If you’re going to play golf, you pretty well need to know what kind of grass you’re playing on. It makes a difference. But nowhere, it seems, are there pictures you can use to recognize grasses on the course. This article attempts to provide that information, and identify the impact that different grasses have on shots from the fairway, shots from the rough, and putts on the green.
Originally published 2010
Note: Pics are 300 pixels wide
Common grasses and their effects:
- Bahia Grass – a warm-climate grass used for roughs and landscaping
- Bentgrass – a cool-season grass used for tees, greens, and fairways
Has a serious grain that can affect a putt more than slope. During a PGA tournament that Gary McCord was covering, he said he once lined up a putt with a 5 inch break, hit the line perfectly, and watched the putt move 6 inches uphill. When he asked his caddie what happened, his caddie replied, “Grain”. McCord said he quit playing competitive golf right at that moment. (An exaggeration, to be sure, but a fun ending to the story.) - Bermuda Grass – a warm-climate grass, used for greens and tees
- On the green, this grass has a definite grain. (YouTube has some good videos that show it.)
- In the rough, the ball nestles down between the blades of grass, like Kikuyu, and can be hell to get out.
- Here’s a good YouTube video: Reading Grain On Bermuda Greens
- And a nice online slideshow that describes the effect of grain on your putts:
Golf tips: The easy guide to reading the grain of a green:
- Fescue – a family of over 300 cool- and warm-climate grasses. Blue Fescue is typically used in golf courses.
- Kentucky Blue Glass – drought-resistant grass used for fairways, roughs, and hazards on cool-seaon courses
- Kikuyu – warm-climate grass used for tees and fairways
- Kikyu is somewhat “hairy”, if you look at it closely. And the leaves bend over in the middle, forming a spongy mat that traps the club, especially because the ball tends to sink down between the blades, effectively resting on the ground. The trick is to strike down on the ball, as though from heavy rough. Otherwise, the thick mat of interlaced Kikuyu blades trap the club, drastically reducing clubhead speed.
- Kikyu is somewhat “hairy”, if you look at it closely. And the leaves bend over in the middle, forming a spongy mat that traps the club, especially because the ball tends to sink down between the blades, effectively resting on the ground. The trick is to strike down on the ball, as though from heavy rough. Otherwise, the thick mat of interlaced Kikuyu blades trap the club, drastically reducing clubhead speed.
- Poana (Poa Annua) – A nice, short grass for fast greens. Considered a nuisance by household gardeners.
- From https://www.sporttaco.com/rec.sport.golf/Favorite_grass_for_putting_4189.html:
Good poana greens are awesome. Can be fast and true with the proper care. Bad poana greens can be bumpy, inconsistent, and hellish to putt on. Tough to judge the pace and can’t always count on a true roll.
- From https://www.sporttaco.com/rec.sport.golf/Favorite_grass_for_putting_4189.html:
- Rye Grass – cool-season grass used for roughs and fairways (and at Wimbeldon)
- St. Augustine Grass (Charleston grass) – warm-climate grass used on green and tees.
- Zoysia – blanket-like, cool- and warm-climate grass used for tees, greens, and fairways
Course Guide
Definitely a work in progress. To the degree I collect tidbits of information from here and there, this table gives me a place to record them.
Course Greens Fairway Rough Pebble Beach Poa Annua Poppy Hills Poa Annua Spring Valley Poa Annua Practice Facility
Resources & Credits
- This page gave me a list of grasses commonly used on golf courses, along with Wikipedia links.
https://www.greenposse.com/2008/02/types-of-golf-grass/
Picture Sources
- Kikuyu: https://www.finelawn.co.nz/images/KIKUYU.jpg
- Poa: https://www.ppdl.purdue.edu/PPDL/images/pannua1.gif
Copyright © 2010-2017, TreeLight PenWorks
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