Rome, Georgia has a long tradition of athletic excellence. From the historic campus of Darlington School to the competitive baseball programs at Floyd County Schools, this community takes its sports seriously. This summer, Advanced Sports Group is proud to be back in Floyd County working on two major projects simultaneously, and the work we are doing right now in the dirt will set the stage for years of athletic achievement.
Darlington School: Replacing a Field We Built
There is something meaningful about being called back to replace a field you originally built.
The existing synthetic turf at Darlington School was installed by Advanced Sports Group years ago, and it served the Tigers well through countless games and seasons. That field has reached the end of its lifespan, and Darlington trusted us to come back and do it again.
The first drone photo tells the story of where we are right now. The old turf system has been fully demolished and removed. The subgrade is exposed, and our crews are actively reshaping
the base in preparation for the new synthetic turf installation. The red track surrounds the field, the classic brick buildings of the Darlington campus frame the background, and the
scoreboard stands ready for another season.
What is missing right now is the green. That is exactly what we are here to build.
For those unfamiliar with the lifecycle of a synthetic turf field, a full system typically lasts eight to ten years under normal use conditions. When a field reaches the end of its life, the turf is
removed, the base is evaluated and reshaped as needed, and a new system is installed. The fact that Darlington called ASG back to do this work is a reflection of the relationship we have built with this school and this community over the years.
What Happens Before the Turf Goes Down
When fans and athletes see a finished synthetic turf field, they see the surface. What they do not see is the critical work that happens before the first roll of turf ever arrives on site. At Darlington, our crews are currently focused on the base reshaping phase. After the old turf system was removed, the subgrade is being laser graded to re-establish a perfectly planar surface. This step is not optional. A field that is not graded correctly will not drain correctly, and a field that does not drain correctly will fail long before its time.
This stone base acts as the structural foundation for the entire turf system. It provides stability, promotes drainage, and ensures that the surface above it remains consistent and safe for athletes for the full lifespan of the new field.
Floyd County Schools Baseball: Four Full Fields, One Summer
While the Darlington project is underway, our second crew is working just a short distance away on four baseball fields for Floyd County Schools. This is a full conversion from natural grass to synthetic turf on all four fields, and the aerial photo of the first field shows the early excavation phase in full swing. Equipment operators are actively reshaping the field, establishing the proper grades and drainage patterns that will support the new synthetic turf system from the base up.
Converting natural grass fields to synthetic turf is one of the most impactful upgrades a school system can make for its baseball programs. The benefits are immediate and lasting. Synthetic turf eliminates the need for daily mowing, irrigation, and infield maintenance, dramatically reduces long term costs, and allows games to be played immediately after rain without the delays and cancellations that plague natural grass fields throughout the Georgia spring season.
For Floyd County Schools, this investment across four fields represents a significant commitment to their student athletes and to the long term health of their baseball programs. When these fields are finished, they will play at the same level as any private school or collegiate facility in the region.
Why Floyd County Keeps Calling ASG
This is not our first time working in Floyd County, and we hope it will not be our last. The relationships we build with school systems, athletic directors, and facilities teams are just as important to us as the fields we build. When a community trusts us to come back, that means more to our team than any project milestone. We will continue to share updates from both the Darlington and Floyd County Schools projects as they progress through the summer. Follow along to watch these fields come to life.
Ready to talk about upgrading your school or community athletic facilities? Contact Advanced Sports Group today and let us build something great together.