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/605094
34 SportsTurf | December 2015 www.sportsturfonline.com FACILITY & OPERATIONS facility for play, and not needing mowing or weeding. There are also the disadvantages including the warmer playing surface, the need to keep the turf clean of impurities, and the higher cost to repair damages caused by improper use, vandalism, etc. And while NFL players have been surveyed regarding their preferences of natural vs. synthetic fields, tennis players have never been given such a poll, so player opinion data isn't available. MAINTENANCE: THE COMMON DENOMINATOR No question about it: an artificial turf surface (when built well) will drain beautifully and have a deep, green color with- out the wear at the baseline and in other spots common to natural grass courts. But like its natural counterpart, it's not going to stay in peak form without work on the part of the owner. Preseason maintenance will include looking for standing water (a sign of non-functioning drains) that can result in slick areas, and ascertaining that playing lines are still bright and visible. Regular maintenance includes brushing to make sure infill is distributed consistently over the court surface, and to keep the turf fibers standing up. Periodic watering will assist in compacting the fill uniformly. Club courts should be brushed every week to maintain optimal playing quality. Regularly remove debris including leaves, pine needles and more by using a leaf rake and shovel, a leaf collector or a blower. Courts may need to be checked for torn or loose seams, repaired as necessary, and to have algaecide and/or fungicide applied as necessary. After a heavy downpour, check the surface for bubbles that may develop, indicating that water has managed to get under the carpet. A builder can advise you on the best course of action in such a case. The book advises, To prevent maintenance problems, require players to clean their shoes before entering the court. No food or drink, except water, should be allowed on the court surface. Any spill should be cleaned immediately with plain water or a diluted cleaner and rinsed thoroughly. Absolutely no smoking should be permitted in the court area. Burnt areas on the carpet are unsightly. For superficial burns, the carpet pile can be care- fully clipped below the blackened or melted tips. For larger burns, the area may need to be replaced and patched. Contact the contractor for assistance. The book's Annual Maintenance Planner notes that own- ers should plan to resurface these courts every 12-20 years. Like all other tennis courts, a turf tennis court should drain in one true plain. In order of preference, it should drain from side to side, end to end, or corner to corner. Like asphalt, concrete and grass courts, its finished slope should be between .83% (1:120) to 1% (1:100). The first mistake an owner can make, say builders, is assuming that an artificial turf tennis court will produce the same game as a grass court. The second is that it requires no maintenance. Neither is true. Artificial turf produces its own unique game, and accordingly, it takes a unique upkeep regi- men. "Depending on the region, always look for moss and algae growth," says Rick Burke. "Courts should be groomed with a drag mat regularly. I recommend that the courts be opened in the spring by a qualified contractor to prepare them for the season. We have a detailed maintenance manual for the owner." Some builders outside the US say that artificial turf tennis courts are more popular in Europe than in the United States. Lacking a demographic study, however, that's a difficult claim to verify. What we do know is that most of the natural grass courts in the US are either privately owned, or are in clubs. Artificial turf can be used in both these settings as well. However, because of the higher initial installation cost than a standard hard court, and because of the inability to repair extensive damage without total replacement, it is not recom- mended as a tennis surface in installations that will not be supervised, or which might be subject to vandalism. As with all sports surfaces, owners are advised to work with a professional partner who has experience with tennis courts. There isn't one right answer, only the right answer for a given installation, and the grass is always greener on your side of the fence if you feel you've made the right decision. "We replicated the look of Wimbledon on a synthetic court for a private residence for an owner who wanted tennis and other sport usage," says Werner. "It has turf in that same 'mowing pattern' two-tone green surface. We like to say we brought Wimbledon here to the states without the dirt-like play Wimbledon has." "Regardless of its use, there are basic advantages and disad- vantages to both artificial and natural turf," says Norris Legue of Synthetic Surfaces, Inc. of Scotch Plains, NJ. "We think that natural grass is preferred when there is little or no heavy foot traffic, when maintenance costs are low, when there is plenty of water for irrigation, and when run-off of fertilizers and/or pesticides are not a problem. Conversely, artificial turf has the advantages of being able to withstand heavy traffic, to require less maintenance, and to not need mowing, water, fertilizers or pesticides. Beauty is always in the eyes of the beholder when choosing natural versus artificial turf." ■ ST The American Sports Builders Association (ASBA) is a non- profit association helping designers, builders, owners, operators and users understand quality sports facility construction. The ASBA sponsors informative meetings and publishes newsletters, books and technical construction guidelines for athletic facilities including tennis courts and sports fields. It also offers voluntary certification programs in sports facility construction and mainte- nance. Available at no charge is a listing of all publications offered by the Association, as well as the ASBA's Membership Directory. Info: 866-501-ASBA (2722) or www.sportsbuilders.org