SportsTurf Consultants (Aust) Pty Ltd

45 Westerfield Drive Notting Hill Victoria 3168

Ph 03 9574 9066 Fax 03 9574 9072 email: info@sportsturf.com.au

BRANDON PARK RESERVE

Assessed 18 May 2015
Junior pitches
- west side
Hardness
N

40
30
40

30
40
30
30
30

40
50
40
40
40

Main pitch
- east side
60
60
50
70
70

50
50
50
60
60

60
50
50
70
70

soft
acceptable
hard

Junior pitches are much softer than the Main

pitch with many areas areas have marginal to
unacceptable soft readings.
Traction

17

12

low
acceptable
high

12
10

15
15

12

Poor traction on Junior pitches except near

Surface Cover (%)

75%; goal areas bare

Botanical Composition

50% couch / 50% ryegrass

Vigour (max. 5)

rated 4 of 5: sodded couch areas browning off due to dormancy

vigour of ryegrass is good

Density (max. 5)

rated 3.5 of 5: thin ryegrass cover

loss of cover due to traffic

Evenness (max. 10)

4: many localised depressions

Surface is wet with water laying in depressions & grass churned into mud on Junior pitches
especially south goals and centre. Poor stability / footing in these areas
Bare areas at goals - grass cover unlikely to be restored this season.
Major wear damage on Junior pitches

Wear
Surface Damage

Surface of Junior pitches is very fragile

East Pitch: Both goal areas bare; centre corridor thin cover, some grass churned into soil
West Pitch: Centre corridor of both junior pitches severely churned into mud.

Rainfall during past week mm

Mon

Tue

Wed

Thur

Fri

Sat

Sun

11-May

12-May

13-May

14-May

15-May

16-May

17-May

6.4

11.6

15.4

1.6

0.6

0.0

Both pitches were being verti-drained at the time of assessment. This is not recommended at this time of year as it will allow
more water to to enter and be held in the profile making the surface more prone to damage under use..
Recommendations

1.
2

Keep Junior pitches closed for play and practice until surface is dry and firm
Keep practice off Main pitch until surface has dried out