If you’re in charge of an athletic field, golf course or commercial property, Professional Outdoor Solutions has the tools to improve your turf.
Our “from the ground up” method is what makes our approach to turf care different. We focus on more than just aesthetics — we build strong foundations that protect the health and safety of everyone.
We call it a “feed the soil” philosophy, as opposed to a “feed the grass” philosophy. We know from more than 60 years of experience that strong root systems produce healthy grass, and coincidentally, healthy turf is aesthetically pleasing.
Our academic training in turf, plant and soil science laid the foundation for successful careers as golf course superintendents. In 2012, we worked together to renovate a softball field in the community of Sadorus, Illinois.
With this opportunity, we applied our shared belief in the importance of foundational work to the sports turf industry. And we discovered from this experience there was a real need to help athletic field managers improve their facilities.
We formed Professional Outdoor Solutions to do just that. We began maintaining the field in Sadorus, and then were hired to care for the athletic fields at Unity High School in Tolono.
Over the next several years, our company has grown slowly as we formed relationships with other sports turf managers, schools, businesses and homeowners. Today, our services are more diversified, but we continue to focus on providing personal attention to detail, regardless how large or small the project.
A graduate of Southern Illinois University with a bachelor’s degree in plant and soil sciences, Allen began working on golf courses in central Illinois when he was just 16 years old. He has over 23 years of experience in the turfgrass management industry. The majority of this time has been in the private sector with over 10 years of experience as a golf course superintendent. He has also taught turfgrass management classes at Parkland College. He is experienced in all aspects of grounds management, including irrigation system installation and maintenance, pond care and agronomic program development. Allen lives in St. Joseph, Illinois, with his wife and son. In his spare time, he enjoys coaching Little League and volunteering for the fire department.
A graduate of Purdue University with a bachelor’s degree in turf science, Ben has nearly 30 years of experience in the turf industry and has been a golf course superintendent for 20 years. During that time, he managed a full course grow-in, irrigation and drainage system installs and many renovation projects. Ben’s current role in the company is as an agronomist and business manager. In his spare time, Ben spends his spare time helping youth sports teams and administrators provide enjoyable and safe experiences on and off the field.
Andy is a graduate of Illinois Wesleyan University in business administration. He was the head groundskeeper for the McLean County PONY Baseball Complex from 2002 to 2021 and is highly regarded throughout the sports turf industry with 25 years of experience.
Being mentored by MLB and major college groundskeepers led Andy to be part of the 2014 Major League Baseball All-Star Game grounds crew at Target Field in Minneapolis.
Andy focuses intently on the safety of athletic field surfaces, which has resulted in his fields being recognized nationally as 2017 National STMA Field of the Year and 2018 Illinois STMA Field of the Year winners.
In his free time, Andy enjoys spending time with his family in Bloomington, Illinois, playing golf and taking trips to visit his two adult sons who now reside in Texas and Minnesota.
Dan Thomas, a Certified Sports Field Manager (CSFM), brings more than 20 years of experience in athletic field and grounds management. His career has included commercial landscape and property maintenance, athletic field consulting, Minor League Baseball, Major League Baseball, the NFL, NASCAR, and NCAA Division I athletics.
Dan spent 13 years as Director of Grounds for the Baltimore Orioles Spring Training facilities, five seasons as a logo and end zone painter for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and five years as Superintendent of Grounds for University of Illinois Athletics. His additional professional sports experience includes contracting with the Atlanta Braves, where he was responsible for pitching mound construction at their Spring Training complex. He has also provided professional field and logo painting for the Outback Bowl, Gasparilla Bowl, University of South Florida football, and NASCAR's Chicago Street Race.
A graduate of Lincoln College with a bachelor's degree in Sports Administration Management, Dan also completed the Sports Turfgrass Management Certificate program through The Ohio State University. His work has been recognized by the Sports Field Management Association (SFMA), including the 2015 Professional Baseball Field of the Year, 2019 Gulf Coast League Sports Field Manager of the Year, and 2023 Collegiate Softball Field of the Year.
In addition to his extensive sports turf background, Dan is an FAA-licensed drone pilot. Outside of work, he enjoys spending time outdoors with his family and attending his children's sporting events
Why Early Prep Matters Turfgrass faces its greatest challenges during periods of heat, drought, heavy play, or unpredictable weather swings. If your root system is shallow, nutrient reserves are low, or compaction is high before these conditions…
When it comes to athletic field performance, nothing is more foundationalâliterallyâthan proper construction. Whether it's a football field, soccer pitch, or baseball diamond, long-term playability, safety, and durability all hinge on what happens…
Preparing Your Field for Spring: Best Practices for a Safe and Playable Surface As the season approaches in northern climates, coaches and players are eager to move practices outdoors. While the excitement is understandable, fields donât always…
