This conversation has gone a bit off the rails. The issue raised is not whether we should have low cut chipping areas. We've had that conversation before. The issue here is a more interesting one. Might we be on the verge of big changes in fw turf in the SE?
Some green committees at clubs in the SE have been under pressure to improve fw turf since East Lake, the Athletic Club and several other clubs in the SE introduced zoysia fw's several years ago. As you know, on zoysia fw's the ball sits up like it is on a new practice mat.
That doesn't happen, even on very good 419 fw's. So - to keep up with the Jones' - members ask if we should convert to zoysia or something else that offers similarly clean fw lies. The 'something else' often mentioned is Tifgrand.
On the assumption that it will not be forever impossible to improve on 419, the question being asked is whether Tiffgrand might be the next big thing in Bermuda fw turf. Tony N. suggests above that where it has been so used, it requires lots of maintenance. I would love to hear more about that because I am being asked about the downside of replacing 419 with Tifgrand.
To date Tifgrand has been terrific for the limited things we use it for. It has not required high levels of maintenance, it is shade tolerant, wears well, repairs quickly and gives cleaner lies at fw heights at the few places where it is cut at that height. Where we cut it at rough heights (in shaded areas where 419 would not grow), it has also been an excellent turf.
Does all that change when you scale its usage up to fw acreages? Are there other problems specific to Tifgrand? Unlike mini-verde or champion, for example, it was not developed solely as a turf for greens.
So before we begin hand waiving about sustainability and the perils of shaved chipping areas, I would love to hear answers to those questions.
Bob