From the ground up

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.

How we got started

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.

Allen Wall, Owner

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.

Ben Rink, Owner

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 Ommen

Andy is a graduate of Illinois Wesleyan University in business administration. He has been head groundskeeper for the McLean County PONY Baseball Complex since 2002 and is highly regarded throughout the sports turf industry. 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. He 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, and taking trips to visit his two adult sons who now reside in Texas.

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