The term "striping" is used by golf course superintendents and grounds crews to refer to a pattern left in the grass after mowing with lightweight mowing equipment. The pattern might be horizontal or vertical stripes, or it might be a crosshatch or checkerboard pattern of alternating light and dark squares or diamonds.
Grass on the Greens. The operators of most modern-day courses prefer bentgrass or Bermuda grass on the greens. Bentgrass does well in northern climates, and Bermuda grass grows well in southern climates. You can cut both extremely low without stressing the plant, and create a smooth putting surface. Many older courses still have ryegrass or poa ...
Mar 02, 2020 · Grass Bunker: A depression or hollowed-out area on the golf course that is filled with grass (usually in the form of thick rough) rather than sand. Although golfers often call these areas grass bunkers they are not, in fact, bunkers or hazards under the Rules of Golf. They are treated like any other grassed area of the golf course.
Green. Greens, the most closely mowed areas of grass on the course, are where the hole is located and players putt. Greens can vary depending on the conditions of the course. For example, in hot, dry conditions, a green will play faster than usual and approach shots will be less likely to hold on the green. In wet conditions, the greens will be ...
Jul 12, 2011 · For cool season grass courses that only open for six months of the year, it’s essential that superintendents burn in the stripes right from the first cut of the season. This sets the guidelines, so staff know where to cut for the rest of the year.
1. Bermuda Grass for Golf Course. It is befitting to mention this turf grass type first as it one of the most popular grasses used in golf courses. Bermuda is a warm-season grass and, as such, is used majorly in warm areas that typically reach temperatures unconducive for several kinds of grass.
Golf course grass is commonly known as turf grass, and the grass types used differ from region to region by their ability to withstand both cold and heat. Turf grass differs from the regular lawn grass you may find in homes. Although some grasses used in home lawns can be used in golf courses.
Like in your lawns, where you can decide to have synthetic lawns instead of growing one naturally, there is an option for you to use artificial turf for golf course grass.
Not only is Bermuda suitable for warm regions, but it can also be mowed quite low, which is necessary for golfers to enjoy the experience truly. Bermuda is also drought-resistant and repairs quickly.
5. Zoysia Grass for Golf Course. Zoysia is a native Asian grass but has been in the US for more than a century and has become a popular golf course grass in that time. It is a warm-season grass best suited to warmer climes. This is a creeping heat and drought tolerant grass that will save you a lot on irrigation.
Golf course grasses can also be grown as lawn grasses for people looking to enjoy the feel of a golf course in their homes. These grasses are usually tough and resilient due to their traffic and can be cut low as that is the best level for a golf course.
Fescue grass is a cool-season grass that can withstand colder temperatures and some degree of heat. This makes it an attractive golf course grass for moderate regions experiencing both worlds. Fescue grass can also be used on fairways and has a good feel and look to it.
The kinds of grasses vary the greatest on golf course fairways. Most courses older than 25 years have perennial ryegrass or Kentucky bluegrass fairways. These are low maintenance and durable grasses that hold up in many kinds of climates, and can withstand a lot of play.
Grass just off the fairways on most courses is either Kentucky bluegrass or perennial rye. These are hardy grasses that can thrive in most climates, and do well when they grow a bit longer. Most of the rough on courses often is as much as one-half inch or more longer than the the grass on fairways. Bluegrass and ryegrass are suitable for ...
The grass was whatever grew naturally in the links' sandy soil along Scotland's coast. But today, the kind of grass is a key part of the game.
Fescues. Fescues grass likes the shade, which is why many golf courses use it in the long rough areas that typically also have trees and other shade. There are over 300 varieties of this grass, but there are types that are specifically used for golf courses that are fast-growing and occasionally used on the putting green.
To understand what type of grass you need for your golf course, you first have to discover what the soil is like. There are six distinct types of soil, all of which have their own characteristics and suit different types of grass.
Clay is a heavy soil that is high in nutrients, but because it contains up to 25% clay, it stays wet and cold in winter and drys hard in the summer. It does, however, retain water well, and can be slow to drain, particularly after heavy rain. This combination can make things difficult for groundskeepers, and the soil will often need to be mixed with other ingredients to make it manageable.
Bermuda grass is used in tropical and subtropical areas of the world where there is a lot of prolonged sun. Not only can this grass cope with long periods of sun exposure, but it can also cope with drought conditions, which helps golf courses who need to stick to water restrictions.
Bent grass is a highly durable type that has many varieties to choose from. Because of this characteristic, it is used a lot in municipal golf courses which have a lot of players using the course.
It is known for being a great soil for growing plants because of its nutrients and moisture retention. Soils with low nutrients or poor drainage will often have peat mixed with them.
Some examples of cool-season grasses cited by the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America include colonial bentgrass, creeping bentgrass, Kentucky bluegrass, perennial ryegrass, fine fescue and tall fescue.
Cool-Season Grasses: Exactly what the name implies: Varieties of grass that grow best in cooler conditions, as opposed to hotter climates. Golf courses in cooler regions are likely to be turfed with a cool-season grass. And golf courses in warmer locales might use a cool-season grass during winter as an overseed.
Cart Path: The designated route around a golf course that riding golf carts are expected to follow. A cart path is usually paved in concrete or covered in some other surface (such as crushed stone), although some courses have more rudimentary cart paths - ones that are just trails worn down by traffic.
Cup: The hole on the putting green or, in a more specific usage, the (usually plastic) liner-slash-receptacle sunk down into the hole on the putting green. Daily Fee Course: A golf course that is open to the public but is privately owned and operated (as opposed to a municipal course).
Daily Fee Course: A golf course that is open to the public but is privately owned and operated (as opposed to a municipal course). Daily fee courses are often (but not always) upscale and try to provide the golfer a "country club for a day"-type experience.
Par-6s are rare on golf courses. But when they exist, the yardage guidelines are effective playing lengths of more than 690 yards for men and more than 575 yards for women. Pitch-and-Putt: See Approach Course above. Public Course: Any golf course that primarily serves the general public.
Brent Kelley is an award-winning sports journalist and golf expert with over 30 years in print and online journalism. our editorial process. Brent Kelley. Updated March 02, 2020. Our glossary of golf course terms is one part of our larger Glossary of Golf Terms.
Green. Greens, the most closely mowed areas of grass on the course, are where the hole is located and players putt. Greens can vary depending on the conditions of the course. For example, in hot, dry conditions, a green will play faster than usual and approach shots will be less likely to hold on the green. In wet conditions, the greens will be ...
Rough. The rough is the longer-cut area of grass surrounding the fairway and green. To be successful, avoid the rough, which is normally allowed to grow longer the farther it is located from the greens and fairways. Hitting from the rough means players must use more club than they normally would to reach the green.
There are many different course styles including, traditional, links, desert, seaside, forested and each has something different to offer. Each golf course provides a different set of challenges depending on the design and layout of the course.
Fairway. The fairway is the area of short grass between the tee box and the green. Finding the fairway with drives is key for being a successful golfer. Hitting approach shots out of the fairway allows players to spin the ball more than they would hitting from the rough. The way a golfer chooses to hit a shot from the fairway can change depending ...
Hazards. Hazards are lakes, ponds, creeks or other areas on the course marked with red or yellow stakes. If a ball is found in a hazard, it can be played. However, if the ball cannot be played, the golfer must take a one-stroke penalty and either rehit or drop near the hazard, but not closer to the hole.
A former sports and lifestyle reporter at the "Daily Nebraskan," David Green is a writer who has covered a variety of topics for daily newspapers. He was selected by the "Los Angeles Times" to participate in the Jim Murray Sports Writing Workshop.
Practice Green – may also be called the Putting Green. Typically, a green near the Pro Shop that has multiple holes and is used to practice your short game before you tee off. Chipping is sometimes prohibited, so look for signs that provide the rules for the practice green. Starter/Marshall – many courses will have a club employee whose job is ...
Sand Traps – also referred to as “bunkers”, these are carved out areas filled with sand. Depending on the course, they may be next to the green or out in the fairway/rough. They can be quite challenging to play from if you are new to the game.
Tee Box – this will be the start of each hole – a closely mown area that you place (typically tee up) your ball and hit your first shot. There will be multiple color tee makers on each hole to designate Ladies, Senior, Men’s, and Professional tees.
The penalty for going out of bounds is “stroke and distance”, which means you replay the shot from the same location and add a stroke. For example, if you hit your tee shot out of bounds, you take a stroke and hit it again, so you are hitting your 3 rd shot.
They keep air flowing around the greens, so the bentgrass does not die off.
Also called Poa, is a type of annual bluegrass or meadow grass. It is a low-growing turfgrass that can be found in more temperate climates. Think Northern California, Northwestern USA, Northeast, Midwest and so on. Pebble Beach, Torrey Pines and Olympic Club are known for this type of grass.
Being a well-rounded golfer means knowing how to work with different types of golf course grass. In Arizona, for example, you have to deal with Bermudagrass and Ryegrass. Rye is the winter grass and Bermuda is summer grass. Poa annua (pronounced Pa Anna) grass is prevalent in most parts of the country and is usually mixed with Bentgrass, ...
Perenni al Ryegrass: This type is a perennial grass. You will see this used in any areas that transition from Bermuda in the summer to Rye in the winter. It is a winter grass or a cool-summer grass.
Golfers should pay close attention around the greens when chipping. Some grasses will make the ball sit up perfectly (where it looks to be on a tee), and others will make it sit down and look like it may be sitting in a hole.
Poa Annua: Also called Poa, is a type of annual bluegrass or meadow grass. It is a low-growing turfgrass that can be found in more temperate climates. Think Northern California, Northwestern USA, Northeast, Midwest and so on. Pebble Beach, Torrey Pines and Olympic Club are known for this type of grass.