Zoysia greens play similar to bermuda greens. In fact, to the untrained or semi-trained eye, they will be indistinguishable from bermudagrass. But bermudagrass has the potential to produce a slightly faster and probably smoother surface, so it is the first choice of species in warm-season areas.
This report of putting green performance includes data collected from eight species of grass, including zoysia:
http://www.blog.asianturfgrass.com/2012/09/a-report-on-putting-green-performance-characteristics.htmlWhy use zoysia on greens at all? Zoysia can produce a fine turf with less light than bermuda. Bermudagrass has a higher light requirement. Thus, zoysia can be used in locations where tree, building, or cloud shade restricts the light reaching the grass. That is why there are hundreds of courses in East and Southeast Asia with zoysia greens.
Zoysia is a genus. The species of
Zoysia used on golf courses are:
- Zoysia japonica - japanese lawngrass, more cold tolerant, coarse leaf blade
- Zoysia matrella - manilagrass, less cold tolerant, very fine to coarse leaf blade
- Zoysia pacifica - mascarenegrass, tropical, very fine leaf blade
The only species of zoysia used on putting greens are manilagrass or mascarenegrass. The varieties chosen to use on putting greens, such as Diamond (a variety of
Zoysia matrella), have fine leaf blades.