Do you have a favorite?

[Tommy Williamsen]

      Over the years I have played on all kinds of turfgrass: Fescue, various strains of Bermuda, Paspalum, Bluegrass/Rye, bent, Zoysia, even Centipede rough grass at the Debordieu Club. Each grass has its own characteristic. Some Bermuda can be grainy and hitting against the grain is problematic. Bentgrass fairways tend to be soft. Paspalum can be fast and firm but isn’t used very often. The ball sits up on Zoysia so it is a great grass to hit a three wood. I grew up on Bluegrass/Rye so playing it is second nature. Fescue on a links course is probably my favorite. I love the tight lies and variety of shots it calls for. I just don’t get to play it that often. So I guess I go with some kind of bluegrass or Rye.
 
Do you have a favorite?
 

[Tom_Doak]

It's kind of an odd question, because different grasses are for different climates and different uses.


But, most people prefer the grasses they grew up playing.


For those in the UK, that's links turf with as much fescue in it as possible.
For those in Australia, it's couch fairways [aka Bermuda], and bentgrass greens.
For those in the northern USA, it's bentgrass fairways and greens, bluegrass roughs.
For those in the south, it's Bermuda fairways, and maybe new ultradwarf Bermudas for the greens.




Note to Tommy:  I remember centipede!  Long Cove had a lot of it when it opened, and it was a great contrast with dormant Bermuda ... the centipede was almost chocolate brown that time of year.  But it didn't stand up to the foot traffic, even at Long Cove, so it was replaced fairly quickly.  I wish someone were trying to develop a more wear-tolerant version of centipede, but instead of course they are looking for higher-end solutions.

[Jim Hoak]

I like Zoysia on some courses, but not on the approaches to the greens.  It acts like Velcro--and substantially eliminates the bump and run.  I've heard of some Zoysia courses that are tearing it out within 40-50 yards of the greens.  But elsewhere it can be a nice year-round grass.

[John Kavanaugh]

Despite all the bitching I have heard on this site I love the Kikuyu at Riviera. It's only sticky if you hit the wrong shot.

[Pat Burke]

As with anything
Whatever grass is maintained properly.


But zoysia, when cut low and dry is almost like cheating for me.


It was so easy to control the ball

[James Brown]

Three favorites.

What is the grassing at Sunningdale?  That might be my favorite anywher


Really like what they have at Kiawah Ocean as well, which again I am not really sure of the exact specs everywhere but it’s Paspalum on the greens. 


And Maidstone.  Pretty sure that’s all a bent variety. 


This thread makes me want to learn about turf grass. 

[BHoover]

Pure D!

[Buck Wolter]

fescue fairways, bent greens, short rough, managed native

[Jim Franklin]

Hate Rye. Too hard to maintain in mid-Atlantic summers. Zoysia has always held a soft spot in my heart.

[Jim Sherma]

My favorite turf is seaside fescue in Scotland and Ireland. The turf at the St Andrew's courses stood out as very pleasant to play play on. Possibly my favorite was at Mulranny in Ireland. While the turf did not look pristine there it was simply a joy to play off of.


In the states my biggest issue is when clubs keep the fairways so tight that the ball does not sit up at all and it always feels a little muddy given some water. Not sure why clubs do this, the better players don't necessarily like it and it beats the hell out of lesser players.


Courses whose fairways have stuck in the memory from the past couple of years are Greenspring Valley Hunt Club in Owings Mills, Maryland and Lebanon CC in Lebanon, PA. I doubt either is pure anything other than some mix of various meadow grasses that grow in the Mid-Atlantic region.   

[Tommy Williamsen]

Jim, I agree. Some of the best turf I have seen and played in the Mid-Atlantic states seems to be a combination of a bunch of different kinds of grass. I gets thick but can play fast. They usually are on older courses.

[Tom_Doak]

This thread makes me want to learn about turf grass.

If you do, pay particular attention to which species do best without frequent pesticide applications.  Because the day is coming when you're not going to be able to rely on pesticides.

[Kalen Braley]

Being a western US guy, I definitely love me some Bent, especially on the greens!

P.S.  I've never played on Bermuda and seeing how you have to factor in grain along with slope and speed, seems like you almost need an abacus to have any success.

[Nicolas Joakimides]

My favorite is the fescue grass for greens, fairways and rough !
especially when fairways are turning yellow...

[John Emerson]

My favorite is the fescue grass for greens, fairways and rough !
especially when fairways are turning yellow...

Curious where there are fescue greens you’re referring to?  Thanks

[Nicolas Joakimides]

John,


Scottish links (fescue/ bent) greens .

[Ira Fishman]

My knowledge about grasses is woefully inadequate. Is there a good resource for learning more?


Thanks,


Ira

[Thomas Dai]

Is there a difference between Scottish, Irish, English, Welsh or for that matter Dutch or French links seaside fescue?
Atb

[James Brown]

This thread makes me want to learn about turf grass.

If you do, pay particular attention to which species do best without frequent pesticide applications.  Because the day is coming when you're not going to be able to rely on pesticides.

Good point.  Would also be curious to see which grasses designers prefer in different conditions for that reason. 

[Nicolas Joakimides]

Thomas,


My feeling is the few links course we have in Europe has a lower % of fescue than the Irish/Scottish links.

[Sean_A]

Thomas,

My feeling is the few links course we have in Europe has a lower % of fescue than the Irish/Scottish links.

Every links has a different percentage of fescues/bents/poa...no?  Hopefully, most links clubs by now will have instituted programs to increase fescues & bents so the they don't have to cut the grass as short to maintain speed.  The day is coming when certain chemicals can't be applied and trying encourage f&b will be more problematic.

Ciao

[Tommy Williamsen]

My knowledge about grasses is woefully inadequate. Is there a good resource for learning more?


Thanks,


Ira

Ira, I ask every superintendent I get a chance to meet. "Tell me about your grass." I find it great fun.

[Tom_Doak]

If you do, pay particular attention to which species do best without frequent pesticide applications.  Because the day is coming when you're not going to be able to rely on pesticides.

Good point.  Would also be curious to see which grasses designers prefer in different conditions for that reason.

The turfheads will know a lot more about this than the architects do.  I honestly don't know of many architects (besides me) who care about it very much.


I believe that, among the warm-season grasses, zoysia and paspalum are the winners for least pesticide use.  Paspalum relies on salt water application to control weeds and pests.


Among the cool-season grasses, fescue is clearly the least needy for chemical applications.  Bluegrass is somewhere in the middle, then bentgrass.  Ryegrass and poa annua have significant problems if you're really going pesticide-free.

[Joe_Tucholski]

I don't particularly have a favorite.


When trying to learn about different grasses I quickly became confused as we're not just talking about bermuda, bent, rye or paspalum.  There seems to be a ton of variation within each of these.


I've moved around a good amount.  I play far less golf when living in areas where Bermuda and Paspalum varieties are prevalent.

[Jon Wiggett]

The day is coming when certain chemicals can't be applied and trying encourage f&b will be more problematic.

Ciao

 


Not sure why you think this Sean. I would say that the exact opposite would be true and with fewer chemicals available encouraging browntop and fescue becomes the easier option for well drained courses especially links.