The golf course is comprised of different varieties of grass, each one suited for different uses or growing conditions. The varieties of grass used on a golf course has greatly advanced over the years and the type of grass on the golf course is a critical part of the game now. The following is information on different types of grasses used on areas of our course.
Grass on Tees and Fairways
The tees and fairways are seeded with a blend of 75% Kentucky Bluegrass and 25% Fescue. The higher level of Bluegrass gives the turf more density and helps the ball sit higher. The fescue will take over in areas of low light and poorer growing conditions. The tees are mowed at 3/8 “ and the fairways are mowed at 5/8”.
Grass on Rough
The rough is seeded with a blend of 50% Kentucky Bluegrass, 40% Fescue and 10% Ryegrass. The higher level of Fescue helps to fill in areas of low light and low water. The ryegrass is added as a nurse grass because it can germinate very quickly and provide protection to the Bluegrass and Fescue seed to help it germinate, the Ryegrass will die out after a season. The rough is mowed at 3.25”
Grass on Berms
The berms are seeded with Sheep Fescue, which thrives in unmaintained areas with poor soil and low moisture. Sheep Fescue grows tall and does not handle being driven on. That is why we have “No Carts On Berms” signs.
Grass on Greens
The greens are seeded with Bentgrass. Bentgrass is perfect for greens due to its traffic tolerance, cold weather tolerance, high resilience, high recuperative potential and its ability to tolerate extremely low mowing heights. Bentgrass has drastically changed over the years and we are constantly overseeding with the top varieties. Some of the varieties that our course has used over the years are Penncross, 18th Green, Penn A1, Penn A-4, G-1, Pure Select and Luminary. Bentgrass seed is very fine and can have over 6,000,000 seeds per pound. The greens are mowed at 7/64”.
Poa
Poa Annua (Annual Bluegrass) is a grassy weed and is not seeded by us and is evident on tees, fairways, and the greens. The discoloured patches on a green is Poa. Poa is an undesirable grass in our climate because it does not handle cold or hot growing conditions, to survive it aggressively forms seed heads to reproduce. Poa can be brought onto a course with golf shoes and spreads very quickly. We try to control Poa buy maintaining proper moisture and nutrient levels to help the Bentgrass or Bluegrass out-compete it.
Written by : Klayton Krangnes – Golf Course Superintendent
