Turf Question!

[Dunlop_White]

Can anyone (architects, editors, doyens or supers) enlighten my neighbors down the road as to the advantages and/or disadvantages of utilizing the hybrid bermudagrass, Tifsport, as a full coverage turfgrass?

Last year, Alamance CC, a "renovated" Ross design, sprigged their fairways with Tifsport. Their rough was left alone. It is primarily common bermuda, with some fescues in the peripheral areas, I would imagine. Presently, they are inquiring about possibly sprigging the rough with Tifsport for full coverage. What do you think?

Seems to me that would significantly "blend" all the features of the course together as one shade of green so that, for instance, the fairways would be indistiguishable from the rough but for mowing heights. Instead, when a variety of grasses are used with different water needs, then you could create both color and texture contrasts for emphasis!

Also, Tifsport is a dense grass, and one of its main attributes is the fact that it tolerates lower mowing heights. Thus, why would you use it for rough?

Calling Tom Doak, Jeff Brauer, Don Mahaffey, Kelly B Moran, Mike Young, Brad Klein or anyone who has an opinion or a recommendation one way or the other!!

[RJ_Daley]

Dunlop, I certainly can't speak from knowledge.  But, I do remember a very good turf article in Golf Course Management Magazine a year or two ago that had a detailed discussion of Tifsport.  Perhaps you could ask your super if he has a collection of the magazines.  Most of the guys save them.  There is a year end december issue index of the year's past articles to use for reference.  

[Jeff_Brauer]

Dunlop,

I agree with you.  I often use common (or Sonesta, an improved variety) for roughs.  The color contrast will be as good as it gets in the south, and the improved varieties of bermuda get, for my taste, a bit difficult as rough if left at a higher cut.  Common is more open, and you can get a club on it.  

On the other hand, some superintendents don't like common anywhere on a golf course.  419 usually resists it, but some think TifSport isn't as agressive and common may invade.  I do know that TifSport grows in slower than 419, at least here in Texas.

[Don_Mahaffey]

Dunlop,
I like hybrid fwys and common roughs. I don't like hybrid (Tifsport, 328, 419..) roughs because you really have to keep them short <1 in. for them to perform well, IMO. The advantages of all one cultivar is, it is very easy to change fwy widths (may not be an advantage   ). The hybrids come out of spring transition from overseed better then common and that is one reason they are used wall to wall so often. If your not overseeding roughs, a seeded variety is the way to go in the roughs. IMHO.

[Jeff_Brauer]

Don,

Hey, I prefer the color contrast of only overseeding fairways, anyhow.  Another reason to use common roughs.

[Kevin Smith]

Dunlop - It never hurts to seek expert opinion from the region where the turf is to be grown.  I suggest you ask your friend to contact Dr. Art Bruneau at NC State (919) 515-5854.  Dr. Bruneau is in charge of the National Turfgrass Evaluation trials in Raleigh and would serve as an excellent resource.

[Dunlop_White]

Thanks! Pat O'Brien with the S/E Section of the USGA and Leon Lucas with the CGA could also advise Alamance if necessary!

[Kelly_Blake_Moran]

Dunlop,

This is way out of my expertise but I will try anyway.  First, if the environment is right I would encourage the fescue as much as possible.  Placing the Tifsport in the primary rough is probably a losing battle because common is tough to eradicate.  They are probably better letting the common be the rough.  I think irrgation is the key in this case.  The more they stress the roughs by withholding fertilizer and water the better.  That will make an excellent contrasts.  Most private clubs do not like that look though.