About the Types of Turfgrass

The most common grass on golf courses is bermuda grass. Bermuda grass is so common because of its low cost and durability in hot climates. Since bermuda grass thrives in hot weather, it is most popular throughout the South and Southeast. Bermuda grass is used for tees, fairways, greens and rough areas. Putting on bermuda can be challenging because it has grain that affects the direction and speed of the putt. You can identify how the grain will affect your putt by looking at the color of the grass. The grass will be shaded light green if your putt is with the grain (faster putt), and dark green (slower putt) if your putt is against the grain.

Bentgrass is a cool weather grass that is found mostly in the Midwest and Northeast. It is mostly used for tees, fairways and greens. Bentgrass grows in a dense mat and can look puffy when allowed to grow too long. It is great for putting because the grass is very smooth and can be mowed at low heights. Bentgrass greens are also very soft, allowing shots from the fairway to stop quickly or spin back when they hit the green.

Zoysia is a warm-weather grass with great durability. Because of its durability in the heat, zoysia is found throughout the South and Midwest. However, it is not as common as bermuda because it is almost twice as expensive. Zoysia can be identified by its stiff blades of grass, which allow the golf ball to sit up perfectly in the fairway. In the warmer spring and summer months zoysia is very dense and green. In the winter, however, zoysia will turn a dormant blond color.

Kentucky bluegrass is a cool-weather grass found mainly in the Midwest and Northeast. Most golf courses use Kentucky bluegrass for tees, fairways and rough areas. It's a very durable grass that turns green very early in the spring. Kentucky bluegrass can be identified by its distinct dark blue-green color.

Rye grass is a cool-season grass that is used very little in hot summer climates. You will find rye grass mostly in the Northeast and Pacific Northwest. Rye grass is used mostly for tees, fairways and rough areas. It has a great tolerance for low mowing heights, which most golf courses prefer. Rye grass is also used by many golf courses in the winter for overseeding bermuda grass because it provides a much better winter color (bright green) than dormant bermuda (yellow).

Poa annua is found mainly along the west coast because of its ability to thrive in wet conditions. Poa annua grass can be identified by its patchy look, which makes it resemble a weed. It can sustain low mowing heights, which can make poa annua greens very fast. However, some poa annua greens may have prominent seedheads that can cause greens to be bumpy. In the south and other areas, poa annua is considered a weed and golf courses try to remove it from greens.