[Kalen Braley]

And if you come see his tourney in August at Thanksgiving Point I'm sure he'll tell you more about that Oakmont US Open win.

[Jud_T]

I remember the first time I tried to hit a 5-iron out of what looked like a good lie in that rough.  what a wake-up call!

[Carl Nichols]

I played Atlanta Athletic Club (Highlands) two years ago, and they had recently switched their fairways to kikuyu.  It was amazing how the carts glided across the top of the grass, as if we were driving on a wire brush. 

[jeffwarne]

I am unsure of the exact tally of kikuyu references, but I think I can say this with pretty solid confidence…

If Johnny Miller could have hit the trap draw off of this kind of kikuyu, then that 63 he put up at Oakmont (which took place after God spoke to him and told him to open up his stance) would have been nothing.  In fact, I probably shouldn't say this, but if he had played in the [Greg] Norman-[Nick] Faldo era, instead of winning 25 times with two majors, he probably would have won 40 times and had six majors.  And my God, Ben Hogan has to be rolling over in his grave about the state of golf today.  I mean think about it, guys with swings like Rocco Mediate almost walked home with a US Open Trophy.  C’mon the guy came to the 2008 US Open looking like the guy who cleans Tiger's swimming pool.  And Craig Perry may not make Ben Hogan roll over in his grave, in fact Mr. Perry’s swing just might make Mr. Hogan “puke”.   And, heck, Justin Leonard should just go home!!!


Of course, but just to make sure everyone knows, these are all quotes of facsimiles of quotes from the man himself…Johnny Miller!!!

You’ve got to love it!!!

You forgot to mention the fall line.

As an aside, when people compare current players to Hogan, they tend to forget Hogan took a long time to get his career in gear-which would've meant quite a few stints on The second and third tiers today, and few major appearances at an early age.

[Tom Birkert]

Never having experienced kikuyu prior to Riviera, it really was a shock. It makes you have to use shots that you don't normally have to. Flop shots are not common growing up in the UK, so to be told that a chip and run is not an option was rather disconcerting.

I think it is rather one dimensional and stops creative options. Maybe that explains why it's the only tournament Tiger has played multiple times and not won?

[grandwazo]

My father who has since passed away also had an obsession with Kikuyu grass and it makes me smile every time I hear someone talk about it...

Any time he had a bad lie, anywhere, he always managed to find a way to refer to it as being lodged in the "dreaded Kikuya" grass. Mind you I don't think he actually ever played a course that had Kikuya grass but he must have heard some announcer refer to it that way and it became one of his many "catch phrases".  "Sorry about that Chief" was another, so that gives you some idea of my dad's perspective (and sense of humor)....I miss him dearly.

For my money, Johnny Miller can refer to it as many times as he wants, for each mention brings a smile and a memory having nothing to do with what he is talking about, which in Johnny's case suits me just fine.

 

[MHiserman]

Kikuyu is my "briar-patch"
and yes, our front lawn was K-grass

[Jim_Coleman]

   Not sure I've heard this issue raised.  I drag my club back on my takeaway, apparantly more so than others (although I never thought so until I played Bel Air and noticed that no one else was having this issue).  On kikuyu, my club catches on the fairway grass.  Very disconcerting.  I must pick the club up, rather than drag it. 

[Kenny Baer]

Isn't Kikuyu the same or just a type of Zoysia?

[Anthony_Nysse]

I played Atlanta Athletic Club (Highlands) two years ago, and they had recently switched their fairways to kikuyu.  It was amazing how the carts glided across the top of the grass, as if we were driving on a wire brush. 

AAC doesnt have kikuyu. They have a strand of zoysia.

[Tom_Doak]

Kenny:

Kikuyu absolutely is NOT zoysia.  They're very different types of grass.

I was wondering about Carl's post about the cart gliding across the grass, because I had a cart out at Riviera last fall to take some pictures one evening, and the motion of the cart across the grass was the weirdest thing I've ever felt.

One of the reasons there is so little "bounce" to kikuyu is that the rhizomes or stolons tend to grow laterally and knit together, to the point where it's often possible to pull the turf up off the soil ... it's barely attached.  So, driving a cart across the grass is freaky.  It feels like it keeps slipping to the side or something.  I've never felt anything like it.

Interestingly, I googled "kikuyu" and found that the Kikuyu are the largest ethnic group in Kenya.  The grass is kikuyugrass.

[Adam Clayman]

I forget why but there are times when little pockets of air, gas or, water, get trapped under the turf and it literally bubbles up in to about a two foot circle. Very weird to play off of. But unique.

I'd be curious to know how the root structure would work differently if the grass is low mowed and aggressively top-dressed? Would the Stolons act differently?

[Carl Nichols]

I played Atlanta Athletic Club (Highlands) two years ago, and they had recently switched their fairways to kikuyu.  It was amazing how the carts glided across the top of the grass, as if we were driving on a wire brush. 

AAC doesnt have kikuyu. They have a strand of zoysia.

You're absolutely correct -- not sure how I botched that.  But the feeling of the cart was still as I described....!

[Kenny Baer]

I know; I have played AAC and had that exact same feeling; it is bizarre.

[Anthony_Nysse]

I forget why but there are times when little pockets of air, gas or, water, get trapped under the turf and it literally bubbles up in to about a two foot circle. Very weird to play off of. But unique.

I'd be curious to know how the root structure would work differently if the grass is low mowed and aggressively top-dressed? Would the Stolons act differently?

Adam,
  How low is low to you? Riv's fairways are mowed at .350, thats a tight as a fairway anyone would want to hit off of.

The zoysia fairways at AAC a grainy. When driving a cart down the fairway, the cart pulls right, then left, right, then left, etc...zoysia is a matty grass. In fact, when I was at Long Cove, we could almost mow the tees on "Cruise control" because the grain on the tees would almost keep the mower bouncing from line to line.

[Brett Morris]

I completed my PhD on kikuyu here in Australia last year.  One of our aims was to collect naturalised ecotypes in the wild and hybridise them in an effort to produce some new sports turf lines which could be used for golf, rugby, public parks, etc.

As Tom Doak mentioned it really does bind together.  Early researchers coined the term 'sod bound' for this.  It normally happens when the grass is several seasons old.  I saw the kikuyu first hand as well last year at Riviera, as well as recently at Torrey Pines, and it is exhibiting what Tom notes as lifting away from the soil.  The poor root development was leading to a few disease areas at one of the clubs.

Sod farmers in Australia are countering the reduction in root mass over time by periodically spraying glyphosate in strips through their fields.  This promotes new runners, and a new root system, which not only assists in harvesting, but also produces a more healthy plant.

[Matt Day]

I completed my PhD on kikuyu here in Australia last year.  One of our aims was to collect naturalised ecotypes in the wild and hybridise them in an effort to produce some new sports turf lines which could be used for golf, rugby, public parks, etc.

As Tom Doak mentioned it really does bind together.  Early researchers coined the term 'sod bound' for this.  It normally happens when the grass is several seasons old.  I saw the kikuyu first hand as well last year at Riviera, as well as recently at Torrey Pines, and it is exhibiting what Tom notes as lifting away from the soil.  The poor root development was leading to a few disease areas at one of the clubs.

Sod farmers in Australia are countering the reduction in root mass over time by periodically spraying glyphosate in strips through their fields.  This promotes new runners, and a new root system, which not only assists in harvesting, but also produces a more healthy plant.

Brett
Did you come to Perth to see how good Kikuyu is grown? 

[Brett Morris]

Matt,

I have looked at kikuyu in Perth over the course of a few trips.  Haven't seen it at your place however.

[James Bennett]

Kevin Pallier (and others)

do they use any nutrient/fertiliser on the kikuyu at you course?  How cold does the kikuyu get in winter?  Does it get a frost or two?  That can help to redcue the vigour of the grass.

If the kikuyu has reasonable weather all year and nutrients and irrigation, well velcro results.


Bill McBride

It is quite common on couch (bermuda) grassed courses down under to have small kikuyu infestations to be identified by the members with either a stick, or a small flag perhaps 1 inch square.  It makes the eradication quite easy.  spray is applied, and some surface paint used to identify that the area has been treated.

Kikuyu seed can come from bird droppings.  It can also come from shoes.

One course in Adelaide has recently planted a sterile version of kikuyu (Mt Osmond).  The choice of grass was influenced by the soil (poor), limited availability of water and the slopes involved.  The couch options available at that time would not be suitable for golf, as the ball would just roll all the way down the hill back to Adelaide.  I do not know how succesful the sterile kikuyu has worked, and how sterile it is.  I haven't visited there in some years, despite the course being located some 3 miles away from home.  It is challenging ground for a golf course - great panoramic views of Adelaide but thin soil and running along hill tops.

James B

[Matt Day]

Kevin Pallier (and others)

do they use any nutrient/fertiliser on the kikuyu at you course?  How cold does the kikuyu get in winter?  Does it get a frost or two?  That can help to redcue the vigour of the grass.

If the kikuyu has reasonable weather all year and nutrients and irrigation, well velcro results.


Bill McBride

It is quite common on couch (bermuda) grassed courses down under to have small kikuyu infestations to be identified by the members with either a stick, or a small flag perhaps 1 inch square.  It makes the eradication quite easy.  spray is applied, and some surface paint used to identify that the area has been treated.

Kikuyu seed can come from bird droppings.  It can also come from shoes.

One course in Adelaide has recently planted a sterile version of kikuyu (Mt Osmond).  The choice of grass was influenced by the soil (poor), limited availability of water and the slopes involved.  The couch options available at that time would not be suitable for golf, as the ball would just roll all the way down the hill back to Adelaide.  I do not know how succesful the sterile kikuyu has worked, and how sterile it is.  I haven't visited there in some years, despite the course being located some 3 miles away from home.  It is challenging ground for a golf course - great panoramic views of Adelaide but thin soil and running along hill tops.

James B

James
We foliar feed the fairways every two to three weeks with iron and manganese to keep leaf colour without promoting excessive leaf growth. That mix will have Potassium and Nitrogen added as required, subject to leaf and soil tesing

They are cut at 10mm twice per week and have regular Primo applications to keep the seed head levels down and tighten the sward up. It also gets wetting agent every two week to counteract the hot, dry summers. We do get the occassional frost, but that has little effect on it.

They are vertimowed every 2-3 years in two directions, and this is crucial in keeping them firm and free of heavy thatch.

[Rick Sides]

Okay so its not Johnny Miller this time, but the other announcers on CBS that have once again become obsessed with Kikuyu!  I must have heard it at least 10 times during the telecast the other day.  Can they just give it a rest.  I know Kikuyu impacts play, but these guys are professionals for gods sake.  Its not like they have never played on kikuyu before. 

[Bill_McBride]

You forgot to mention the fall line.

Jeff, wasn't he really saying "fault line" instead of fall line?

I remember thinking wow, Johnny's confused between reading green slopes and earthquakes!   

[Josh Stevens]

All true, but you cant kill it with an axe. 

I grew up on it and it had two primary benefits - very very drought tolerant, and tended to form a thick matt which made golf playable on hard clay pan courses.

Sure it isnt ideal, but for many of us not brought up on the sandbelt, it was either kik or dirt.

[Terry Lavin]

I think it's a fun way to protect par in a pro tournament and a fun way to frustrate us mere slappers. It's unpredictable, frustrating and very
democratic ( small "d") method of making the game more interesting.

[Tim Martin]

Does anyone realize how liberating it feels to roll a couple of "kikuyu`s" off your tongue? Just say kikuyu a couple times and then try to stop. It might sound easy but it`s not.

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