ACCESSING THE ARCHIVES
In this retrospective , we examine historic issues of SportsTurf magazine , predecessor to SportsField Management magazine . In this edition of Accessing the Archives , we take a look back at 1991 .
As mentioned last month , in 1990 , the publication had changed its name to Golf & Sports Turf and ended its affiliation with the Sports Turf Managers Association . Those changes would be undone in 1992 — at which time Editor Bruce Shank admitted that the original logic for the change was flawed . But for 1991 , the publication remained as Golf & Sports Turf , and still featured a heavy emphasis on the golf .
But 1991 was another year of change and transition for the publication itself , as ownership of the magazine was sold by Gold Trade Publications to Adams Communication Co .
In the March 1991 issue , publisher Denne Goldstein wrote about founding Landscape & Irrigation magazine out of his garage in 1977 , and building that into Gold Trade Publications , which by 1991 included five publications : Landscape & Irrigation , Golf & SportsTurf , Landscape Design , Arbor Age and Irrigation Journal . Said Goldstein , “ This is a great industry with super people in it . As I think back now there are really very few times that I did not enjoy it .” ( Note : Goldstein later went on to found and publish Irrigation & Green Industry magazine .)
Said Shank , “ Working for Denne must have been like playing for Lombardi . He always wanted more out of his team and kept the pressure on . In retrospect , that is the type of drive necessary to launch a magazine in the turf industry .”
In terms of top sports field management stories of 1991 , the January issue kicked off with details of field prep for Super Bowl XXV in Tampa Bay . Director of Operations , Rick Nafe , along with the NFL turf team of George and Chip Toma , had the playing field and practice facilities dialed in for the big game . This included forgoing any painting of center logos on the field after mid-December . “ We want the center of the field to be a perfect canvas of natural green turf for the new insignia ,” said Nafe .
The February 1991 issue detailed the challenges of managing polo fields . “ Polo , in my mind , represents the ultimate challenge in turf management ,” said Bill Triller , superintendent at Santa Barbara Polo & Racquet Club in Carpinteria , California . “ Players expect the field to be fast and smooth despite the pounding it takes from the horses . It ’ s the most difficult condition to work under .”
The March issue featured an in-depth profile of the Houston Astros spring training facility , an overview of new mower technology , and insight into improving traffic tolerance . The April and May issues were heavily
38 SportsField Management | June 2024 sportsfieldmanagementonline . com