Advisory - Sports Surface Construction - Department Monthly Blog

During 2007 the Golf Course Architecture & Sports Surface Construction Team will be adding monthly updates to this page in order to keep everyone up to date with important projects and the latest developments that occur in the departments. Read on for the story so far....

August Update

As everybody in the UK must know, the wet weather has had a major impact on sporting fixtures. The weather has also had an adverse affect on sports ground construction work. Wet, muddy conditions are not suitable for earthmoving activities or indeed any movement of heavy machinery over the soil.

It is fingers crossed for a drier September as work is due to commence on the outfield at Yorkshire County Cricket Club’s ground at Headingley.

In interview during one of the last games to be played at the ground, Matthew Hoggard, Yorkshire’s esteemed bowler said that he hoped that the imminent works on the outfield would smooth out some of the unevenness.

Certainly the outfield will have a more even grade although we are retaining the existing cricket square plus a margin of turf all round. There will be a certain amount of tying in of levels between this existing turf and the re-graded outfield. Every effort will be made to make this as smooth as possible.

The Outfield at Headingley

 

Other areas of STRI work have kept the CAD Department busy this month. Two of our ecologists have been busy travelling abroad in Norway and Denmark and drawing work is required for sites visited there.

Jonathan Tucker, our golf course designer, is recently back from the Iberian peninsular and amongst his design work for a number of courses he has had to look into the feasibility of a short hole course just outside the walls of a very well preserved medieval castle.

 

 

July Update

This month saw the 135th annual Dublin Horse Show take place for 5 days in the newly refurbished RDS arena.

As the 135th show ended, riders in the international classes praised the improvements that have been carried out to the surface of the main jumping arena, where a new drainage system coped well with periodic downpours during the week.

The RDS has gone through a €100m upgrade of its entire 42 acre complex featuring two new office blocks. Part of that upgrade is a €7.5m investment over the past three years in the showground itself where the facilities now include a grandstand and flood lights.

It was the STRI construction department that oversaw the reconstruction and regrading of the profile in the arena. This included the installation of the new draining and irrigation system.

RDS chief executive Michael Duffy said the changes have been well received and well supported.

Mr. Duffy stated in the Irish Examiner that “The feedback from the international riders is that it is an exceptional arena with good footing and had performed well under the most testing conditions”. He went on to say that not only was this performance a great endorsement for the arena, it is also good for the horse show, which cost €3.6m to stage this year and had a prize fund of nearly €800,000.

One spokesman for the event told the Irish times “We’ve done a lot of work over the last three years and the drainage is brilliant. It’s positively one of the best arena’s anywhere in the world.”

In other news, the coot which was spotted building a nest in April (see April update) near the STRI head office on St Ives estate has now given birth to two young coots!

June Update

Another busy and interesting month for the department. The Portlaoise GAA development in Eire is now well underway and we have pictures of the development team on site following the topsoil strip.

Other projects for Eire are being processed here in the CAD department and a new GAA pitch development at Eire Og is ready for tendering purposes.

At Headingley, Leeds, the Yorkshire County Cricket Club is proposing to construct a new pavilion at the Kirkstall Lane end of their ground. The proposed changes to the seating arrangements require that the levels on the outfield at the northern end will have to be reduced. As a result the whole of the outfield is to be regraded but the existing cricket table retained. Preliminary ground models have been produced for discussion purposes. As a part of the works the opportunity is being taken to install a pipe drainage system and an irrigation system for the Outfield.  

Our Golf Course Architecture Department has also been keeping the CAD Department busy and foreign golf course work seems to be increasing. There are ongoing projects in Spain and Portugal as well as a number of jobs much closer to home in Eire and the UK.

In northern England a major new water pipeline is planned and its route is going to affect a number of golf courses in Lancashire. Such pipeline works usually affect a much wider swath of land than that above the pipeline itself and careful reinstatement works are going to be needed.

The Ecology team have been extremely busy over the last few months and they too have added considerably to the work carried out by the CAD Department. Mostly the CAD drawings required are for use in conjunction with ecological management plans – a small illustrative segment of such a drawing is shown below.

                                  

May Update 

Le inster ended their debut season at the RDS on a high note against the Dragons in their final home match at the RDS last week. Looking back on what could be considered one of the most challenging sports turf projects ever undertaken in Ireland, the surface has had a hectic schedule of a complete reconstruction followed by a six month winter grow in, six rock concerts, five days of international show jumping, the FAI Soccer Eircom League Final and over forty rugby fixtures including Magners League and Heineken Cup matches. 

Described by commentator as "the best rugby surface in Ireland; and possibly in the Magners league" it has undoubtedly performed beyond any pitch of its kind and still managed to retain virtually full cover. The customised soil profile at the RDS is uniquely designed by STRI to withstand the challenges of a multi use venue.

The groundstaff of Majella Smith and Liam Mulligan have worked day and night on the surface throughout the winter in a carefully prescribed management programme, supported by STRI. "Your last job is only as good as the groundstaff that loom after it" said Richard Hayden lead consultant for the job who was on site planning the maintenance programme around the events for the summer. "We are very happy with the performance of the surface and it is a credit to all involved" said assistant CEO Cian Coleman.

Bruce Springsteen, Linkin Park and Boyzone are amongst the acts playing on the hollowed turf of the RDS arena over the summer. STRI will have an active involvement in the management of the surface throughout the summer through the concerts and up to preparations for the 2008 RDS Horse Show.

April Update 

Another fairly busy month in the CAD department. More new surveys in and feasibility studies to assist with. Sometimes these feasibility studies take up a lot of time - especially where there are multiple pitches proposed on very uneven, difficult sites or where there is not a lot of room to fit all the facilities in. Jobs in Eire are keeping Richard Hayden (and the CAD department) extremely busy. The development of the site for Portlaoise GAA  now appears to be ongoing although there still seem to be some changes to the layout being made as I write.

At STRI head office, the members of staff are fortunate to come to work in the St. Ives Estate here at Bingley. During our lunch hours the estate is an excellent place to go for a walk, eat a packed lunch and generally try to look at something other than a computer screen. The estate was home to the Ferrand family in the 19th century and consists of  acres of parkland, wooded areas and a small lake. Now there is a golf course too and the remainder of the estate is managed by Bradford Council as a park. This spring the weather has remained relatively cold until later than last year and the trees have been slower in coming into leaf. This hasn’t really stopped the animals and birds from doing what they normally do in spring and I recently discovered that a coot had built a nest only about a metre from the bank of the lake.

This is next to a busy footpath around the lake and I just hope that the coots will be left alone by all the children, dogs, and throngs of people that come here. Most people are quite well behaved but some let their animals and children run wild. With luck we may get a picture of some young coots by next month.

March Update

These months seem to be flying by. I can’t believe it’s the end of March already. Easter has come early this year but I think most people will be glad to be able to have a short break.

The department has been fairly busy with more sites to carry out ground modelling work on and new drainage layouts to prepare.

Occasionally we are asked to do print jobs that are slightly out of the ordinary. Don’t get too excited though – the ones I’m thinking of are the images of a couple of old maps dating from the 1850’s and were for someone with an interest in geology. These came in as .tiff formatted files and were to be printed out a scale of six inches to one mile. Of course, none of us could find a ruler with inches on it in our desks and we definitely had no six inches to one mile scale rulers! This then sparked some debate about the way we were taught units of measurement and which units each of us actually think in. It seems that most people have some concept of both imperial and metric measurement systems because of the wide range of age groups in society and the need to still show conversions on certain items. It is when you mention ha’pennies, threepences and halfcrowns that you really show your age!

 

 

 

 

 

 

The units of measurement in our CAD work are extremely important. Until recently, the default start up drawing when you opened any of the earlier versions of AutoCad  was the “acadiso.dwg” which we always understood to be metric. Recently we purchased copies of the AutoCad Civils program and believe it or not the default drawing units when you first open a new drawing are in feet. The parent company, AutoCad, is American and the use of feet as the base unit must seem a great idea. This clearly led to some cursing amongst the members of the STRI CAD team and a metric template had to be set in place. The software, once you have got to grips with it, can really help in developing designs for new sports turf areas.


February Update

CAD Department

The CAD Department had a hectic start to the month with the production of tender drawings and documents for another large project in Eire. This period coincided with a time when one of the members of the hard working team was away on annual leave but those who were left holding the fort really pulled together and did an excellent job.

The month has been busier generally with survey drawings coming in from all over the country. Accurate survey drawings are necessary for the majority of our jobs and where earthworks are needed there is a requirement for 3D survey files that form the basis for ground modelling work on the computers. It is unusual for us to be given a site with plenty of space for the batters or slopes surrounding the new platform that will be built to accommodate the sports facilities. Often we are presented with a rough sketch showing a huge pitch filling the site but with little or no allowance made for the extra space required for the earthworks batters. The software we use allows us to try out various options so that we can optimise what can be realistically fitted on the site.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Last week had a particularly Scottish bias with survey drawings for 3 school sites in West Dunbartonshire arriving. These have been followed by a detailed survey drawing of the training area at Murrayfield. Also, print outs of drawings for Duff House Royal Golf Club, Muirfield and Carnoustie were required. The last two were needed by the STRI Ecology Department. The ecologists spend a lot of time out in the field and they frequently ask us to print their base drawings on waterproof paper (ie paper on which the ink does not run when rain falls on it). This paper does not come cheap but it has proved its worth on drawings used out in the wilds.

Golf Course Architecture Update

The past few months have involved projects in locations as diverse as Ireland, Portugal, Spain and the Isle of Wight.  The “Costa Del Golf” is still a major area of golfing activity and the Miraflores Golf Club is one of the better established courses in the area.  The club initially called in the services of John Lockyer of STRI who identified constructional limitations to greens performance.  A “Joined Up” approach to redevelopment has been provided with Jonathan Tucker of STRI Architectural Services providing redesign and working along side John to provide a complete package of contract set-up, monitoring and aftercare.  

The project in northern Portugal comprises a challenging site in rugged terrain with the potential for dramatic golf holes.  With rock, pine forest and major changes in elevation the landscape will need to be tamed and sympathetically landscaped for golf but the underlying potential is evident. 

Nearer to home the Westridge Golf Centre is planning a nine hole extension to a popular, existing nine hole layout.  STRI Environmental and Ecological Services completed the initial environmental audit to identify and highlight potential environmental issues.  The proposed layout minimises conflicts as much as practical while still providing a workable design to complement and strengthen the existing nine holes.

Work in Ireland consists of well established courses such as Warren Point which is undergoing progressive refurbishment (notably green rebuilding and redesign) together with new development opportunities.  With regard to the latter STRI are providing specialist advice on golf course drainage and irrigation - two disciplines which are inextricably linked.  The lead golf course architects are Fazio and Nicklaus but knowledge of local conditions and STRI’s significant experience in both these areas have been recognised by the developer.  Objectives are to provide workable, sustainable solutions without compromising quality.

At BTME, Harrogate a paper was delivered on the life cycle of golf course components.  The main purpose was to raise awareness within clubs of the vital importance of investing in the underlying infrastructure and not just the superficial aspects of course presentation.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

January Update 

Croke Park Holds up well for Rugby

After a hectic year of GAA, Soccer, Rugby and Concerts, the Croke Park Pitch performed superbly for the début of the RBS Six nations - Ireland V Italy.  The management procedures on the pitch in the past two months have involved detailed attention to aeration, nutrition and a site specific supplementary lighting deployment plan developed by STRI.

“The science speaks for itself when we can produce a full cover on a pitch this size in January at Croke Park”

Under the direction of Robert Ellis and Paddy Walsh, the ground staff have done great work in achieving this.  Richard Hayden was on site with ground staff for the preparation and repair of the pitch.

The Croke Park Pitch has a hectic schedule for the month of February with Soccer, Rugby and GAA fixtures booked.

Another renovation programme is planned for March to optimise performance of the Pitch for GAA in the future.

 

 

 

Portlaoise GAA

Plans are well underway for the new Portlaoise GAA Complex.  The facility has been designed and specified by STRI and will contain a suite of natural and synthetic pitches of various specifications.  Richard Hayden lead consultant for the project said “The Portlaoise GAA project is currently one of our largest and there is a lot of interest in what we are doing.  I look forward to ‘breaking ground’ at the site in March/April 2008.”

Richard will have an intensive monitoring role on site to ensure a top quality facility is delivered.

 

 

 

 

 

 

A Success at Lords

The ECB recently issued a press release recognising the excellence of the advice given by STRI.  On radio 4 David Collier remarked “The remarkable success of the ground drainage installed at Lord’s was witnessed last summer and the ECB will offer similar drainage through grants to all our international category A and B venues while category C venues will benefit from differential fee payments.”

The advice given by STRI followed an intensive study of options for the improvement of Lord’s outfield to determine the best solution.  The construction programme was restricted with work commencing in September 2002 and the first test Match being played in the following April 2003.

October Update

Croke Park: The Cream of Irish Sport

Its been smiles all round at Croke Park Stadium in Dublin Ireland this summer. The ongoing saga of poor pitch performance and lack of player confidence in the surface had a dramatic turnaround following a series of STRI prescribed renovations and maintenance activities on the surface. What has become the Irish Turfgrass success story of 2007 should acknowledge the hard work of Rob Ellis and his crew as well as Joe Bedford, Pitch facilitator.

STRI were heavily involved in the project with Richard Hayden being the lead consultant involved. Richard was backed up by an extensive multidisciplinary team including Ian McClements our locally based senior agronomist. After a series of renovation and heavy maintenance techniques in the Spring and throughout the summer tweaking of fertilisers, plant growth regulators and aeration techniques allowed considerable expansion of the root depth to over 100 mm in places. The complete story is told here.

Following an extensive programme of GAA fixtures for the summer the police concert was successfully held on the pitch on October 6th. With

the Irish International football match against Germany just 6 days after the concert a carefully prescribed pre and post concert activities ensured the pitch was in prestine condition for the match.

The hard work at Croke Park continues and with STRI being pitch consultants for both Lansdowne Road and The Royal Dublin Society we have well secured our position as the sports surface consultancy firm to talk to in Ireland.

September Update

Natural Turf in Moscow

On a recent fact finding trip to Moscow to research materials for sports turf construction Rob Everett was impressed by the quality of some of the natural turf playing surfaces.  The football season extends from March through to November with a break during the coldest months.  In January the average daily minimum temperature ranges from minus 14 o C up to a tropical minus 6o C. The lowest recorded temperature is minus 37 o C.  Under - soil heating is a well - used necessity in this climate.  The turf begins to recover in April and really gets going in May. 

When I visited in September growing conditions were good and the grass cover was very strong on the pitches.  There is clearly the potential to produce good quality natural turf surfaces during the summer months when growing conditions are good.  Maintaining this quality through the full extent of the football season is difficult.  Exceptionally low air temperatures have an impact on the turf and playing surface even with under soil heating.


Grass cover Rodina Stadium

The Rodina stadium is used for about 8 hours per week including training sessions.  The density of the turf was very good over the whole of the pitch although shade is not a problem in this small stadium.

 



Rodina Stadium

The grass mixtures generally consist of Perennial Ryegrass, Smooth Stalked Meadow Grass and Red Fescue.  With greater tolerance to the cold winter conditions the Smooth Stalk eventually dominates the sward.

The visit included a trip to look at the Queens Grass Turf Farm at Kolomna about 100kms south of Moscow.

At present the turf is grown on a fine textured soil and it is usually harvested after a minimum of 18 months in the nursery.  By this time a layer of thatch is developing and the turf is harvested without cutting into the soil.  The demand for natural turf form the nursery is increasing as football clubs improve the quality of their natural turf pitches.


Queens Grass Turf Farm

In Moscow rootzone materials for the pitches were being produced using a medium fine sand dredged from a river.  This is combined with an organic amendment to create a free draining profile for the pitches.  Companies such as Sport Gazon are now building a number of new pitches each year as well as refurbishing existing pitches to meet the demand for better playing surfaces in Moscow and the surrounding region.  Synthetic surfaces as play an important role in Moscow because of the severe winter climate but it was encouraging to see a demand for good quality natural turf with the standard of construction and maintenance improving.

August Update

The Open qualifying course at Hillside, which many consider the equal of its neighbour Royal Birkdale, has implemented a programme of bunker placement and tee development under the direction of STRI Go

 lf Course Architectural Services to meet the challenges of the modern game.  Several new bunkers have been introduced and already these have blended well with the existing holes.  In view of the sensitivity of the site Bob Taylor from STRI Environment and Ecological Services has been involved to ensure that local impacts can be mitigated.

At Dukinfield Golf Club, near Manchester course extension works are underway.  The new land presents some interesting layout challenges for example integration of existing footpaths and satisfying ecological requirements.  However the new holes will help to alleviate the congestion on the existing course and together with the new club house will prove a major boon to the club.

Golf courses can be significant assets to Local Authorities but reinvestment is often needed to meet the challenging nature of the market.  Warrington Borough Council have implemented a progressive programme of improvement at the Walton Hall Golf Club starting with re-design and re-construction of four greens.

Two new greens are also being developed at The Links Golf Club, Newmarket under STRI direction.  Despite the interruption of frustratingly wet “summer” weather, the very free draining nature of the land should cause little delay.  Furthermore, because an early start has been made and existing greens can be kept in play the preferred option of seeding is to be adopted.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


July Update

Lords Ground Cricket outfield

Heavy rainfall threatened play at the npower test match between England and India on 20th July 2007.

The headline in the Times on 21 July read ‘Lords masters elements to save the day and £1.5 m gate receipts’.

The head groundsman, Mick Hunt was reported as saying that in 38 years he has never seen heavier rain than the deluge falling at around noon.  The rainfall burst through the ceiling of the Long Room causing damage to paintings.  To everyone’s amazement the pools of water drained quickly through the outfield and play was able to resume at 1.50 pm.  The outfield was described shortly after as being ‘bone dry’ by Nigel Cowley, the fourth umpire.

The outfield profile was designed by STRI to deal with these intensive rainfall conditions.  The clay topsoil was replaced with an engineered sand based profile and an effective under drainage system to achieve the damage performance required.

The project was tendered to a select list of contractors and was won by John Mallinson (Ormskirk) Ltd.  Following a carefully planned programme of work the new outfield was constructed during September to December 2002 and prepared for play in April 2003.

The outfield profile functioned as intended, justifying the expenditure on the reconstruction.  In the present uncertainty regarding the future unpredictability of extreme rainfall events it will no doubt prove essential for the future.

June Update

Achiltibuie Playing Field

Work has recently commenced on the construction of a playing field at Achiltibuie in the remote North-west Highlands of Scotland.  Overlooking the Summer Isles to the north west of Ullapool it will provide a playing field for the nearby school as well as a community facility, complementing the recently constructed Community Hall.

STRI Construction was engaged by the Coigach Community Trust to prepare the design and tender the work.  The method of construction has proved effective on a number of similar facilities in the Highland Region.  A local contractor, Ullapool Construction Ltd is carrying out the work.  Construction is progressing well despite the demanding ground conditions.  The main funder for the project is Sport Scotland.

Achiltibuie playing field construction