New Grasses Offering More Options for Golf Course Designers

ROLLING MEADOWS, IL

More golf courses-- new and existing-- are turning to sod for establishing grass on their greens, according to Ben Copeland, President of Turfgrass Producers International.

"The emergence of new grass varieties that are usually available in sod and often provide truer putting surfaces is giving Landscape Architects, contractors, superintendents and owners more options with respect to how grass is installed," Copeland explained. "This, combined with turfgrass sod's ability to generate cash-flow more quickly for owners, has made sodding golf greens and emerging trend."

Copeland points out that many of the new varieties available on the market, not just bentgrasses, but also many dwarf and super dwarf varieties, are capable of being maintained at the lower heights demanded by today's discriminating golfers. Most are proving to be more resistant to disease as well.

"The bottom line is that the new varieties of grass have turfgrass sod being increasingly considered for establishing putting surfaces," explained Copeland. "In fact, some courses are converting their existing greens and installing sod with the new varieties."

Copeland emphasized that the trend toward increased sodding of greens is part of a larger trend toward the increased use of sod in the development of new courses and the renovation of existing facilities.