If there’s one thing that sets a quality course apart from other, less extravagant places, it’s golf course grass.
Playing a round of 18 holes on lush, green grass not only makes the scenery more enjoyable but makes it easier to play the game with friends.
But many people wonder: how do golf courses manage to keep their turf in such pristine condition? What’s their maintenance schedule look like?
Here’s everything you need to know about how golf course grass comes to be.
How Do They Make Golf Course Grass?
As a matter of fact, it all starts with the construction aspect.
During the initial phases of building a golf course, a bulldozer typically creates a 1 to 1 1/2 foot hole the size of the green for each course. It is then modified in several ways to ensure it drains properly. In some cases, it is even lined with gravel to ensure an even playing surface.
Before construction even begins, though, a lot goes into the planning of a golf course. Without proper sunlight, a good place for rainwater to run off, and an environment that’s conducive to playing the game, even the best golf grass types won’t matter.
All this groundwork is what sets the foundation for a great course, and eventually helps determine things like golf course ratings.
Grass Seed For Golf Courses
Grass is grown in a sterile sand medium, rendering an even playing field that doesn’t get patchy or weed-prone like typical backyard turf might.
The sand, in fact, is probably the most important contributing factor to ensuring you play on a smooth surface.
Warm-weather golf courses typically use Bermuda grass seed for their courses. This type of grass can withstand heat and humidity and holds up even after heavy foot traffic.
Other types of grass seed commonly used on courses include Kentucky bluegrass, annual bluegrass and perennial ryegrass.
Golf Course Grass Maintenance
Of course, laying the foundation and growing the grass is only half the battle.
Once a golf course is up and running, lots of time, energy and money must go into maintaining the luscious turf—perhaps more than you’d think.
The number might be higher than you think: one study found that in the southwestern portion of the U.S. alone, it costs more than $1 million per year to maintain golf courses.
This includes things like:
- Watering
- Aerating the course
- Adding fertilizer
- Fixing problem spots
- Re-arranging course structures if a foundational problem arises (i.e. lack of sunlight is causing certain parts of the course to dry out)
This might also help you understand why some course fees and memberships are co costly. That money doesn’t just go into the founder’s pocket—much of it is invested back into the course itself.
Thinking about designing your yard to look like your favorite golf course grass? Certainly, there are things you can do replicate it, but it could be costly. Keep perusing our blog for more do-it-yourself tips you can apply to your home!
