The best turf grass for legitimate Florida golf courses

Avid golfers know, the variety of grass you play on has a direct effect on play.

Turf grass, or grass for golf courses, needs to be tough and be able to withstand both high traffic and a few swings of a club.

Selecting the correct turf grass to satisfy the playing conditions can be a daunting decision. There are many considerations to make, like the region’s climate, how much foot traffic the course will have, and how quickly the grass repairs itself.

Climate

Climate is an important factor when determining which grass to lay. Temperature and water are the most important factors here. Turf grasses are broken down into two groups based on their temperature requirements: cool season and warm season, with further differences between humid and non humid areas. Check out this climate adaption map, and you’ll see here in Florida we fall in the hot humid region, where humidity is high and rainfall averages around 70 inches.

The primary types of grass grown in this region is bermudagrass, zoysia, bahia, St Augustine Floratam, and Bitter Blue.

The best type of grass for golf in Florida

Bermudagrass is one of the most popular grasses used on golf courses. And for good reason. It is a warm season grass that does great here in Florida and can stand both high heat and drought like conditions.

Why is bermudagrass so great for golf? This particular variety has thicker blades that can be mowed lower, making it more ideal. In addition, the fast growth rate ensures less time for grass to repair itself after higher traffic. Because bermudagrass is well suited for hot, humid environments, it has a fast recovery rate, making it great for putting greens.

Bermudagrass grows continuously around the Tarpon Springs, Fort Myers, and other Florida areas. Some of its greatest advantages are that it’s a deep rooted variety, with dark green, dense blades that are well adapted to most soils, including those with higher salt tolerance. It’s a great choice for areas near the ocean, like here in Florida.

While maintence of bermudagrass may seem daunting for home owners, it’s nothing a well maintained golf course cannot handle. Its growth speed is very fast, which in turn means more mowing. The average mowing frequency in days tends to be 1-4 days, with more time between cutting in the cooler months. The ideal mowing height tends to be around .5-1.5 inches, and thanks to its higher drought tolerance, it doesn’t require quite as much water from irrigation as St. Augustine grass.

You may be familiar with players who refer to the grain of a course, this often has to do with bermudagrass. Bermudagrass can get grainy, but that is kept at bay when it’s mowed tightly. It provides a firm, and fast surface, just like tour pros like.

Chipping and pitching from bermudagrass can be a new experience for many. The grain of the grass plays a part here. Into the grain and down grain have different effects on the strike quality, spin, and trajectory. Generally, the ball tends to break towards the direction that the grain grows. Dull or dark green grass means the grain is towards you, but if the grass looks lighter and shiny, the grain is growing away from you.

The Smart Sod difference

At Smart Sod, we only sell the best. That’s why we sell certified celebration bermudagrass to build the best courses around. Our certified bermudagrass follows strict standards and is only sourced from the highest planting material. This means that regulations have been set to grow and sell only the highest quality that is free of weeds and contamination by our trained professionals. In turn, certified bermudagrass is the highest quality sod for athletic fields and golf courses. Smart Sod can harvest, transport, and install pallets and sprigs for golf course renovation projects.

Conclusion

Grass grown on golf courses have to be tough and able to repair quickly. Bermudagrass is a great option for courses that withstand lots of traffic and are in hot humid locations like in Odessa or Labelle or any other Florida golf course. If bermudagrass seems like a good choice for your course, we encourage you to reach out to our customer care team at (816) 852-3862.

Works Cited

McCarty, L.B.(. (2018). Golf Turf Management (1st ed.). CRC Press. https://doi-org.ezproxy.liberty.edu/10.1201/9781351057950