Did the mower break at Richland???

We played on field 8 at Richland yesterday and the grass was so long the ball barely rolled or bounced. I heard field 4 was also long.

I know that Bermuda tends to hold up better in the heat if it is kept a bit longer but this sucked to play on. Maybe I am just spoiled?

It has been horrible all through qualifying and it is still too long. Does slow the ball down tremendously, but it is still a bit better than the Sting complex last year where the grass was over the kids ankles and kicking the ball was like hitting it out of the tall grass. Most parks and recreation fields do a better job of maintaining re-seeding and maintaining the grass.

I heard that one of the fields during the challenge tournament was only half mowed. It was mowed on the sides but but not the center. It had a "Mr.T" cut! I really like the fields in Frisco much better. Those fields are perfect! You would figure with the fees we have to pay for field maintenance they would be kept up better than what they are over at Richland.

Yeah if I recall correctly the Sting fields tend to be long sticky grass.

It sounds trivial but if the playing surface is that crap it definitely impacts the quality of the game for all. We spend $$$ on a Select ball only to play in the rough off the fairway....

Yes, field 4 was extra thick, nice and fluffy.

The ball would get smothered by the deep grass.

Initially it gave the boys a bit of trouble with passing but they adjusted by hitting the ball a bit more stoutly. It definitely impacted how the teams played.

davito wrote:We played on field 8 at Richland yesterday and the grass was so long the ball barely rolled or bounced. I heard field 4 was also long.

I know that Bermuda tends to hold up better in the heat if it is kept a bit longer but this sucked to play on. Maybe I am just spoiled?

I have noticed that before at Richland with the fields near the tennis courts.  They were bad the first morning of State Cup with portions where the kids feet would disappear when walking through the tall sections.  

My son played on #8 on Saturday, and I did not notice the fields, but maybe I am used to it.  I will just settle for no ant hills, not too many bare spots and no sun cracks.  

For the record, the refs were good too and I don't recall him handing out any yellow or red cards.


This does bring up a good question. Will Classic League games be moved to the new $31million facility in Dallas when it is completed?

HOPE NOT! That would be over an hour commute each way for EVERY game if CL moves them to the new Dallas facility.

Noooooooooo! lol  that's too far away. We already had to travel to Arlington for ODP. Gonna suggest carpooling big time if that happens. Can't imagine being the folks from Arlington or Mansfield who drive to Richland College every weekend. That would be us if they move it to Dallas. I do think for the money we pay, greens fees, etc. that we should get far better facilities. At least we don't have to pay to park. (Did I really just suggest that?) 13 had high spots and near grassless spots on it last weekend. I wasn't impressed.

We live in the Arlington/Mansfield area. My son has games at both Richland and Frisco. It's about the same time and distance to both facilities for us. I would rather pay the tolls and drive to Frisco to play on those fields than have no tolls and go to Richland.

Yes FCD fields are way better now. FCD has managed them better after having to tear them out and start over.

Go check out the fields at UTD that the girls play on and you will think Richland's are much nicer.

For the people in Tarrant county that drive to Richland every week, the New Dallas facility would be much closer. To me it would be middle ground for the metroplex and be much better assuming that FCD puts the same effort into that facility.

I hear what you are saying about Tarrant county, but what about east of Dallas (none of us can complain compared to Tyler and Amarillo teams).

If you go all FCD, be prepared to have driven there and then the games get canceled for 3 raindrops....Ask Amarillo how happy they were about that last year, especially when the artificial turf fields were available at FCD but it was still a no go!