The President's Desk PAUL TURNER

Hello to all ourmembers! Cansomeone pleasetell me where the

summer went? Itseems like justyesterday that wewere gearing up for

spring and now we are gearing down forthe fall season. Autumn is a great time ofyear. In my mind, the grass never looksbetter and there isn't a finer time to spenda day on the links than when the trees areturning colour.

16th Annual Field DayWell, we did it again. This year's field

day at the University of Toronto @

Scarborough was our best yet! Attendancewas the highest ever with over 105 turfprofessionals registered. We also had agreat tum out from our suppliers with 16companies exhibiting their products.

Without the support of our generoussponsors the day wouldn't be possible.Our thanks to each and everyone of you.

We must also express our appreciationto our speakers. Rob McMulkin helped usout when we were in a bit of a bind whenLarry Noon was unable to attend. Rob,thanks for stepping in at the last minuteand starting off a great morning.

Our second speaker was Dave Motleyand I thought he made a tremendouspresentation with some amazing statistics.Dave, thanks from the committee.

Gary Supp from Turf Care was the finalmorning speaker. Unfortunately for Gary,we had some technical difficulties so thefull effect of his PowerPoint presentationwas not felt but it was an enlighteningsession, packed with great material.

The last speaker of the day was thecolourful Jack Eggens. Jack entertainedthe large crowd on the field with somehands-on tips regarding turf maintenanceand cultural practices. Thanks to all of ourspeakers for sharing their time and

expertise with us.I would also like to thank the Field Day

Committee and, of course, Lee Huetherfor doing an outstanding job with theplanning and organization of the event.

We Were There!The STA had representation in Stratford

at the Communities in Bloom NationalSymposium on Parks and Grounds thanksto STA Directors Rick Lane and JaneArnett-Rivers who were invited speakers.

Ontario Turfgrass SymposiumWe have some new and exciting

information regarding the OTS. In 2004,we are off to the Falls. Yes, that's correct,the new show location is Niagara Falls atthe Sheraton on the Falls Hotel andConference Centre, January 19-21st. Thispromises. to be a great new location forthe event. The Falls area has lots ofentertainment, restaurants and, of course,one of Ontario's finest casinos.

We welcome a new partner this year.The Ontario Recreation FacilitiesAssociation joins the Guelph TurfgrassInstitute, the Nursery Sod GrowersAssociation of Ontario, the OntarioMinistry of Agriculture and Food, theProfessional Lawn Care Association ofOntario, the Sports Turf Association andthe University of Guelph in providing themost comprehensive turf show in theprovince. So come on out and let's have agreat time! See you there.

The STA Annual General Meeting isbeing held during the symposium on themorning of January 21 st from 7.30 to 9.00a.m. Please come and join us for breakfast.

Nominations for the Board of Directorswill also be held at the AGM. If you wouldlike to get involved, please come andparticipate. The Slate of Nominees and theInvitation to the Annual General Meetingwill be mailed soon so keep an eye out forthis correspondence. Best wishes for theautumn season. •

www.sportsturfassociation.comIAUTUMN 2003 3

Ontario Turfgross Symposium Heads to the FallsJOIN us FOR ONTARIO'S PREMIERTURF CONFERENCE & TRADE SHOW

he Ontario Turfgrass SymposiumExecutive Committee is pleased toannounce that OTS 2004,Ontario's premier educational turfsymposium and trade show, will

be hosted at the Sheraton on the FallsHotel and Conference Centre in NiagaraFalls (www.sheratononthefalls.com).

The Sheraton on the Falls is Niagara'sforemost four diamond resort hotel- andthe only hotel across from the Fallsoffering spectacular views. Luxuriousrooms and suites, an indoor swimmingpool, the Fallsview Spa and Fitness Centreand the award-winning PenthouseFallsview dining room are all part of thisexciting 20-acre complex.

All under one roof, conferenceattendees will be able to enjoy shops andrestaurants, including the Hard Rock Cafe,Planet Hollywood, the Rainforest Cafe,the MGM Studios Plaza, as well as thespectacular Casino Niagara. In addition,the Ontario Turfgrass Symposium will beheld during the Niagara Falls Festival ofLights, a spectacular lighting of parksalong the river as well as a nightly lightshow highlighting the Falls.

The Niagara Butterfly Conservatory,Niagara Parks Greenhouses, estate

wineries and factory outlet shopping areall a short drive from the hotel. The hotelcomplex and surrounding area holds awide range of attractions for symposiumdelegates and their families.

Sheraton on the Falls providescomfortable meeting rooms and a spaciousexhibit area. The education program hasbeen enhanced this year in recognition ofthe Ontario Recreation FacilitiesAssociation joining the Nursery SodGrowers Association, Professional LawnCare Association of Ontario and the SportsTurf Association in sponsoring thesymposium.

A facilities management sessionfocusing on the logistics of managingspecial event programming will be addedto the existing golf, lawn care, sodproduction and sports turf managementsessions covering the latest in scientificresearch, practical turf management,legislation, technology, human resourcemanagement and much more.

The three-day program is scheduled forJanuary 19-21, 2004. To receive anexhibitor or delegate package, pleasecontact the Office of Open Learning at theUniversity of Guelph at 519-767-5000 orinfo@open.uoguelph.ca. •

Z001 O.vtewr:o r~~ 5'r~Educational Conference & Trade Show, January 19-21, 2004Sheraton on the Falls, Niagara Falls, Ontario O~TAFr/O

Three Ways to Save ...1. Early Bird Registration Date: Dec. 5, 2003

2. Association Discount. As an STA member in goodstanding, you qualify for lower association rates.

, , I

TUrtgmss3. Group Discount. Others from your facility/organization who are not STAmembers when registered with a member qualify for the lower associationrates. Send the registration in the same envelope, fax it at the same time, ormake just one phone call to register.

Visit www.open.uoguelph.ca/OTS for details ...

4 AUTUMN 2003 I Sports TurfManager

Coming Events CHECK OUT WWW.SPORTSTURFASSOCIATION.COM FOR UPDATES...

February 21-25, 2004Western Canada Turfgrass Association4 7st Annual Conference & ShowVictoria, BCInformation: (604) 467-2564www.wctaturf.com

October 22-23,2003Landscape OntarioGarden Expo, Toronto, ONInformation: (905) 875-1805www.landscapeontario.com

November 18-20, 2003Irrigation Association 24th AnnualInternational Irrigation ShowSan Diego, CAInformation: www.irrigation.org/ia_show.htm

March 3-7, 2004Canada BloomsToronto, ONInformation: {416j 447-8655,1-800-730-1020www.canadablooms.com

January 21-25, 2004Sports TurfManagers Association(USA) Annual Conference & ExhibitionSan Diego, CAInformation: (712) 322-7862www.sportsturfmanager.com

January 6-8,2004Ontario Golf Course ManagementConference and Trade ShowToronto, ONInformation: (905) 602-8873 x 222

March 24-25, 2004Ontario Parks Association48th Annual Educational Seminarand Explorations Trade ShowHamilton, ONInformation: (905) 524-3535www.opassoc.on.ca

February 17-21, 2004Turfgrass ProducersInternational MidwinterConference and ExhibitionSanta Barbara, CaliforniaInformation: (847) 705-9898www.TurfGrassSod.org

January 13-15, 2004Landscape Ontario CongressToronto, ONInformation: (905) 875-1805www.locongress.com

Get on the listl Call the STA oHicewith your event information.

Brian RosenbergTechnical Sales RepresentativeTel: 519-757-0077Cell: 519-574-2013Fax: 519-632-9376E-mail: brosenberg@nu-gro.ca

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To Crown or not to Crown,R.W. SHEARD, Ph.D., P.Ag.

Most designers of a sports field will specify a crown on the finished surface ofthe field. The crown or slope from the side line to centre field may range from0.5 to 1.5 percent. James B. Beard, in his text, Turfgrass, Science and Culture,recommends up to 2.5% slope. This author has read reports of fields in the UKwhere the crown is so great that the ball sitting on the side line is not visible to theplayer standing on the opposite side line.

T he reason most often given forhaving a crown on the field is thatit improves drainage by removingsurface water through runoff. Forrunoff to occur, rainfall intensity

(mm/hour) must exceed the infiltrationrate of the soil surface. The infiltration rateis increased by (1) increasing the sandcontent of the soil, (2) reducing the densityof the soil, that is decreasing compaction,(3) increasing the slope and (4) increasingdensity of the vegetative cover.

Maximum runoff will occur on a pavedsurface where the infiltration rate is zero.Minimum runoff will occur on a sand-based root zone with a dense blue grassstand where the sand, even without thevegetative cover, is selected to provide aninfiltration rate greater than the rainfallintensities observed in 90% of the summerstorms in Ontario. Most sports fields fallbetween these two extremes.

Achieving Low Infiltration RatesFactors which might contribute to lower

infiltration rates are high clay contents,low permeability, compaction, thatch, andlow turf density. Compaction and thatchmay be controlled by adequate coring.Low turf density can be improved byoverseeding and adequate nitrogenfertilization.

Grass has been accepted, second toforest with a dense undergrowth, as themost effective vegetative cover to preventsoil and water loss. A summary of 10experiments conducted over 70 years agoshowed an average water loss due tosurface runoff from grass of 10 mm peryear on soils ranging from sandy loam toclay and slopes ranging from 2.0 to 16.5%.

A 14-year study in hurricane proneMissouri on a silt loam soil with a 3.7%slope showed an average yearly loss of50 mm from bluegrass sod. Theseexperiments were conducted prior to theunderstanding of the importance ofnitrogen for increasing the density of grassstands. Furthermore, the maintenanceprogram in these studies was probably hayor simulated pasture, not the densityassociated with a closely mowed sportsfield.

The Bottom LineWhat does this all mean? That drainage

by surface runoff from a properlymaintained sports field in Ontario,crowned or not crowned, is insignificant.Crowning the field will not cure a potentialdrainage problem.

An internal drainage system for a sportsfield is the answer. It must be designed tomeet the 10-year average rainfall intensity.In many cases this will require varioustypes of drain installation such as tiledrains, slit drains, a combination of thetwo, or a sand-based root zone.

Raindrops from a storm having anintensity of 25 mm per hour or less aregoing to be held near or at the point ofcontact with the soil. The soil will requirean infiltration rate of 25 mm per hour toabsorb the water. Storms of this intensityseldom occur more than once or twice perseason and the intensity may last for lessthan an hour.

Since rain will not run off a wellmanaged field and must permeate directlyto deeper depths, during the rain the soilpores at the surface will becomeincreasingly filled with water. This water

acts as a lubricant allowing soil particlesto slide into closer arrangements undertraffic conditions. The result iscompaction. Therefore for a well managedfield to perform satisfactorily, adequateinternal drainage must be provided. Acrown will not help this drainage role.

There is, however, a reason for placinga crown on a field. This occurs at the timeof construction. If the subgrade is crownedat a 0.5% slope, surface water will not poolon the newly graded surface. Thus,following a summer thunderstorm,construction work can recommencesooner than where the field is graded level.Carrying this slope through to finalgrading of the surface will often result inmore timely seeding. •

Understanding TurfManagement by Dr. SheardAvailable from the STA

A practical manual for the manage-ment of safer, natural turf facilities foroutdoor sports. The concepts areapplicable for any turf manager, fromgolf course superintendents to the parkssupervisor, whether maintaining golfgreens, sports fields or race tracks forthoroughbreds.

24 chapters totalling 161 pagesillustrated throughout with photos anddiagrams.

Members $30, Non-members $35

To order, call 519-763-9431 or visitwww.sportsturfassociation.com.

6 AUTUMN 2003 I Sports Turf Manager

Cover Story Continued ... 16th Annual STA Field DayCONTRIBUTORS: GORD VAN DYK, ROY FORFAR, JANE ARNETT-RIVERS AND STEPHEN TOLLEY

playability and games are refereed byOntario Soccer Association volunteers. Acharity game involving former and currentNHL players also raises funds.

The fields are rested for three days priorto the tournament since most multi-usefacilities will see 8-10 games per day.Media representation and support is keyfor recognition of sponsors and promotingthe tournament. During the games, awebsite is maintained for parents andfriends to follow the teams' progress. TheRobbie Tournament will surpass the $1million donation mark to cystic fibrosisin 2004, a remarkable achievement.

Partnering with MunicipalitiesDave Motley, Oakville Soccer Club(Roy Fodar)

Dave Motley was born in the land ofthe free and exported to the land of thebrave, Jane Arnett-Rivers saidjokingly asshe introduced him - turf managers are abrave lot in southern Ontario!

Dave is past president of the OakvilleSoccer Group. His day job is a Directorwith GWL Realty Advisors Inc. Dave hasenjoyed a lot of soccer history. At the ageof four, he was a ball boy for SheffieldUnited and he is also a past member ofthe Recreational Advisory Committee forthe Town of Ajax.

The Oakville Soccer Group recentlypartnered with the Town of Oakville tobuild the Pineland Soccer Fields complex.

This cost-sharing experience brought withit expectations from both the soccergroups and the town, particularly withrespect to the importance of permittingabilities on an irrigated sand field, whichultimately come down to maintenance andconstruction issues.

Club BackgroundThe not-for-profit Oakville Club is the

largest in North America with 9,700players - a logistical nightmare to dealwith. The club started in 1972 with 1,200members and by 1990 had grown to 3,785members. From 1990 to 2001,membership went through theroof reaching close to 10,000members, which means majorfield use and the need to build,build, build and renovate.

Sponsorship is a crucialcomponent to the club'ssuccess. When the kids reach18 years of age, many dream oflanding a scholarship to play inthe US. To date, 40 have beengiven scholarships. When theyreturn, most work as coachesfor the younger kids (8, 9 and10-year olds) and they love it.This is accomplished througha Mentor Coach Program created by theSoccer Association.

There are 520 house league teams and260 games per week. Also, there can be30 rep teams in town at anyone time. This

brings in a fair bit of revenue to localbusinesses with respect to fuel, food andlodging.

Parking is a problem, but the town andassociation are working together torenovate old baseball diamonds whichhave become weed-infested dust bowls.This helps to lesson 3:00 a.m. callsregarding parking tickets!

Building PartnershipsSoccer clubs need the fields and the

town needs their support. Soccer bringsin cash and money talks! This is the way

to get things done from the municipalityand get the job done properly. If there isno co-operation, it leads to confrontations,animosity and stalemates. First andforemost, a common ground and personal

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contacts need to be established. Thenissues such as assessing how to betterutilize the fields and deal with vandalismare discussed. Other things done throughpartnering include widening andlengthening fields, installation ofirrigation and lighting, and the creation ofsix new mini fields and expanded parkingthrough the removal old ball diamondswhich had become obsolete.

There have also been cases of badpartnerships. Dave mentioned spendingtwo years working with a principal, theschool board and the town to renovate asmall field (one that 10-12 year olds playon). The Parent Association in this affluentarea partnered with the Soccer Associationand $7,500 was kicked in for irrigation,The town participated and the field wasrebuilt with an agreement to permit usage4-5 nights a week. This never happened.The irrigation system was not used mostof the time, the field fell into a state ofdisrepair, and the partnership wasabsolved with the school board.

On the flip side of the coin, here is arecent example of a very successfulpartnership. A major problem inbuilding new fields is lighting. Itis best to put it in before any homesor other buildings are constructed.There is a new complex to be builtby 2012. The Association managedto raise funds and have the lightsput in as of 2002, thus avoidinginterference from the Residents'Association in the future. TheSoccer Association lent the Townmoney to proceed and this moneywas to be repaid over the next twoyears by the Town recouping fundsthrough development charges like

building permits, etc. The loan has beenrepaid. The project was done in 2002, not2012, and illustrates a great example ofpartnership.

Looking AheadBetween now and 2005, there are five

fields proposed. Keys to the future includeopen dialogue, mutual involvement andrespect for each others requirements andthe process. For example, if there is onehour of rain four hours before a game isto be played, then the game is off. This isthe only way to preserve good fields. Itcertainly does not always get followed, butwe all try.

We, as a club, only want to play.Municipalities only want to maintain whatthey have. We strive to work together -even if this means keeping off the fieldson rainy days!

Central Irrigation Control - theFuture is Now!Gary Supp, Irrigation Sales Manager,Turf Care Products Canada(JaneArnett-Rivers)

Imagine starting yourday by sitting at yourdesk, turning on yoursystem and seeing thateverything regardingyour irrigation andlighting system is good.

Now imagine notic-ing a spike in water useat a field on the other endof town. Hey, at leastyou know about thesituation before you hearabout the washout from

a user group tonight! Get out there early,identify the problem, and repair it. With aCentral Irrigation System, this situationwill be detected, flagged, and you willbe notified - long before there isexpensive turf damage, or worse, aninjury occurs.

Now put yourself in early August. It hasbeen dry for weeks and you get a callhearing those nasty words, WATER BANIN EFFECT, aaahhhhh. This is tantamountto cancelling today's plans to visit eachsite and shut down systems. Until now, thetime spent to shut down systems and startthem up again was frustrating. But with aCentral Irrigation System, all can be donein minutes from one location.

Whether time needs to be pumped upor ratcheted back, adjustments have neverbeen so painless (from a time managementstandpoint).

Central irrigation will handle all of theabove and help record and manage wateruse as well as flag hydro demands thatoccur beyond normal usage. Weatherstations monitor environmental conditionsand then convert them into dailyevapotranspiration figures. Soil moisturesensors complete the data-monitoringpackage, so there is no need to guess ifthe east end of town got the same rain fallas the west end.

All together this spells effectivewatering for optimum plant health,responsible watering throughenvironmental stewardship, and a controlof the systems by the turf managerunprecedented until now. The jewel formost of us? Time, it frees up time.

For a thorough discussion of centralirrigation systems, see Supp's article onpage 17.

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8 AUTUMN 2003 I Sports Turf Manager

Box 171Harriston, OntarioNOG 1Z0Phone (519) 338-3840Fax (519) 338-2510

Edward J. SeifriedJ. Robert Dippel

Sports Turf Maintenance PracticesAn afternoon with Dr. Jack Eggens(Stephen Tolley)

A retired professor from the Universityof Guelph, Dr. Jack Eggens is very wellknown for his expertise in turf

management. He spoke to a group of eagerturf enthusiasts about sports turf culturalpractices. He enlightened us through hiswit and humour and above all, hisknowledge of the subject.

After a very nice lunch break, we tooka walk down to the sports fields where webegan the second half of our day. We werebroken up into several small groups andasked to do a field assessment. After wecritiqued the field (to death), we gatheredaround Jack where he questioned us onour findings.

After an intense discussion about thefield and its current condition, Jack led usin the direction of what we should belooking for and in the proper order. Thisdiscussion moved onto the many facets ofcultural practices, schedules, maintenanceprograms and other main componentsassociated with turf management.

One main point that should be noted isthat when overseeding, Jack recommends20 pounds per thousand of perennial ryegrass (ha, ha, ha). There goes this year'sbudget!

Another notable quote of his: "If it'salready working for you, stick with it!"

Overall, a very worthwhile afternoonfor everyone. Thanks, Jack!

And thanks to all participants,speakers, exhibitors and sponsors. Seeyou next year! •

Field Day Photo GalleryTurn the page for a glimpse of the

action-packed day and visitwww.sportsturfassociation.com

for more photos.

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10 AUTUMN 2003 I Sports Turf Manager