Did you know that golf course designers can decrease or increase the difficulty of a course by simply deciding what height or how often the grass should be cut? Yes. That is why the grasses in golf courses are as important as the tools the golfers used in playing the game. Nevertheless, the grass is probably one of the things we overlooked when we heard the word ‘Golf.’ In fact, some golfers who play from the rough, green, or fairway does not usually think about what grass they are playing on.
Back in the earlier days, people also didn’t give a second thought to what type of grasses are to put on a golf course. As a matter of fact, the grass was just grass that grew naturally in the soil until it became the crucial part of the golf game. Nowadays, various types of grasses were now used in course design, landscaping, and turfgrass. Also, designers who design the golf courses take huge consideration to the kind of grass they use. Although both natural and artificial grass was used, most golf courses use natural grass. These grass selections are based upon several factors like climate, water availability, and soil. With that, in this article, we are going to talk about the best type of grasses for playing golf.
Bermuda Grass
Bermuda Grass is one of the many types of grass for playing golf since it is ideal for tropical and subtropical climates. Therefore, this grass type is known for its strong resistance to drought. As well as that, Bermuda grass is notable for its unique ability to tolerate heat. It also grows best under a long duration of high temperatures. However, this type of grass cannot withstand winter temperatures. Although it can tolerate mild winters, grass discoloration can be seen if exposed to below-freezing temperatures. Additionally, these freezing temperatures can eventually lead to its leaves being killed.
Bent Grass
There are various types of bentgrass. This type of grass is highly durable and can withstand several numbers of players on the course without any actual damages. In addition, the bentgrass can be mowed short, while its delicate texture and green color require only a small amount of water. The bentgrass is also suitable for courses that have cool summers or in coastal locations.
Rye Grass
Most of the golf clubs and courses use ryegrass for fairways and roughs. The ryegrass is a type that can endure narrow and close mowing. Also, it has a smooth texture. Most often than not, the ryegrass is found in golf courses that have summer-cool regions. However, much like Bermuda grass, the ryegrass will, unfortunately, die if the ground temperature reaches below freezing temperature.
Zoysia Grass
Zoysia grass is the type that could resist a lot of heat and could survive a lengthy drought. Compare to other types of golf course grasses; the zoysia grass grows slower. It also has natural and distinctive stiff leaves, which is why it can withstand a lot of golfer foot traffic. Most commonly, the zoysia grass is used in roughs, fairways, and tee boxes.
Poa Annua Grass
Poa Annua Grass is one of the typical golf grasses used in the turf on the West Coast of the United States. Although this type of grass was often viewed as invasive, golf courses on the West Coast have managed to use the Poa Annua Grass as the greens of the golf course.
Poa Annua Poa is grass with shallow roots that can pose a problem if planted in an area that receives a large amount of rain. As a result, this type is usually hand-watered in order to ensure that it would absorb an adequate amount of water.
Although grasses were often one of the underrated aspects of golf, the grasses used in every golf course play a monumental contribution to the player’s performance. With these various types of grasses, the quality of play could be affected. That is why it is also essential to understand the influence of these grasses on different golfing variables. To build an at home putting green you can consider using artificial grass in your home and yard. If you are looking for an excellent grass that fits best in tropical regions, consider the St. Augustine Grass.