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: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/34725
FieldScience | Eric Schroder >> ROSS KURCAB, CSFM on-site during construction of In- vesco Field at Mile High in 2000. case your mower breaks down—do you have a 2nd mower or access to one? “My style of field management is a daily read-and- react, using my eyes, which I consider my most valu- able asset. For example once we had a coyote peeing on the field and it was making the grass greener around the outside of the spot, so I decided it needed nitro- gen,” he said. “You have to know how to look at your turfgrass and develop a working hypothesis on what’s going on with it. When you see something not green, address it. We see green best with our own eyes, it’s been proven scien- tifically,” he said. “I believe we see green better through evolution because our ancestors recognized green as a food source.” SUNGLASSES ARE A TOOL Kurcab called sunglasses, holding up the pair hang- Tips from NFL turf veteran R OSS KURCAB, CSFM, turf manager for the Den- ver Broncos, gave an engag- ing presentation on “sight turfing” as he calls it, at STMA’s Con- ference in January. Kurcab shared his observations on how by using their eyes, turf managers can increase their field management skills. “How do you make critical deci- sions?” Kurcab asked the crowd. “Be- cause it can be the difference between success and failure. “There is no operations manual for a field; it’s the only part of any facility Ross Kurcab, CSFM that doesn’t have one,” Kurcab said to a nodding audience. “There’s no set standard for doing your job. It’s a cow- boy world; you have to figure it out.” Kurcab said in 26 years he’s never had a turf boss. “I’m a self-taught idiot,” he joked. He said he learns day to day and acknowledged that his situ- ation, managing only one field, isn’t a typical situation for the audience, yet the sight-turfing approach has benefits for multi-field operations. Several times in his talk Kurcab mentioned Attention to Detail. He mentioned having a back-up plan in “My style of field management is a daily read-and-react, using my eyes, which I consider my most valuable asset.” 22 SportsTurf | July 2011 ing around his neck, “light conditioners” and pointed out the safety factor in wearing sunglasses. He said po- larized sunglasses are safe against UV rays, reduce glare and increase clarity. “If you are getting too much glare in your eyes, you are getting too much light; that glare can be coming from your turf,” he said. “The lens tint makes a difference. I’ve found a green tint provides the best color contrast. Copper, rose and brown lenses are better for sight-turfing, as they mini- mize the green and blue ‘wash’ and clarify any turf off color,” Kurcab said. “I call my purple lens-glasses my “plant stress de- tection” glasses. That color is the best for seeing where it is NOT green. I recommend purple for giv- ing you advanced notice of disease and other poten- tial problems. “Give your eyes time to adjust to the purple lens,” he said. “They work best in bright sun- light and are great for wilt patrol but they aren’t for everyday 24/7 use.” SIGHT TURFING TIPS Kurcab shared some ideas on using your vision to improve your turf. “See what you are not looking for,” he said. “Look for tonal contrast and ask yourself ‘Why?’ if anything’s not green. And look at your turf from different sun angles, especially looking toward the sun which gives more tonal contrast.” “I think you should practice your sight turfing. Don’t do it just on your field but your lawn, when you’re at a park, wherever. Practice seeing the contrasts. Look macro and look micro,” Kurcab said. “Don’t walk www.sportsturfonline.com By