Golf course turfgrass is a highly managed ecosystem engineered to withstand intense traffic while providing a predictable, high-quality playing surface. Achieving this requires grasses with exceptional density and resilience that allow for ultra-low mowing heights. The initial selection of a species is determined by regional climate, dividing turf into two major categories: warm-season grasses built to survive summer heat and cool-season grasses designed to flourish in cooler conditions.
Warm-Season Grasses Built for Heat
Warm-season grasses are the preferred choice for golf courses in the Southern United States, tropical, and transition zones, thriving in temperatures between 80 and 95 degrees Fahrenheit. These species possess deep root systems that provide superior heat and drought tolerance, allowing them to remain green throughout hot summers. However, they enter winter dormancy when temperatures drop, causing them to lose color and cease growth.
Bermudagrass (Cynodon species) is the most common warm-season turf, valued for its aggressive growth habit, which allows for rapid recovery from divots and heavy foot traffic. Hybrid Bermudagrass cultivars are used extensively because they can be maintained at extremely short lengths, creating fast and firm playing conditions. Its durability and quick recuperative potential make it a staple for high-wear areas like fairways and tees.
Zoysiagrass (Zoysia species) is an increasingly popular choice, particularly in the transition zone where both summer heat and winter cold are issues. This species creates a dense, carpet-like surface with a stiff leaf blade that encourages the golf ball to sit up well. Zoysia offers better cold tolerance than Bermudagrass, allowing it to retain color longer into the fall and green up earlier in the spring.
Seashore Paspalum (Paspalum vaginatum) is a specialized grass used primarily on courses near coastlines, such as those along the Gulf of Mexico. It has a high tolerance for salinity, allowing it to be irrigated with brackish or reclaimed water. Paspalum performs well in hot, humid conditions and can be mowed very low, providing an excellent surface for putting greens.
Cool-Season Grasses Thriving in Cooler Climates
Cool-season grasses are adapted to regions with cold winters and mild summers, performing best in temperatures between 60 and 75 degrees Fahrenheit. They maintain their color and density during the spring and fall, but often require significant irrigation and intense management to survive summer heat and humidity. Their preference for consistent moisture makes them dependent on reliable water sources during dry periods.
Creeping Bentgrass (Agrostis stolonifera) is the standard for putting greens in cooler climates due to its fine texture and ability to tolerate the lowest mowing heights. This species spreads via stolons, forming a dense, uniform mat that provides the smooth, true roll demanded on greens. While sensitive to heat and drought, its performance under intense maintenance is unmatched for precision putting surfaces.
Kentucky Bluegrass (Poa pratensis) is a preferred choice for fairways and roughs in Northern climates because of its dark green color and resilience. It possesses underground stems called rhizomes, which allow the turf to spread horizontally and self-repair from cleat damage and divots. However, Bluegrass can become dormant and turn brown during prolonged periods of summer heat or drought.
Perennial Ryegrass (Lolium perenne) is often used in seed mixtures for fairways and tees due to its fast germination rate, providing quick cover and wear tolerance. Fescue species (Festuca spp.) are valued for their drought tolerance and low-input maintenance requirements. Fescue is frequently used in out-of-play areas, roughs, and naturalized zones where minimal irrigation and fertilization are desired.
Specialized Application Grass Selection by Course Area
The final grass selection is a precise functional decision, matching the species’ inherent characteristics to the specific performance demands of each area of play. Putting greens represent the highest demand, requiring grass that can be cut to extremely low heights to promote ball speed and true roll. This dictates the use of Creeping Bentgrass in cool zones or specialized ultradwarf Bermudagrass cultivars in warm zones.
Fairways and tees are the primary traffic areas, necessitating turf with excellent wear resistance and recovery potential, maintained at a medium height. In the north, blends of Kentucky Bluegrass and Ryegrass offer the best balance of durability and color, while in the south, hybrid Bermudagrass and Zoysiagrass provide the necessary heat tolerance and density. The stiffer blades of Zoysia are prized for supporting the ball slightly above the turf surface.
The rough, which surrounds the fairways, is managed with minimal inputs and at a higher mowing height to penalize errant shots. Coarser and more robust varieties like Tall Fescue or common Bermudagrass are common because they require less water and fertilizer. In Southern and transition zones, superintendents manage the winter dormancy of warm-season grasses by overseeding fairways and tees with Perennial Ryegrass. This practice maintains a vibrant green color and playable turf throughout the cold season until the primary warm-season grass resumes growth in the spring.