Golf courses require highly specialized turf that balances aesthetics with the intense demands of the game. These grasses must tolerate ultra-low mowing heights for fast putting surfaces while also withstanding heavy foot traffic and equipment wear. Unlike residential lawns, golf course turf is an engineered system designed for consistent playability and specific regional climates. Grass varieties are primarily categorized by their temperature tolerance, which dictates the ball’s roll speed and the course’s seasonal maintenance schedule.
Cool-Season Turfgrass Varieties
Cool-season grasses are the primary choice for golf courses in northern latitudes, thriving best when temperatures are between 60 and 75 degrees Fahrenheit. The most dominant cool-season species for putting surfaces is Creeping Bentgrass (Agrostis stolonifera). This turf forms a dense, fine-textured canopy and spreads aggressively via above-ground runners (stolons). Creeping Bentgrass tolerates the extreme stress of being mowed as low as 0.125 inches, necessary for a smooth, fast putting surface.
However, this species requires intensive management, including frequent fertilization, watering, and fungicide applications, especially to survive summer heat. For less manicured areas, other varieties are used. Kentucky Bluegrass (Poa pratensis) is often mixed with Fescue in fairways and roughs, providing excellent recuperative potential due to its underground rhizomes. Perennial Ryegrass (Lolium perenne) is frequently used for its quick germination, making it a common choice for overseeding or repair mixtures across tees and fairways.
Warm-Season Turfgrass Varieties
Warm-season grasses are preferred in the southern United States and subtropical climates, performing best between 80 and 95 degrees Fahrenheit. Bermudagrass (Cynodon spp.) is the most widely used species, known for its exceptional heat tolerance, rapid growth, and quick recovery from damage. Hybrid Bermudagrass varieties, such as Tifway 419, are vegetatively propagated to ensure a uniform, dense stand suitable for high-traffic fairways and tees.
For putting greens, ultradwarf Bermudagrass hybrids (e.g., TifEagle or MiniVerde) withstand the low cutting heights typically reserved for Bentgrass. Zoysiagrass (Zoysia spp.) is another popular option, valued for its dense, stiff leaf blades that help the ball sit up on the turf canopy. Zoysiagrass is increasingly used on tees and fairways due to its shade tolerance and less aggressive growth habit than Bermuda. Warm-season varieties typically go dormant and turn brown during winter, often requiring a temporary cool-season grass to be sown over them for winter playability.
Functional Placement: Selecting Grass by Course Area
Turfgrass selection changes dramatically depending on the specific functional requirements of each area.
Putting Green
The putting green is the most demanding area, requiring a smooth and fast ball roll. Greens require grasses with the finest texture and greatest density, such as Creeping Bentgrass or specialized ultradwarf Bermudagrass. These can be mowed as low as 0.10 to 0.125 inches. This ultra-low cut height reduces friction and ensures the trueness of the roll, but it places immense stress on the plant, necessitating intense irrigation and nutrient programs.
Tees and Fairways
Tees and fairways serve as the primary playing surface for full shots and must prioritize durability and recovery from divots and cart traffic. These areas are mowed higher than the greens, often between 0.375 and 0.625 inches, to promote a deeper root system and greater resilience. Grasses like Hybrid Bermudagrass, Kentucky Bluegrass, and Zoysiagrass are common here, as their aggressive spreading habits allow them to heal quickly from wear. The higher cut also helps the ball sit up on the turf canopy.
Rough
The rough requires a grass that is coarser, more resilient to drought, and designed to slow the ball down, penalizing an errant shot. The rough is typically cut much higher, ranging from 2 to 3 inches, and is maintained less intensively than the fairways and greens. Tall Fescue or common Bermudagrass are frequently used because they require fewer inputs and handle varied soil conditions better.
Specialized Grasses for Environmental Resilience
Modern turf management increasingly focuses on environmental sustainability, driving the adoption of specialized grasses with enhanced resilience. Seashore Paspalum (Paspalum vaginatum) is a warm-season species popular for courses in coastal regions or areas with poor water quality. This grass tolerates high salt levels, allowing it to be irrigated with brackish or effluent water that would kill most other turf varieties. Paspalum offers a sustainable alternative for water conservation in water-scarce regions.
Plant breeders have also developed next-generation Bermudagrass hybrids, such as TifTuf and Tahoma 31. These newer varieties demonstrate superior drought resistance and cold tolerance compared to older cultivars. They require significantly less water while maintaining excellent turf quality, representing a shift toward more resource-efficient turfgrass solutions.