Grass Matters …. “Something No Golfer Can Live Without”.

….. by guest contributor, Eddie Shackleford.

Golfing is one of those sports that soothes the soul, allowing for reflection, concentration and accuracy. Those traits are seen time and time again from players around the world.

www.golfbytourmiss.com reports on many tournaments, courses, players and the like, but at the root of every course is something no golfer could live without: grass.

The landscape of a golf course paves the way for the beauty of each stroke, putt and drive, but as most golf enthusiasts know, not all grass is grown equal. Here’s a simple break-down of the types of grasses used on various golf courses around the world.

Bahia Grass:

Found on: Fairways at <a rel=nofollow href=http://www.aldenpinesgolf.com> Alden Pines Country Club</a> in Bokeelia, Florida.

Known for being a low-maintenance grass, Bahia grass is primarily used for roughs and other areas around the course. Bahia grass can grow and spread like a weed, overtaking Bermuda grass, if careful maintenance is not regularly performed.  Bahia grass can also be used on fairways, where there is soft soil, like sand.

Bent Grass:

Found on: Greens at <a rel=nofollow href=”http://www.worldgolf.com/courses/usa/georgia/augusta/eighteen-at-augusta-national-golf-club-private.html“>Augusta National Golf Club</a> in Augusta, GA.

Le Crème de le crème. Bent grass is best suited for cooler climates, but this dense, high-maintenance grass is perfection on golf courses. Due to the density, naturally and because of frequent mowing, bent grass is suitable for a heavy traffic area. Used on tees, fairways and greens, it offers some versatility.

Augusta National - Bent grass at its finest.

Augusta National – Bent grass at its finest.

Although bent grass is most adaptable in cool, humid climates, it is used on putting greens in the south, too, with frequent and intense management to ensure vitality. Regular golfers and professionals alike will agree that the ball rolls slightly better on bent grass than on its competitor, Bermuda.  Augusta National is famed for its flawless fairways.

You can see the perfection for yourself on the special course tour flyover segments featured on the <a href=”http://www.direct2tv.com/“>Direct2tv</a> Masters Mix channels during tournament time each year.

Bermuda Grass:

Found on: Fairways at <a rel=nofollow href=”http://www.quailhollowclub.com/“>Quail Hollow Club</a> in Charlotte, NC.

This devil’s grass makes its home on golf courses in the warmest climates. Ideal for areas too hot for Bent grass, Bermuda grass can withhold hot temperatures in especially warm or tropical locations. Bermuda grass has weed-like characteristics, making it perfect for fairways and greens, as it grows quickly and resists many aversions. It can stand up to a lot of traffic and is quick to recover, adding to its placement on the green.

Bermuda grass does not prosper in cool climates, and will eventually turn dormant and brown, but is tolerant to a full day’s worth of sunlight, allowing it to work very well on tropical greens.

Fescue Grass:

Found on: Rough at <a rel=nofollow href=”http://www.standrewsgolfcc.com/“>Old Course at St. Andrews</a> in Scotland.

The famed Old Course at St. Andrews - a classic fescue grass links course found across the UK>

The famed Old Course at St. Andrews – a classic fescue grass links course found across the UK>

A versatile grass that can grow in both cool and warm climates, Fescue grass works best on golf courses in coastal areas in Great Britain and along the U.S. coast. Primarily used on the rough, Fescue can grow up to three feet high, turning a golden color when allowed.

Fine Fescue, however, can make an excellent fairway on some courses, but perhaps it isn’t the best choice due to it being less durable than other available grasses.

Kentucky Blue Grass:

Found on: Turf at <a rel=nofollow href=”http://www.coghillgolf.com/sites/courses/layout9.asp?id=725&page=40334“>Cog Hill Golf & Country Club</a> in Lemont, IL.

This soft, tall grass is always an obstacle for golfers. Used in the roughs, around hazards, and occasionally on some fairways, it offers some versatility, and is especially drought resistant. Bermuda beats out Kentucky Blue grass for most fairways, but can be used as the rough on many courses, providing a greater challenge.

Seashore Paspalum Grass:

Found on: Greens at <a rel=nofollow href=”http://www.worldgolf.com/courses/bahamas/sandals-emerald-reef-golf-club.html“>Emerald Reef Golf Club</a> in The Bahamas.

As the name entails, Seashore Paspalum grass thrives on courses along the coast, with much stress induced due to storms and natural weather. Providing greener options for courses, this grass can prosper from salty, brackish or recycled water, where clean water is not readily available. Typically used in the roughs or fairways, seashore paspalum holds up well under many conditions where other grasses would quickly die.

Perennial Ryegrass:

Found on: Bermuda Greens at <a rel=nofollow href=”http://waverlycc.com/“>Waverly Country Club</a> in Portland, OR.

A cool weather grass, Perennial ryegrass is as versatile as they grow. Depending on the climate, this grass can be used on the fairways or in the roughs. Perennial ryegrass can withstand colder temperatures than some other grasses, making it a great choice for over-seeding Bermuda and other warm-weather grasses in southern, warmer climates.  Although versatile, ryegrass is quite susceptible to diseases like pink mold, and therefore requires a great deal of maintenance.

Poa Annua Grass:   

Found on: Greens at <a rel=nofollow href=”http://www.pebblebeach.com/“>Pebble Beach Golf Links</a> in Monterey, CA.

Tolerant to cool, damp weather, Poa Annua grass is perfect for coastal courses. Considered by many to be a weed rather than a grass, it is not extremely popular, but can be rather good for putting. When freshly manicured, Poa Annua can be as smooth and fast as any Bent grass.

Poa Annua perfect for coastal courses like Pebble Beach.

Poa Annua perfect for coastal courses like Pebble Beach.

Poa Annua grass grows quickly and seeds early on, creating a lot of bumps on the green, and therefore an undesirable effect on the putt, which is why frequent maintenance must be performed to ensure quality.

Zoysia Grass:

Found on: Fairways at <a rel=nofollow href=”http://www.thegolfclubofkansas.com/“>The Golf Club of Kansas</a> in Kansas.

Becoming more abundant where Bermuda grass once grew, Zoysia is another warm-weather grass option in the south for greens, tees and fairways. It is sturdy and quite resilient, withstanding a great deal of foot traffic, as well as other natural elements. It is slow-growing, but grows very well on soft soils and sandy land.

The various grasses all affect the game of golf. Whether from the tee, fairway, rough or green, each has its own unique properties that will determine how the ball rolls and spins, therefore affecting your final score. Courses where a round is more expensive, or has membership requirements may offer a better, more maintained course, versus strictly public ones. The best golfers can perform well on any grass, but it doesn’t hurt when it’s Bent and freshly cut.

Bio: Eddie Shackleford is a writer for Direct2tv. He researches, writes and edits articles on golf, sports, entertainment and all things TV related.

 



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