Seb Paynter, Jarrod McMullen and Matt Davey from Evergreen Turf at the Pakenham football oval last week. Despite some concerns about its brown colour, experts say the playing surface is as good as ever.By Paul Dunlop
BROWN is beautiful at Pakenham Football Oval.
Amidst concerns about the condition of the turf, those involved in the ground’s upkeep have moved to reassure residents that it is in tiptop shape.
The dry brown colour and dull appearance of the grass playing surface has had some people asking questions about what has traditionally been regarded as one of the best grounds around.
Mornington Peninsula Nepean Football League officials have also expressed concerns, believing the new look could detract from the spectacle of big games.
Speculation about the ground escalated further last Wednesday when workers from Pakenham company Evergreen Turf were at the Toomuc Reserve to replace sections of the surface with new turf.
But the message from the experts is that looks can be deceiving.
Although brown will be the new green at the ground during winter, Evergreen Turf general manager Dean Holden said the colour of the grass was “definitely not” a reflection on its condition.
“In the turf industry, we ignore colour and concentrate on what is really important which is the type of grass that offers the best practicality and suitability for any given situation,” Mr Holden said.
“Colour is certainly not everything.”
Pakenham Football Club president Scott Webster acknowledged the ground’s look had been a talking point.
But Mr Webster, who has played both cricket and football for Pakenham, said the ground remained prized by local players and opposition alike.
“The grass does look a bit dead but it is alive and kicking,” Mr Webster said.
“It’s only the colour of it. You talk to the players and they all love it.
“A few spectators and opposition players have made comments but once they have a closer look, they see the surface is perfect. In actual fact, it’s better than ever.”
The story behind the surface is that the grass species now in favour at the Toomuc Reserve oval is a summer variety couch grass that turns brown in colder weather.
As well as requiring less maintenance than the greener ryegrass cover, the new grass requires much less water and should prove a much more resilient and hardwearing surface than its predecessor.
Pakenham company Evergreen Turf assists the recreation reserve’s management committee to maintain the ground.
Mr Holden said the works at the ground this week were to replace highuse sections such as the goal squares and around the interchange boxes that had been “chewed out”.
Mr Holden acknowledged that people preferred to see green grass but was adamant its colour made no difference to the quality of the surface.
“The look of the grass has nothing to do with its condition,” he said.
Mr Holden said the couch grass was dormant at this time of year and would begin to green up again in September.
He said many of Melbourne’s most prestigious golf courses were employing similar techniques.
Mr Holden, who is also the Lions’ chairman of selectors, said people’s concerns came down to the “ignorance factor”.
Mr Webster said the benefits of the new approach would be increasingly apparent. In time, the Pakenham oval would be practically drought proof, he said.
“Cricket season is when it will really look at its best,” Mr Webster said.
Pakenham played host to Hampton Park on Saturday and scored a convincing win to keep its premiership hopes alive.
The surface was not considered a factor as much as the even team effort by the Lions, who kicked seven goals in a runaway final term to beat their fellow finals contenders by 59 points.
