The other side of this discussion has to be noted and is very contrasting indeed. Almost every player of average plus handicap that has played these courses have nothing but praise for them. I put this down to their ball sitting up on top of the grass and the aesthetics achieved with such a 'brilliant green' playing surface.
The real key may lie not so much in the grass variety but in the maintenance of it. I would research directly with the supers of each course and identify the practices that achieve a playing surface that fits your ideals.
I'm the poster boy for "the other side". This past Christmas I took my 20 handicap to the Ocean Course and it was one of the best playing surfaces I've ever experienced. As you say, the fairways were a real treat, aided by the fast-draining sand under then. I played 18 holes in steady rain and another 18 the next day after a total of 2+ inches of rain and never had a muddy lie nor did I have the usual problems pitching from tight, wet lies.
For putting the grass seemed quite true and allowed all the subtle double breaks in those Dye greens to really affect the ball with no apparent grain. Then again, this was in the winter so the grass wasn't growing over the course of the day. Chipping was a challenge, the grass could be grabby although as someone who plays all his rounds on Bermuda it was no big deal (I generally putt from off the greens if it's a tight lie or the grain seems to be into me).
I've read elsewhere that thatch requires constant vigilance with Paspalum so it may be that your experience is more evidence of that problem. One other note, the Paspalum at the Ocean Course was gold colored when I played. Is that its winter color or was this a different variety than the brilliant green you're describing?