Date:         Fri, 29 Jun 2001 15:09:16 -0700
Reply-To:     Pat McNamara <[log in to unmask]>
Sender:       Discussion of Topics for Soccer Referees <[log in to unmask]>
From:         Pat McNamara <[log in to unmask]>
Subject:      Re: Grass
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----- Original Message -----
From: "Jim Geissman" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Thursday, June 28, 2001 11:41 AM
Subject: Re: Grass



> The surface under the grass somehow hasn't been mentioned.
> It can be dry clay like concrete, it can be soft.loam with
> good drainage and enough watering, all sorts possible.  The
> UCSD field is absolutely flat and slightly springy.
> Wonderful.  The "best" grass depends a lot on how much care
> can be devoted to the park, as well as what sorts of grass
> are possible in your climate.  You don't see bluegrass in a
> SoCal inland valley -- it would require too much water, even
> though it could provide a fine surface.  In a park environment,
> the self-repair and drought-tolerance (it may go dormant if
> you don't water it, but it will come back) features of Bermuda
> make it attractive.

Jim is right about the soil being the key to what's possible, especially in
terms of what's possible. Sandy to Sandy Loam is optimal for bermuda and
bentgrass because topdressing and irrigation can flatten it out in the same
way breaking waves flatten out the wet part of the beach. In time, the
surface becomes springy and cushioned, without compromisung the roll of the
ball.

Of course we are talking big budget turf fields with paying customers by the
tens of thousands here. Most parks are designed so that they may be
adequately maintained by average park personel, within the average parks and
rec (or school) budget.

Pat McNamara