports fields play in our communities, as well as the many reasons why young people should consider our profession as a viable career path. Check out the new STMA video at https://we.tl/t-ozUXEfl3bK. Next time I’m asked the “What do you do?” question, I can confidently respond that I am a sports turf professional who makes sure first-rate parks and athletic fields are available to everyone in the City of Framingham. It was great to see so many members on the links at the annual MALCP/NESTMA golf tournament in early October that raised funds for turf research and scholarships. Well done! On October 13, our education committee hit it out of the park at NESTMA’s Fall Turf Day. Catch up on these great gatherings and more in this edition of The Blade. Special thanks to our Commercial Partners for their support of NESTMA events. Here’s to happy holidays and a peaceful New Year,
Chris McGinty NESTMA President
NESTMA Annual Meeting & Biergarten The German Club Route 109 • Walpole, MA NESTMA.org
JANUARY 3 – MARCH 11, 2022
UMass Winter Turf School Ag.umass.edu/turf
JANUARY 17 – 20, 2022 STMA Conference & Exhibition Savannah, Georgia STMA.org
MARCH 8 – 10, 2022
New England Regional Turfgrass Conference Rhode Island Convention Center Providence, RI NERTF.org
MARCH 9, 2022 11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
NESTMA Annual Awards Meeting & Lunch @ NERTC Providence, RI
6 • New England BLADE • Winter 2021
NESTMA NEWS
RENEW TODAY
Many thanks to those who have already renewed their NESTMA membership for 2022. Renewal is quick and easy online at NESTMA.org/Renew22. With all the opportunities and benefits in store for NESTMA members this year, you don’t want to miss a minute.
AWARDS MEETING & LUNCH March 9
Jim Connelly and Chris McGinty
A GREAT DAY ON THE LINKS
Many thanks to the sponsors, players, and volunteers who participated in the annual MALCP/NESTMA Annual Golf Classic on October 7. It was a beautiful fall day at Butter Brook Golf Course, everyone was happy to see each other, and much needed funds were raised for industry scholarships. A special thanks to Jim and Karen Connelly for their dedication and hard work!
ANNUAL MEETING & BIERGARTEN December 7
NEW LOCATION! Start the holiday season with fellow members at our Biergartenstyled annual meeting. We’ll gather at the German Club (Route 109 in Walpole, MA) for a casual evening featuring delicious food and great company, along with a wide variety of imported German brews – we’ll also get some association business done! At our meeting, Tom Barry, CSFM, will present “Fraise Mowing for Weed Control in Pesticide Free Fields” including insight on what worked and what didn’t at Greens Farms Academy in Westport, CT. Thanks to Hart’s Turf Pro, Read Custom Soils, and Sports CE for their sponsorship support. Tom’s presentation will also be available as an on-demand webinar December 8 – 31, 2021.
AWARDS, SCHOLARSHIPS & GRANTS
Who do you know someone who’s gone above and beyond on behalf of the sports turf management industry? Do you have a supplier you work with who has made your job easier? How about a student who could use a boost as they continue their turf management studies? Now’s your chance to give them the recognition they deserve. NESTMA is accepting applications for the following: • Sports Turf Manager of the Year • Commercial Partner of the Year • Charles Mruk Student Scholarship • Terry Mellor Continuing Education Grant
Applications are available online at NESTMA.org. The deadline for submission is January 15, 2022. Presentations are made at NESTMA’s Awards Meeting and Lunch at the NERTC on March 9, 2022 in Providence, RI.
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Mark your calendar now for what promises to be our best Awards Meeting yet! Scheduled during the NERTC in Providence, our event will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday, March 9. Stay tuned for details and start thinking about a sports turf colleague you’d like to bring as your guest to this fantastic networking event. The NESTMA Awards Meeting and Lunch is brought to you with generous support from our friends at Tom Irwin.
NERTC
March 8 – 10
Plans for the England Regional Turfgrass Conference are well underway. Expert speakers will present sessions on a wide range of topics such as Sports Turf Construction & Management; Soil & Fertility; Water and Turf Health; Turfgrass Insects, and Fraise Mowing. Visit nertf.org for details.
UMASS WINTER SCHOOL January 3 – March 11
The annual UMass Winter School for Turf Managers is a certificate program designed to convey concepts essential to maintaining high quality turf, with emphasis on environmental stewardship and fiscal responsibility. This unique short course has a long and storied legacy, having run continuously for nearly a century. UMass looks forward to carrying on this tradition in a completely remote fashion. Participants must apply for acceptance into the program. Learn more at https://ag.umass.edu/turf/education/ turf-winter-school.
STMA CONFERENCE January 17 – 20
STMA’s Annual Conference & Exhibition will be held in Savannah, Georgia. The annual event allows members to share information with other successful sports turf professionals. In addition to educational seminars, hands-on workshops and the latest technology, conference attendees tour professional, college, and municipal facilities that offer a range of insights to take back home.
Happy Holidays Wishing you every happiness this holiday season and throughout the coming year.
RECENT EVENT
FALL TURF DAY A HIT! A
fter a long hiatus, NESTMA members got back together at the association’s Fall Turf Day held on October 13, 2021, at DeFazio Sports Complex in Needham, MA. More than 100 sports turf professionals took advantage of a beautiful day to demo trend-setting equipment, check out new service offerings, and learn more about the latest turf technology. The program focused on the design, installation, and maintenance of synthetic turf fields with expert presentations from Ed Olsen, Town of Needham, MA; Adam Yanulis, Tighe & Bond, and Rob Delmonico, R.A.D. Sports.
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Well-attended information stations featured hands-on demonstrations led by Scott Vose of Tom Irwin, Joe Kacevich and Crystal Grim of Shaw Sports Turf, and Scott Lagana of Turf Products Corporation. “It was great to see people I haven’t seen in more than a year and a half!” commented one attendee. “I got a bunch of terrific information and connected with suppliers I wouldn’t have met if it wasn’t for Fall Turf Day.” We are grateful to the speakers, sponsors, volunteers, and members who made NESTMA’s Fall Turf Day such a success. •
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Winter 2021 • New England BLADE • 11
COLUMN: SYNTHETIC TURF
Indicators and Techniques to Avoid Early Turf Replacement
“H
By Arthur Eddy, ASLA, LEED AP
ow many years does the turf have left?” is the question we hear most often from owners and sports turf managers. Inevitably synthetic turf is going to break down and will need to be replaced. It is part of the commitment of owning a synthetic turf field. A typical warranty on a synthetic turf field is eight years, with an average life of somewhere between 10–12 years. This article is going to focus on a couple of the signs that indicate your turf is starting to break down or degrade, as well as techniques for monitoring and maintaining the turf to avoid early replacement. A good indicator that a field is starting to break down is that the turf fibers start to shred. This shouldn’t be confused with the typical loose or “dead fibers” that come out of the field during grooming or high use. This is the actual breakdown of the individual fibers that begin to tear apart or shred. When inspected closely, you can see the fibers that are actually shredding apart. This is typically caused from high use or UV breakdown. The best way to monitor the change in fiber is to use a grass cut prism to check pile heights (Photo 1) and an infill gauge to check depths. Adding infill to low areas can limit fiber exposure to sun and use. Once a fiber starts to shred, the ability to hold infill and provide a safer, well performing surface will become more difficult which will lead to costly repairs or replacement. Another sign that turf is starting to show signs of age is pile flattening (Photo 2). Pile flattening is exactly as it sounds, it is when the turf fibers start to bend over and lay flat. This can be seen visually on the field where you start to get minor changes or discoloration in the turf field. The most common areas that see pile flattening are the high use areas, these can vary per sport, and are directly related to infill levels within the turf. Synthetic turf fibers have memory and can deflect when left in that condition. The fibers will eventually break at the point of deflection. This can lead to the early breakdown of areas that become hazardous as they influence the athlete’s ability to plant a foot, provide resilience or mitigate impact. A sports turf manager should be checking infill levels and pile height on a regular basis, as they are a good indicator it is time to groom the field, add infill and get the fibers to stand up straight again. All too often we are asked to make an assessment when it is already too late. A sports turf manager can have a major impact on extending the life of the synthetic turf field. A proper maintenance plan that keeps accurate photographic and data records and that monitors infill depth and pile height can curb the need for early replacement. Understanding what is happening inside the turf and reacting with appropriate infill addition and proper grooming techniques can limit the effects of pile flattening and fiber degradation. • Art Eddy is CEO of RePlay Maintenance in East Greenwich, Rhode Island. Connect with Art via email at aeddy@replaymaintenanceusa.com or phone (877) 641-1819.
12 • New England BLADE • Winter 2021
PHOTO 1: Inspecting pile height with a grass cut prism
PHOTO 2: Pile Flattening
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FEATURE
SNOW REMOVAL
OF NATURAL AND SYNTHETIC SPORTS FIELDS By Steve LeGros
As
sports turf managers there are many challenges we face and many of these are weather related. While working in the Northeast, my biggest challenge was dealing with winter conditions, especially in football season or in early spring with field hockey or baseball. I have found through trial and error a number of ways to deal with snow on both synthetic and natural grass fields; the most important strategy was to have a plan of attack ahead of time, before Old Man Winter throws multiple inches of snow or ice at you. If you are not prepared, the results will be a lot of lost valuable time in the removing of this frozen precipitation. Establish what the plan of action will be in advance and be sure to factor in the worst-case scenario while also having a Plan B.
PLOWING OPTIONS Here are a couple of plowing options that can be used to remove snow on either synthetic or natural grass: If a rain tarp is available, tarping the surface before the event allows you to remove the snow/ice AS SOON AS IT BEGINS TO FALL. Using high-powered, PTO-driven blowers allows you to
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prevent as much accumulation on the tarp as possible: this requires being on site as soon as the snow or freezing rain begins to fall and proactively removing the precipitation by working from the center of the field and working your way out to the sidelines. The snow must be a dry snow for blowers to work. If it’s a wet snow you can remove the snow by using rubber tip snowplows or other snowplow options listed below. Do not allow the snow to accumulate more than one inch before beginning the removal. Also, plowing off the rain tarp makes for a cleaner surface in the end. CAUTION: When plowing off of the rain tarp, plow in the direction in which the tarp was laid and modifying the plow blade to prevent snagging and tearing the rain tarp. Plowing an uncovered surface with a pickup truck or utility work vehicle works fine, but you must retrofit the plow blades. Here are some ideas: Use pressure treated wood/recycled lumber. Hardware needed: long lag bolts, washers, and nuts and one 2 x 4 x 8-inch or 4 x 6 x 8-inch piece of lumber. I remove the snowshoes from the plow (will still be used as the receiver for the pressure treated wood). Take the lumber or whatever you find that will keep the blade from coming in contact with the surface.
On the bottom side of the lumber, recess drill two holes (large enough for the lag bolt head with a washer) in alignment with the plow shoe receivers; the recessed drill hole should be deep enough to allow for a lag bolt head to sit flush with the bottom of the board. Place a support washer at the end of the bolt for reinforcement. Run the lag bolt up through the board and through the snowshoe ring on the back of the plow. Add washers above and below the lag bolt as you would with the snowshoe for spacers and secure bolt with a locking nut. Another idea is using a drainpipe bucket plow. You need a 15 to 20-foot by 18-inch diameter drainpipe, ratchet straps, and a tractor with bucket. Strapping the drainpipe to the bucket increases the plowing swath; when you plow have the lift bucket up, tilt the bucket forward, lower to turf and plow.
SYNTHETIC FIELDS When plowing synthetic fields, you don’t need to scrape the surface clean. If you try, it will result in the removal of crumb rubber and the chance of turf damage. Instead, drop the plow to the surface and then raise it slightly (1/8 to 1/4 inch). Leaving this small amount of snow is what you want to achieve. Synthetic turf heats up so fast that even 1–2 inches of snow will rapidly melt off if there are slightly exposed areas of green turf. After the majority of snow has been removed, black crumb rubber (synthetic field) or black sand (natural grass) can be spread over the field. Allow this to sit 20–30 minutes and then run a field groomer over this last bit of snow and it will quickly dissolve. I have also seen green dye sprayed over the last one inch of snow that will absorb more sunlight and accelerate the melt. If only one to two inches of snow has fallen on synthetic turf, I have been able to drive a utility vehicle in a crisscross pattern across the field (like a mowing pattern) to achieve melting; by compressing this little bit of snow in the tire tracks it accelerates the melting. Snow blowers also work well but remember not to scrape it clean. Leave a 1/4 inch of snow, followed by an application of crumb rubber or black sand. Don’t be too concerned with plowing against the seams of the synthetic turf. As long as you’re not scraping it clean and take your time, it will be fine. If you try to cowboy plow the removal of the snow and the plow begins to bounce, it could result in extreme turf damage. If a large amount of snow is called for, get after it as soon as there is an inch of accumulation and keep repeating the removal process throughout the storm. When the field is scheduled to be used in early spring (March/ April), I recommend you remove the snow after each storm event throughout the winter. Removing all but one inch will prevent a lot of heartache come March. It’s much easier to remove one inch of snow in the spring than to remove three feet of frozen, hard-packed snow. • Steve LeGros has been in the turfgrass industry for more than 30 years as a turfgrass/stadium operations manager and has been consulting with turfgrass management and facilities operations on all levels of athletic fields since 2007. The article originally appeared in Sports Turf magazine and is reprinted with the author’s permission.
Snow Removal: Members Weigh In Earlier this year, NESTMA polled members on their snow clearing practices. The majority indicated that they do clear snow off synthetic fields and those that don’t hold back due to warranty concerns. There was an equal split between those that contract the service out and those who perform snow clearing in-house. Clearing snow with a Snow Pusher Box is the overwhelming choice for sports turf professionals.
Tom Barry, CSFM, heads the NESTMA Network
committee. When reviewing the results of this poll he noted, “What was interesting to me was that most folks that clear fields do it on a storm-by-storm basis. At Greens Farms Academy [in Westport, CT] we wait until late February. Primarily because we don’t use the fields over the winter. This has burned us in the past though, because when snow builds up and doesn’t melt off, it can become frozen in layers and is much more difficult to push.”
Planning is Key Matt Clement, Grounds Manager at Roger Williams University in Providence, RI shares his thoughts on snow removal. “ We have seen an increasing number of synthetic turf fields being installed throughout New England. This has helped get athletes out on the fields earlier, but it has created another challenge – snow removal. Sports turf managers need to have a plan in place to remove snow from their synthetic turf fields and be prepared for what Mother Nature tosses their way. By being prepared and having a snow removal plan in place using in-house resources, or contracting out snow removal, sports turf managers can provide their teams and coaches a safe, playable field throughout the winter / spring sports season. There are many resources available including specialized plows and companies with expertise in snow removal on synthetic turf. Snow removal on natural grass athletic fields is probably the most challenging. A few years back, David Mellor, Senior Director of Grounds for the Boston Red Sox, came up with the great idea of applying black sand to snow covered athletic fields. The application of black sand is a safe and sustainable alternative to mechanical snow removal. The application of the black sand can be performed in house or contracted out to contractors that have the right equipment to apply the sand safely and efficiently.”
Winter 2021 • New England BLADE • 15
FEATURE
SNOW MOLD:
Questions Answered By Pamela Sherratt
Photo © Erik Draper, OSU Extension
Q: I have received two questions about snow mold disease recently: Should we apply a fungicide if we plan on covering the field with a growth blanket this winter and if so, when? And we can’t spray a fungicide before winter for snow mold, but if we see damage from snow mold on our young ryegrass next spring, what should we do? A: Quick snow mold re-cap: snow mold is a common disease problem in northern states during winter and early spring. Microdochium patch/pink snow mold is probably the most common snow mold that develops during a snow event. In the absence of snow, the disease is referred to as fusarium patch. Typhula blight/gray snow mold is the second most common snow mold. In the case of Typhula blight prolonged snow cover is required for disease development. Perennial ryegrass and annual ryegrass are particularly susceptible to snow mold, especially on immature, lush, succulent stands of grass seeded in the fall. If snow mold has been an issue in the past, it’s wise to be prepared. The growth blanket will provide environmental conditions not dissimilar to prolonged snow cover, making the turf more susceptible to snow mold. So yes, if you are planning on putting a growth blanket on a field over the winter period it is advisable to apply a preventative fungicide before covering. I assume the reason for covering the field is that there are games scheduled very early in the spring. Growth covers that are permeable
16 • New England BLADE • Winter 2021
(i.e. breathable) are more beneficial than impermeable ones. Impermeable covers increase the temperature and humidity under the cover and so increase the likelihood of snow mold. Making one application of preventative fungicide just before covering the field, or just before the first snow event of the season, has been shown to be more effective than making fungicide applications earlier in the fall. Also, a liquid application is typically more effective than a granular application. While it is widely accepted that a preventative fungicide is the most effective way to prevent snow mold problems, there are other turf maintenance practices that will help minimize snow mold damage and boost the turf plant going into the winter season. These practices are especially important if there are pesticide restrictions, and a fungicide application can’t be made. There really aren’t any biological options for snow mold prevention or control. Snow mold issues are exacerbated if the grass is laying over, is covered in leaves, or has excessive thatch. Cultural practices that minimize thatch and surface debris are important, as is mowing just slightly lower than normal during the last mow of the season. The goal is to enter the winter season with a short, clean sward. A common practice on cool-season turf is to apply a lateseason fertilizer application with a quick release source of nitrogen at the end of the growing season, when the grass is still green, but it has stopped growing. This application is not the same as
a fall fertilizer application when turf is still growing. Applying quick-release sources of nitrogen in the fall should be avoided as it leads to lush, weak plants going into the winter season. The crucial difference is that the late-season application is made when top/leaf growth has stopped but soil temperatures are still warm enough for nitrogen absorption. The misconception is that the late-season fertilizer application encourages or increases the severity of snow mold disease, but it does not. The late-season fertilizer application will help boost turf quality and green-up the following spring, without excessive top growth. Some care should be taken however, to make sure that the fertilizer application rate is not too high, particularly on sand-based fields, to prevent nitrogen leeching. Another pre-winter practice could include applications of the plant growth regulator trinexapac-ethyl. Applying trinexapacethyl between July and September does not necessarily reduce the incidence of snow mold, but it does increase levels of fructan in the crown of the turf plant, which could improve winter survival and enhance turf quality and green-up the following spring.
Regarding the second question, prolonged rainy periods and cool to moderate temperatures in early spring are ideal conditions to prolong the disease, so it may linger until warmer and dryer weather arrives. A snow mold recovery plan would include: check damaged areas by looking at the crowns to see if they are alive and producing new leaves; lightly rake the grass to promote air circulation and encourage light to penetrate the canopy, encouraging new shoot and leaf development. You want to dry the sward. If there is any dead and/or matted leaf tissue, rake and remove it immediately. In the case of dead turfgrass, renovation of the site would be recommended as soon as possible. Removing diseased and dead material in the spring is an essential part of reducing the source of inoculum on the field. Plan to overseed with turfgrass varieties showing greater genetic resistance to snow mold infection. Fungicide applications at this time will not eliminate the disease from affected areas but only protect non-infected grass. On high profile-turf an application of fungicide may be warranted. •
Pamela Sherratt is a Sports Turf Specialist at the Ohio State University. Connect with Pam at sherratt.1@osu.edu. This article is reprinted with the author’s permission.
Winter 2021 • New England BLADE • 17
MEMBER SPOTLIGHT ON
NICK MOL Assistant Grounds Superintendent • Brown University • Providence, Rhode Island SPORTS MANAGEMENT & TURFGRASS MANAGEMENT • UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS – AMHERST How did you get your start in the sports turf industry?
What’s the best business advice you’ve ever received?
At an early age, I started landscaping around my childhood home with my father, grandfather, and brother. One of my first jobs in high school was on the grounds staff at Westover Golf Course in Chicopee, MA, where I was introduced to the many aspects of the turfgrass industry, and knew it was the career path for me.
Never ask someone to do something you are not willing to do yourself.
Where did you go from there? In college I interned at Pine Valley Golf Club (Rehoboth, MA) and at The Kittansett Club (Marion, MA) which led to a full-time position as an Assistant Superintendent upon graduation. A few years later, I took a role at Sebonack Golf Club in Southampton, NY where I was part of the team that hosted a U.S. Women’s Open. From there I moved to Brown University, where I am today. At Brown I manage both natural grass landscaping and synthetic turf fields. Who are your mentors in the sports turf industry? John Kelly, Superintendent at The Kittansett Club, had a huge influence on me as a young turfgrass manager. He taught me a lot and guided me in developing many of the managerial and agronomic skills, strategies and techniques I still use today. Pat Vetere, Superintendent at Brown University, has been immensely supportive. He not only helped me make the transition from golf course management to university facilities management, but he also pushes me to continually grow and evolve as a manager. Both men have taught me so much over the years. I would not be where I am today without them.
18 • New England BLADE • Winter 2021
What’s your favorite thing about your current position? No two days are the same. You never know what the day is going to bring. You can have a plan at 6:00 a.m. and then be going in a very different direction by 8:00 a.m. It keeps you on your toes and requires you to be very flexible. I work with a great team that can overcome any challenge that is thrown our way. Can you tell us about a recent project you were able to complete? I am very proud to be part of the team that helped execute an in-person commencement ceremony last spring. As we all know, due to COVID-19 there were many restrictions, regulations, and social distancing requirements to navigate, but we were able to successfully celebrate Brown University’s class of 2021. What’s your favorite/most useful: Equipment? Bobcat Toolkat 5600 – It is very versatile for landscaping and snow removal. Product? Magic Salt – Fast acting, long lasting ice and snow melter. Technology? Workday Software – One-stop-shop for purchase orders, invoices, payroll, and budgeting.
What is the next game-changer you see on the horizon for the sports turf industry? I believe we will see a shift to fleets of electric equipment. From tractors to mowers to hand tools, the push for facilities to become carbon neutral will be a large part of our decision making in the near future. Any industry-related volunteer service you’d like to share? Over the years, we have developed a great partnership with the Providence Parks Department. We have held seminars on snow removal and synthetic turf maintenance, and a couple times each year we work together to help renovate local fields. Can you tell us a bit about your family life and what you enjoy doing in your free time? I live in Franklin, MA with my wife Sarah, daughter Emily (3 years old) and son Jack (3 months old). When time allows, I like to sneak out for a round or two of golf. What advice would you share with people starting out in sports turf management today?
What have you found most beneficial about being a NESTMA member?
No matter where you are in your career, challenge yourself to keep learning. The industry changes quickly. It is important to stay up to date with the latest research, equipment, and techniques.
The members of NESTMA do a great job of supporting each other. They are always there to answer questions, knock around ideas or to get a different perspective on an issue you are having. •
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Turf Grass Production Mowers
Steep Slope Remote Controlled Mower
The Slope-Pro® is a steep slope, rotary mower capable of 50º slopes
Widest range of rotary finishing mowers available from one source
An extensive Dealer network that you can rely on
Features to reduce your cost of operation over the long haul
Proudly designed and manufactured in North America
Tri-Deck cutting widths: 12’, 15.5’, 22’*, 36’* Roller Mower cutting widths: 65”, 90”, 12’, 15.5’, 22’*, 26’*, 29.5’* Contour/rough finishing mower: Pro-Flex™ 120B 10’ cut. TDR-X roller mower 10.5’ cut Steep Slope mower: Slope-Pro® 52” cut * available with bolt-on galvanized deck shells
Contact us for more info or to find an Authorized Dealer near you. progressiveturfequip.com info@progressiveturfequip.com
(800) 668-8873 (519) 527-1080
Winter 2021 • New England BLADE • 19
