SportsTurf provides current, practical and technical content on issues relevant to sports turf managers, including facilities managers. Most readers are athletic field managers from the professional level through parks and recreation, universities.
Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/517437
38 SportsTurf | June 2015 www.sportsturfonline.com FACILITY & OPERATIONS their advice or counsel and they don't have the answer, they have access to an entire network of fellow turfgrass producers, turfgrass extension specialists, sports field specialists and researchers who are closely associated with TPI and can offer sound advice and provide solutions. And if disaster strikes, natural or otherwise, the outpouring of support makes for some great stories. For example, when Bob Weerts of Blue Valley Sod Farm on Winnebago, MN had a fire in one of his equipment buildings and lost the use of valuable equipment, a TPI member-manufacturer shipped a har- vester to his farm for him to use while insurance issues were being settled. When turfgrass producer Chip Lane of Pine Island Turf Nursery in Pine Island, NY saw his farm devastated by flooding as a result of Hurricane Irene, he commented, "My phone has been ringing every day with calls of advice and concern over how we are doing. The tremendous support we have received from our TPI friends has been very inspirational." This personal and professional pride extends to the custom- ers TPI members serve. Members sincerely want to partner with their business associates; they don't want to be viewed merely as vendors trying to make a sale. When James Graff, co-owner/operations manager of Graff 's Turf Farms in Fort Morgan, CO (and also the Commercial VP on STMA Board), was asked about what it takes to serve the needs of professional groundskeepers at major sports stadi- ums he commented, "When it comes to working with sports field supervisors and managers the most important thing we can do as a supplier is maintain year-round communication. As a producer you have to be aware of the playing surface and you have to make sure you have the turfgrass available should their schedule demand it or should the unexpected arise. You really have to know their schedule, their planned activities, turf replacement requirements, after season renovation, normal schedule demands, they are all factors for consideration. How long will a field last under normal conditions? What are their budget limitations? What are their plans? All this information is important and it allows us do a better job and give the customer a better product and be responsive to the needs of the customer. And the most important thing we can do . . . is listen." Perhaps that's why a growing number of sports field profession- als look to the members of TPI for desired results: they are trusted partners, not just suppliers . . . and they listen. To learn more about TPI visit their website at http://www.turf grasssod.org/ ■ ST Jim Novak is the public relations manager for TPI. Top left image: Evergreen Turf in Chandler, Arizona installing turf at University of Phoenix Stadium home of the Arizona Cardinals. Photo courtesy of Evergreen Turf, Chandler, AZ. Bottom right image: Graff's Turf Farm of Fort Morgan, CO provided the sod for Target Field, home of the Minnesota Twins. Sod was installed by Minnesota Sodding Company. Right Image: West Coast Turf /Western Sod, Palm Desert, CA installing turf at AT&T Park home of the San Francisco Giants. Photo provided courtesy of West Coast Turf/Western Sod.