DePauw University Soccer - In the Last 70 Days

The soccer field at DePauw University was converted from cool season turf to Riviera Bermuda grass this summer.  I wanted to recap the project in photos.

The plan was as followed:

1. Kill of the cool season turf with glyphosate
2. Till the dead vegetation
3. Laser grade the rootzone
4. Seed Riviera at a rate of 3 lbs per 1,000 sq ft
5. Grow the field in with irrigation and aggressive fertility and topdressing

Here are the photos:

May 14:

May 22:

  June 8:

June 29:

July 30:

As seen above, this field is ready for play at a cutting height of 7/8 of an inch.

To learn more about DePauw Soccer, click HERE.

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

Play on!
--Jamie
@JamieMehringer

Chicago Cubs - Wrigley Field

I spent the day last Friday on the north side of Chicago at Wrigley Field.  Here are a few photos:

The Kentucky bluegrass field was in great as it was Ron Santo Day at Wrigley.  The infield is Dura Edge Pro from the Natural Sand Company.

Here is a photo of the concourse:

Finally, a couple of additional photos.  One of the famous T-shirts stand outside of the park.  Next, a shot of the famous foul ball signs:

Wrigley Field is a great historic facility that is home to some of the best fans in baseball.

Look for another post later this week from another MLB facility.

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

Play on!
--Jamie
@JamieMehringer

Indianapolis Colts Training Camp - Let the Practices Begin

Today was the first day of training camp for the Colts.  Over 100,000 sq ft of Patriot bermuda grass greeted the team.  Here are a few photos of the natural grass playing surfaces last night before the practices started:

Look for additional photos halfway through camp and at the conclusion of camp.

Below are a couple of links of the training camp fields from earlier this year:

http://janddturf.blogspot.com/2012/04/should-i-overseed-my-patriot.html
http://janddturf.blogspot.com/2012/07/anderson-university-patriot.html

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

Play on!
--Jamie
@JamieMehringer

Indianapolis Star - Drought Stressed Athletic Fields - Bermuda Grass?

In today's issue of the Indianapolis Star, an article was written in regards to fall use fields (football and soccer) and the drought conditions.  To see the article, click HERE.

In the article, bermuda grass is discussed.  I wanted to pass along two photos taken last week:

A Patriot bermuda grass field:

Next, a bluegrass/ryegrass field:

Long story short, bermuda grass may not be for everyone, but it should definitely be considered for fall use athletic fields in Indiana.

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

Play on!
--Jamie
@JamieMehringer

Top Grading Bermudagrass Turf

It is well known that I believe warm season turf (bermudagrass) is an option that many in the Midwest should consider for athletic fields.  The fields that are about ready to host fall sports are the best "fit" for warm season turf.

Warm season turf is very tolerant to all types of maintenance.  How many fields are on campuses that have a somewhat poor grade?  There is not a good option to level these fields out if they are cool season turf (bluegrass, ryegrass, fescue, etc.)  Warm season turf on the other hand has an attractive option - Top Grading.  Quite simply, top grading is a heavy application of sand over the existing bermuda turf.  Then the field is laser grade to re-establish the grade.  the bermudagrass will grow through the sand very quickly in warn weather.  I saw this process taking place in Tampa during the first part of July.  Here are a couple photos:

Yet another reason why warm season turf may be the best option for your field.

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

Play on!
--Jamie
@JamieMehringer

Elizabethtown Sports Park - Opening Day

Opening Day at the Elizabethtown Sports Park took place yesterday.  My wife and I made the trip to ETown to take in the festivities and see the finished product. Here are a few photos:

A couple of photos from the baseball and softball fields:

A shot of a sign from the baseball and softball fields:

A couple of photos around the baseball pavilion:

A photo of one of 2 synthetic fields:

The ZOOperstars were on site for Opening Day!

A facility of this size needs a good amount of equipment to maintain:

Lastly, a shot of a youngster getting ready to run the bases on the Dura Edge Classic engineered soil infield surface:

A big congratulations to James Bergdoll, Sports Turf Manager, on the successful completion of this daunting project.  After 2 years of work, the place is one of its kind in the country.

Go to James' blog http://etownsp.blogspot.com/ to see the project from the early stages to completion.

Below are a number of previous links from the SmartTurf blog:

http://janddturf.blogspot.com/2011/07/day-in-elizabethtown.html
http://janddturf.blogspot.com/2011/09/week-in-elizabethtown.html
http://janddturf.blogspot.com/2012/06/elizabethtown-sports-park-opening-in.html
http://janddturf.blogspot.com/2012/06/elizabethtown-sports-park-video-link.html

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

Play on!
--Jamie
@JamieMehringer

St Luke Catholic Church - Patriot Bermudagrass

On a busy Friday morning, I wanted to send out a quick post in regards to the sodded Patriot bermudagrass field at St Luke Catholic Church on the north side of Indianapolis.  Here are photos taken early this week:

The field is starting to dry out due to the water ban in Indianapolis.  Obviously, it has been a great year for bermudagrass in central Indiana.  But, with the summer grow-in and the drought tolerance of bermudagrass, it may be an option for fall use fields.  I will continue to post on this field as practice begins in a couple of weeks.

To see earlier posts on the project:
http://janddturf.blogspot.com/2012/05/patriot-bermuda-grass-at-st-luke-in.html
http://janddturf.blogspot.com/2012/06/st-luke-catholic-church-patriot-bermuda.html
http://janddturf.blogspot.com/2012/06/st-luke-catholic-church-patriot-bermuda_16.html
http://janddturf.blogspot.com/2012/07/bermuda-grass-update-from-st-luke-and.html

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

Play on!
--Jamie
@JamieMehringer

MRTF - 2012 Field Day at Purdue University

Yesterday concluded the two day event that occurs every summer on the campus of Purdue University, Summer Field Day.  I have the honor to serve as President of the Midwest Regional Turf Foundation (MRTF) in 2012.

The events began on Monday with a board meeting and then the Award of Achievement reception at the Hilton Garden Inn in West Lafayette.  Awards were presented to the following:

Jim Held - Automatic Irrigation
Dr. Rick Latin - Purdue University
Steve Mueller - Pine Valley Country Club
Purdue Athletics

As stated on the MRTF Website, "The MRTF Award of Achievement, established in 2005, was created to honor those who unselfishly have given to the Midwest Regional Turf Foundation, the Turf Industry and Purdue University."

To see past award recipients, go to the MRTF website.

Here is a photo of the recipients:

L to R - Steve Mueller, Brian Bornino (Purdue Athletics), Jim Held, Dr. Rick Latin

Yesterday, the Field Day took place at the Daniel Center on the campus of Purdue University.  Close to 500 attendees toured the research plots and the tradeshow to learn more about turfgrass research.  Here are a couple of  early morning photos:

The trade show:

A view of the research plots:

A special thanks to the Purdue Turfgrass staff and the MRTF Board of Directors for another successful event.

Be sure to support your local turfgrass research center and foundation.  If you are in the midwest, please consider supporting the MRTF.  Go to the MRTF website to learn more.

After all, supporting turfgrass research leads to studies like the one below:

Look for results of this yet to be released study later this year.  Let's just say it will be very relevant with the weather we are experimenting in 2012.

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

Play on!

--Jamie

@JamieMehringer

Midwest Regional Turf Foundation Field Day - Tomorrow

The Midwest Regional Turf Foundation (MRTF) Field Day is tomorrow at the Daniel Center on the campus of Purdue University.  As President of the MRTF, I would encourage all parties in the midwest to attend this event.  Last year, close to 500 attendees participated.

Below is a photo of a couple of the research plots at the Daniel Center:

Go to mrtf.org to see the schedule of events.

Click HERE to see a map of the Daniel Center

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

Play on!
--Jamie
@JamieMehringer

Bush Stadium - Renovating a Historic Venue

I stopped by Bush Stadium last Friday.  The renovation of the former home of the Indianapolis Indians to apartments is well underway.  Here are a few photos:

First, the old "main entrance":

Next, a view of the former field access of the grounds crew:

A view of the old RF scoreboard:

A couple of shots of the seating bowl.  Notice that the main aspects of the former stadium to remain are  the exterior brick walls, the lights, and a renovated playing surface:

Finally a photo of the the important dates of Bush Stadium:

To learn more about the project, click HERE.  To learn more about Bush Stadium, click HERE.  The link includes why the field was named Bush Stadium and why Wrigley Field has ivy on the walls on the north side of Chicago.

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

Play on!

--Jamie

@JamieMehringer

Anderson University - Patriot Bermudagrass - Colts Training Camp 2012

Below are a few photos of the training camp fields for the Indianapolis Colts in Anderson, IN.  These photos were taken yesterday. (7/11/12)  Camp begins the end of July.  Tomorrow, the field we be core aerified for the final time before camp and 100 tons of sand will be topdressed over 100,000 sq ft.

 
Look for additional photos before and during camp.

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

Play on!
--Jamie
@JamieMehringer

Dayton Dragons - 5/3 Field

I spent last last night in Dayton, OH.  While in town, I stopped by for a quick visit with Dan Jennings, Head Groundskeeper.  Here are a couple of photos of the visit:

The field is in great shape.  To see what the field looked like in late fall click HERE.

Thanks again to Dan and his crew.  Keep up the great work.

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

Play on!
--Jamie
@JamieMehringer

A Day at Tropicana Field

On the 4th of July, I attended the New York Yankees v. Tampa Bay Rays game at Tropicana Field in St Petersburg, FL.  “The Trop” is the 16th MLB stadium I have visited.  It is clearly the worst facility I have visited in Major League Baseball.  First of all, the facility has a fixed roof with synthetic turf.  Since the Metrodome was replaced with Target Field, “The Trop” is now the only fixed roof stadium in MLB.  The only other synthetic field is the Rogers Centre in Toronto.  Let go to the photos of the facility:

The Exterior:

The Entrance:

The View from CF:

Entering Section 101:

View from Section 101:

A Shot of the Concourses:

Fo years I have heard and read that the location and the facility is a main reason for fans not attending Rays games.  After visiting the facility, I agree.  The stadium is in St. Pete which is a good 30-45 minute drive from Tampa.  Once inside, the facility is old and not up to today’s stadium standards.  To be honest, the Rays have done all they can to make this as good a facility for baseball as possible.  With that said, there is only so much that can do done to a facility with a fixed roof in south Florida with small concourses.  

Here’s to a new facility in Tampa.  Joe Madden’s team plays a good brand of baseball.  I think a new facility would bring the fans to the ballpark and improve the Rays franchise and make it a desired destination for free agents.

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

Play on!

--Jamie

@JamieMehringer