LAS VEGAS, NV – For over 30 years the employees and executives at Pro Turf International (PTI Golf) have earned the reputation as highly skilled turf management professionals. They have successfully grown in, maintained and/or overseen turf at golf courses, neighborhoods and private residences across the southwest.
But would PTI be able to deliver on the request from the Life Is Beautiful program – keep alive for nearly a week blocks of sod that had just been laid on the hot, paved streets of Las Vegas?
The answer was a resounding “yes,” as PTI came through for the fourth straight year of the annual Las Vegas Life Is Beautiful music, arts, culinary and entertainment festival. This recent three-day event delivers an eclectic range of immersive experiences including music sets from chart-topping performers, art installations, comedians, culinary showcases, and more. Life is Beautiful was born as part of the major revitalization of Downtown Las Vegas in 2013 and has helped transform the surrounding community into a bustling destination.
PTI partnered with Valley Sod Farms, which provided the 160,725 square feet of turf to make the viewing and gathering areas in front of stages and displays more comfortable for patrons. PTI’s charge was to keep the turf alive in the days leading up to the event, and throughout the three days.
“Logistically it was a challenge because it was spread across a wide area, with different entertainment venues,” said Sam Wolfe, who supervised PTI’s four-man crew. “There was a fine balance between putting enough water on the sod to keep it alive, but not too much that it turned into a swamp.”
Life Is Beautiful attracted 180,000 people over three days, which added to the logistical and timing challenges for Wolfe and his crew
“It was all day maintenance,” he said. “We had to water the turf right up to, between and following the various events. We were out there at 3 or 4 in the morning prepping for the next day’s activities.”
Valley Sod’s President, Michael Hackney, is a veteran of this event, having worked it for nine years.
“We installed 160,725 square feet of thick cut 419 hybrid Bermuda in several locations over an 18-city block area,” he said. “It took five days and two install crews to lay the sod. PTI handled the watering during the installation as well as throughout the event.”
Hackney chose to partner with PTI for one main reason – their professionalism.
“The crew at PTI is great to work with,” said Hackney. “We at Valley Sod have worked with PTI not just on LIB but also with projects such as major soccer and rugby tournaments. We also supply them with sod for their golf course management.”
ABOUT PRO TURF INTERNATIONAL
Pro Turf International is a family owned construction, landscape and golf maintenance company with over 30 years of hands-on experience in the Southwest. They proudly serve the golf, sports and landscape industry to enhance quality and improve conditions in a safe, environmentally friendly manner. For more information call (702) 315-5121, or visit www.ptigolf.com.
ABOUT VALLEY SOD FARMS
Valley Sod was established in 2001 with the merger of 2 farms, bringing together over 30 years of sod production experience. Over the years the acreage and varieties have increased so that our markets now include southern Nevada, southern Utah, and Northern Arizona. With emphasis on product quality and service we will continually strive to be the best in the industry. Valley Sod Farms is powered by solar energy and we utilize degradable netting with ecocycle technology.
Contact: Mike Jamison, (407-474-0531), mike@jamisongolf.com
