Couch/Bermuda greens

[Scott Warren]

I’ve been spending some time lately in northern New South Wales and southern Queensland (28 degrees south latitude) for work, and playing some golf in the evenings.


I’m consistently impressed by the Couch (Bermuda) greens.


Living 800km south in Sydney (34 degrees south latitude), you see lots of clubs struggling with their bent greens in summer.


With the varieties of couch/Bermuda now available, should clubs in more areas be considering it for their greens?


For those who know about these things, is Sydney the kind of climate where Bermuda/couch greens could make sense? Or is the winter dormancy a complete dealbreaker?

[Kyle Harris]

Scott,


You're describing a similar situation/decision as to what occurs in the Pinehurst, NC area and other transition zones in the United States. It's going to depend on the possibility for winter kill and the tolerance of a club to covering greens to mitigate the possibility for winter damage. Dormant ultra-dwarf varieties are also rather speedy without much effort.


I'm ashamed to admit I don't know anything about Australia's climate and potential for snowfall!

[Scott Warren]

Thanks, Kyle.


A cold day in Sydney is in the 11-13 Celsius range. And if you’re near the coast the overnight low is rarely below 4 or 5. 60km inland western Sydney will cop some -3C nights but coastal that’s reasonably unheard of.

[Kyle Harris]

Thanks, Kyle.


A cold day in Sydney is in the 11-13 Celsius range. And if you’re near the coast the overnight low is rarely below 4 or 5. 60km inland western Sydney will cop some -3C nights but coastal that’s reasonably unheard of.

I can count on my hand the number of times it's been below freezing in 8 years here at Streamsong! However, the region between here and Virginia absolutely gets that cold.

[SB]

Bermuda greens don't get damaged until it gets below about 20F (-6 Celsius).  Even then, you can cover them which will prevent damage to about 10F (-12 C).   Beyond that, keep your fingers crossed.  Snow is not an issue, it actually provides a "blanket" to keep heat in.  Seems like you should be fine.

[Lou_Duran]

My apologies for jumping in this thread with mostly a question about bent grasses.  Are there any developments in maintenance practices that have been successful in keeping out poa annua from bent greens in a dry climate where temperatures seldom get above 85° or below 40°?


Would any of the hybrid ultra-dwarf bermudas work well in this environment?  I would think that with cool night-time temperatures that the bermuda wouldn't grow as aggressively and might also be prone to poa.  Thoughts?

[Greg Chambers]

My apologies for jumping in this thread with mostly a question about bent grasses.  Are there any developments in maintenance practices that have been successful in keeping out poa annua from bent greens in a dry climate where temperatures seldom get above 85° or below 40°?

It’s called keeping the sprinklers off...not exactly a development, but certainly a lost art.

[Kyle Harris]

My apologies for jumping in this thread with mostly a question about bent grasses.  Are there any developments in maintenance practices that have been successful in keeping out poa annua from bent greens in a dry climate where temperatures seldom get above 85° or below 40°?


Would any of the hybrid ultra-dwarf bermudas work well in this environment?  I would think that with cool night-time temperatures that the bermuda wouldn't grow as aggressively and might also be prone to poa.  Thoughts?

There are a few methods.

That being said.... in that climate Poa annua should work beautifully, as well.

[Lou_Duran]

There are a few methods.

That being said.... in that climate Poa annua should work beautifully, as well.

Care to elaborate on the methods, or cite them?   I understand that there is a Roundup resistant bent strain, but that it has been outlawed in the U.S.


The interested folks do not want poa.  A preference for a bermuda was expressed if redoing the greens with a new bent would result in poa taking over in 3-5 years.

[Don Mahaffey]

Lou,
The climate you describe ( sounds like high desert to me) is ideal for clean bent.  But asking for a method is like asking for a method for investing or preparing fine dining meals. The cookbook exists but the cook matters.  Sorry as I think I know you to be a process guy but it’s the people sometimes. 

[SB]

My apologies for jumping in this thread with mostly a question about bent grasses.  Are there any developments in maintenance practices that have been successful in keeping out poa annua from bent greens in a dry climate where temperatures seldom get above 85° or below 40°?


Would any of the hybrid ultra-dwarf bermudas work well in this environment?  I would think that with cool night-time temperatures that the bermuda wouldn't grow as aggressively and might also be prone to poa.  Thoughts?

Lou, you bring up a good point about bermuda thriving in climates where the highs may not be that high.  No idea the answer, but there isn't many Bermuda greens in coastal California, so that may be an indication.


As it relates to keeping poa out of the ultradwarfs, my understanding is that the bermuda is too dense for poa to really grow, which is why overseeding ultradwarfs is hard/rare.  I can tell you right now in Atlanta, poa is starting to pop up in our 419 fairways and roughs but our Champion greens are almost completely clean.