The type of grass used on a golf course plays a crucial role in the playing experience, affecting ball roll, turf resilience, and maintenance requirements. Different areas of the course, such as greens, fairways, and roughs, often utilize distinct grass varieties to optimize their specific functions.

Greens

Greens demand a very fine, dense, and resilient grass that can withstand constant mowing and foot traffic while providing a smooth, true putting surface.

• Bentgrass: This is one of the most common grasses used on golf greens due to its fine texture and ability to be cut very short. It creates a smooth and fast putting surface.
• Creeping Bentgrass: Known for its aggressive lateral growth, which helps it recover quickly from damage.
• Colonial Bentgrass: More upright growth habit, often found in cooler climates.
• Poa Annua (Annual Bluegrass): While often considered a weed in many turf situations, it can be managed to create acceptable putting surfaces, especially in cooler regions. It has a distinctive light green color.
• Bermudagrass: In warmer climates, ultradwarf bermudagrass varieties are specifically bred for greens. They can be mowed very short and provide excellent heat tolerance.

Fairways

Fairways require a turf that can withstand divots and traffic while offering a consistent lie for shots. These grasses are typically mowed slightly higher than greens.

• Kentucky Bluegrass: A popular choice in cooler climates due to its excellent color, density, and ability to recover from damage.
• Perennial Ryegrass: Often mixed with Kentucky bluegrass for its quick establishment and wear tolerance.
• Fescue: Used in some cooler climates, particularly fine fescues, for their low maintenance requirements and ability to tolerate drier conditions.
• Bermudagrass: The dominant choice for fairways in warm climates due to its heat tolerance, drought resistance, and ability to recover from wear.
• Zoysiagrass: Gaining popularity in warm climates for its density, low water requirements, and good wear tolerance, although it can be slower to establish.

Rough

The rough is designed to be more challenging and is typically mowed less frequently, allowing the grass to grow taller.

• Tall Fescue: Often used in the rough due to its coarse texture, drought tolerance, and ability to grow taller, creating a challenging lie.
• Kentucky Bluegrass: Can be used in the rough in cooler climates, often mowed at a higher setting.
• Bermudagrass: In warm climates, bermudagrass is used in the rough, where it is allowed to grow taller and thicker.

Grass Selection Factors

The choice of grass type for a golf course is influenced by several factors:

• Climate: Temperature and rainfall are primary determinants. Cool-season grasses thrive in temperate regions, while warm-season grasses are suited for hotter climates.
• Maintenance Resources: Different grasses have varying requirements for water, fertilizer, and mowing.
• Desired Playability: The speed of the greens, the firmness of the fairways, and the difficulty of the rough are all influenced by grass choice.