The Colosseum - Rome

Earlier this month, I had the opportunity to travel to Italy. In Rome, I toured the historic Colosseum, arguably one of the first sports facilities built in modern times. Construction on the structure began in 72 AD and was completed in 80 AD.  Click here to learn more about the structure.

Here are a few photos.  First, the exterior made of travertine stone:

Next, a couple shots of the interior:

A couple of shots of the floor of the Colosseum:

The floor had a number of trap doors and elevators that raised animals into the Colosseum.  Click HERE to learn more about the trap doors and the floor.

I was amazed at how some of the architectural used at the Colosseum is similar to what is used today.  Here is an example.  Going from the concourse to the seating bowl.  First, the Colosseum, second Tropicana Field:

Also, did you know that the Colosseum had a retractable sail?  It was called a "velarium." Over 1,000 sailors would use ropes and pulleys to move the canvas sails.  Here are a few photos of the system:

A photo of the design:

A photo of the areas where the ropes were attached to the ground:

Click HERE to learn more about the velarium.

The velarium looks awful close to one of the proposed designs for a new ballpark for the Tampa Bay Rays:

photo courtesy of peplums.blogspot.com

photo courtesy of mlb.sbnation.com

Overall, the Colosseum is an impressive structure.  Even more impressive to consider it was built almost 2000 years ago.

Go to j-dturf.com to learn more about J&D Turf.

Play on!
--Jamie
@JamieMehringer

Snow Mold on Turfgrass

After blizzard conditions across most of the midwest today, I thought it would be a good time to talk snow mold on sports turf.  Bottom line, pink snow mold is the disease that should be of concern for sports turf managers across the midwest.

Below are links from Purdue Turfgrass that explains both diseases.

Pink Snow Mold

Gray Snow Mold

Stay safe in the winter weather.

Go to j-dturf.com to learn more about J&D Turf.

Play on!
--Jamie
@JamieMehringer

An Article in SportsField Management Magazine

Back at it after a few days off.  Look for a post later this week detailing a visit to the first retractable roof in stadium......  Can you guess which stadium had the first retractable roof?

For today, click HERE for an article in SportsField Management magazine detailing the field renovation project at Brian Wilson Field in Batavia, OH.

Go to j-dturf.com to learn more about J&D Turf.

Play on!
--Jamie
@JamieMehringer

A Few Days Off

With the conclusion of the growing season and before tradeshow season, I am taking a vacation to re-charge the batteries.   Look for additional posts later this month.

Play on!
--Jamie
@JamieMehringer

OTF Tradeshow - Complete

This past week, the J&D Turf crew was in Columbus, OH for the Ohio Turfgrass Foundation Tradeshow.

Here is a photo of the event:

Look for more appearances at tradeshows over the winter.

Go to j-dturf.com to learn more about J&D Turf.

Play on!
--Jamie
@JamieMehringer

OTF Tradeshow - Tuesday and Wednesday

Join the J&D Turf team at the Ohio Turfgrass Foundation Tradeshow in Columbus, OH.  This is first of many tradeshows for the J&D Turf team this fall/winter.

Go to j-dturf.com to learn more about J&D Turf.

Play on!
--Jamie
@JamieMehringer

Tricks of the Trade - Slope Board

Don’t have time to get a slope board?  Lost your slope board?  Here is a trick to the trade:

A straight 2x4, level, tape measure and a Jimmy John’s cup:

Take the 2x4, find the mid point.  Mark it with a Sharpie.  That is where the level is located.  Next measure out the slope and mark with a Sharpie.  Adjust the Jimmy Johns cup the make the board level.

Click HERE to see a proper slope of a mound.  (courtesy of Diamond Pro)

Go to j-dturf.com to learn more about J&D Turf.

Play on!

--Jamie

@JamieMehringer

Bermudagrass Field in 70 Days - DePauw University

HERE is an article that I wrote for the November issue of SportsTurf Magazine.

If you are a frequent blog visitor you will be familiar with the field.

Go to j-dturf.com to learn more about J&D Turf.

Play on!
--Jamie
@JamieMehringer

Tricks of the Trade - Wrapping a Tamp

Do you have issues with mound clay and infield mix sticking to the bottom of your tamp?  If so, considering taping a plastic bag to the bottom of the tamp.  The following photos were taken while two separate tamps were wrapped at Indiana Tech University. 

Tamp #1

Tamp #2

Go to j-dturf.com to learn more about J&D Turf.  

Play on!

--Jamie

@JamieMehringer

What is the Best Overseeding Rates for Patriot Bermudagrass?

Great question.  Depends on the goal of the playing surface.  Do you wish to have a little green while wrapping up fall field hockey, or 100% coverage for an NFL practice field?

Here are two examples from late last week.  Both fields are 100% Patriot bermudagrass:

DePauw University field hockey - seeding rate 10 lbs per 1,000 sq ft in mid Sept.

Indianapolis Colts Practice Complex - seeding rate 10 lbs per 1,000 sq ft every 14 days Sept 1 - Nov 15.

Bottom line, both applications work for the end user to achieve their goals.  So, the overseeding rate depends on level of play, amount of play, time of year for play and overseeding budget.

Go to j-dturf.com to learn more about J&D Turf.

Play on!


--Jamie
@JamieMehringer

Brian Wilson Field - Batavia, OH - IV

The fourth post from Brian Wilson Field in Batavia, OH.

This post will focus on infield mix construction.

Here are two photos of the infield pre-construction:

Due to the presence of stone in the infield mix, the decision was made remove the material.  After removing 4 inches of existing soil a "hybrid infield" was installed.  What is a "hybrid infield"?  Simply stated, using a local mix and amending it with FieldSaver 50 from Natural Sand Company.  The goal is to create a column of infield mix that has a similar sand/silt/clay with Dura Edge Classic.  In other words, using a local mix and amending it before play takes place.  This process allowed for UC Clermont to have an infield that will play well at a cost savings.  Moving forward, Dura Edge Classic will be the infield mix that is added to ensure that the correct and/silt/clay percentages are maintained.

Here are a number of photos of the process:

Laser graded "local" mix:

Local mix rolled ready for the addition of FieldSaver 50:

Blending in the FieldSaver 50:

Topdressing the infield with calcined clay:

The finished product:

Ideally, all new construction would have a four inch column of Dura Edge Classic.  There are times when the project budget will not allow this route.  In those cases, a "hybrid infield" should be considered.

Go to j-dturf.com to learn more about J&D Turf.

Play on!
--Jamie
@JamieMehringer

Brian Wilson Field - Batavia, OH - III

The third post from Brian Wilson Field in Batavia, OH.

This post will focus on the infield grade and transforming an all dirt infield to a baseball infield.

The existing field was an all dirt infield.  Here is the surface before construction:

The infield mix was tested.  After the test results were received, it was decided that the soil was suitable for growing grass.  The next task was to lower the soil from the existing 1% grade to a .5% grade using a conical laser.  Here is a photo of the process:

The weather was challenging during the process as we battled wet weather every 3-4 days.  Due to this fact, we had to bring in temporary lights to complete the work:

After laser grading and a pre-plant fertilizer application, the sod was installed:

Look for additional posts this week as the infield mix portion of the project is discussed.

Go to j-dturf.com to learn more about J&D Turf.

Play on!
--Jamie
@JamieMehringer

Brian Wilson Field - Batavia, Ohio - II

The second post from Brian Wilson Field in Batavia, OH.

This post will focus on the background information of the field.

The facility is located at the Batavia Township Community Park and Community Center.  The field was built in 2009 as a multi-purpose field that would host play up to 250 ft outfield fences.  For this project, the fences needed to be moved to college distances to support UC-Clemont Baseball.

Supporting college baseball created a number of challenges.  First of all was a parking lot draining to RF and a swale in LF.  Here is a photo of the field pre-construction:

Notice the new homeplate location in blue paint.  With the parking lot location in RF, a shorter distance for the RF corner had to be designed:

After all design ideas were discussed, a final decision was made to bring in an earth mover and grade the outfield to fall towards the outfield fence and the RF corner using a duel slope laser.  Here was the finish grade during seeding:

Look for additional posts this week as we detail the progress of the project.

Go to j-dturf.com to learn more about J&D Turf.

Play on!
--Jamie
@JamieMehringer

Tricks of the Trade

A new segment of the SmartTurf blog.  Tricks of the trade.  Here are two tricks that I wanted to share this evening:

1.  Take a standard tine rake to a bench grinder and sharpen the teeth.  Now, the rake is a clay shaving tool:

2.  Next tip, take seat belt webbing, make a loop and attach a grommet.  Attach to a 10 inch nail, and you have a tarp nail with a handle:

Look for more tricks of the trade in future blog posts.

Go to j-dturf.com to learn more about J&D Turf

Play on!
--Jamie
@JamieMehringer

Brian Wilson Field - Batavia, Ohio

This is the first of a number of posts from a project that has been taking place this fall.  Brian Wilson Field in Batavia, OH is a new field that will host the UC Clermont baseball program beginning in 2013.

The plan is as follows:

1. Take an existing softball field with 200 ft fences and create a college baseball field
2. Build a new backstop
3. Irrigate the playing surface
4. Create a new infield surface using Dura Edge products
5. Build a new warning track
6. Sod the infield and foul territory areas
7. Seed the outfield
8. Build a new mound and two bullpens
9. Opening Day - March 2013

Here are a few before and after photos of the project as a first overview:

Warning Track:

Infield Mix:

Outfield Rootzone from Second Base:

Looking from Right Field to Home Plate:

Look for additional posts over the next two weeks to take a closer look at the phases of the project.

Go to j-dturf.com to learn more about J&D Turf.

Play on!
--Jamie
@JamieMehringer