The prospect of growing a soccer field or sports field from clean (back to soil) out to play in 16 days, would not only be a dream of soccer groundsmen and their stadium owners in Europe, but it would currently be impossible!
I have now twice personally witnessed the operation of cleaning Bermuda fields out of all the thatch and organic build up, down to the rootzone leaving a thatch free surface and the ryegrass / stolons are ready for a healthy and almost immediate regrowth.
The initial trails in March 2013, at FC Dallas proved very successful, with clean out of organic build up and sod layer. The reaction of both Allen Reed and Miles Studhalter the head groundsmen is something I will remember for a long time. It was a mixture of utter delight, disbelief, excitement and fear!
The grow in at FC Dallas was slower than expected due to an exceptionally cold spring this year in TX, but both Allen and Miles are very happy with the results.
My latest USA trip took me to Green Bay Packers to see Allen Johnson and absolutely “no” Bermuda, but what a credit to good groundsmanship and very hard work his stadium and practice fields are Kentucky blue with Desso Grassmaster.
Maryland Soccerplex was my second experience of the Koro Bermuda renovation method.
Jerad Minnick, possibly one of the most adventurous and talented groundsmen I know, and is the person who I first discussed the idea of using the Universe® Rotor to clean out Bermuda pitches with fast grow in (the idea was conceived in a very professional way – Jerad and I being drunk on a train after watching the Washington Nationals!).
Three of the eleven Bermuda fields are to be cleaned out in a three week period using the Koro Universe® rotor, and the clay based pitches will be taken out of play. Two pitches can be Koro’d in a day and all the required organic removed.
The field then has two weeks to grow back in, with no sprigging, seeding or sodding and then will be marked out and the posts erected. This to me is astonishing!
When I arrived at the Soccerplex on the Saturday morning the place was brimming with spectators and teams of all age groups playing competitive or friendly games of soccer. There was a soccer school of about 200 children aged 3 – 4 years old on the stadium field, their parents were sitting on the grass or perimeter encouraging their little ones, and I thought how fantastic for the children and parents. My second thought was, how these temperatures of 80+F? I would not want to play if it was plastic grass, how fresh and relaxing good quality natural fields are to play on in hot weather.
The Koro Universe® trials then moved on to NC, but this time into the golf environment of Eagle Point Golf Club, followed by Landfall Golf Club. Two high quality courses with equally high expectations by the membership.
The trials on celebration and 419 where again received with the mixed enthusiasm as at FC Dallas, but when you are told to carry on and questions about other applications and can it be used on greens, you know you are getting excepted.
The Landfall Golf Club in NC, can go down as the first golf club ever to put the Koro Universe® rotor across a green!
Eric and Jeff, used nerve to allow an unknown English man to trial a potentially aggressive method on their course, but because of a very accurate height adjustment I could minimize the risk!
Each time I visit the States I am impressed with the fact the people I meet want to improve their natural grass surfaces, no matter what their budget! Or have I just been lucky with who I meet?
By Simon Gumbrill – Sales Director – Campey Turf Care Systems
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