The Sports Turf Managers Association (STMA) has revealed the winner of its fifth annual Mowing Patterns Contest – a competition among groundskeepers to craft the most impressive and intricate designs on turf.
Taking top honors at this year’s contest is Kelley Rensel, head groundskeeper at the Dow Diamond, home to the Great Lakes Loons, the Single-A affiliate team of the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Rensel’s design at the Dow Diamond in Midland, Michigan, consisted of a combination of manicured stripes, checkerboard patterns and the team’s logo cut into the grass – an impressive effort of aesthetics, while keeping safety a priority.
The STMA – an organization for 2,700 men and women professionals overseeing sports fields worldwide – awarded Rensel’s entry as the best among those submitted via a Facebook contest that ran from October 23 to November 20.
Rensel, who was previously the head groundskeeper for the Greeneville Astros and Huntsville Stars, becomes the fourth Minor League Baseball recipient in five years and follows last year’s winner, Britt Barry, the sports turf manager at the Dayton Dragons.
“Kelly continues to elevate awareness of the sports turf industry through his impeccable field art,” says Kim Heck, CAE, CEO of STMA. “Finding the perfect balance of safety and visual appeal can be challenging, yet he managed to accomplish this impressive feat.”
December 6, 2017
