Divot Resistance Varies among Bermudagrass and Zoysiagrass Cultivars

Abstract

Divots created by a golf stroke are a natural occurrence on golf courses and the resistance of turf to divot injury is an important factor that should be considered when selecting a turfgrass. Therefore, the primary objective of this experiment was to quantify the divot resistance for various bermudagrass {Cynodon spp. Rich.) and zoysiagrass {Zoysia spp. Willd.) cultivars in a field experiment, with a secondary objective to compare evaluation methods for quantifying divot resistance. This study was conducted in Fayetteville, AR. Divot type, severity, and volume as well as a Turfgrass Shear Tester were used to determine divot resistance. 'Riviera' bermudagrass had the largest volume per divot (70 cm^), while the smallest divots (<28 cm^) were observed with 'Cavalier', 'Diamond', and 'Zorro' zoysiagrass. More force was required to displace divots from Diamond zoysiagrass than from Riviera, 'Patriot', or 'Princess 77' bermduagrass. Zoysia matrella (L.) Merr. consistently demonstrated greater divot resistance than Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers. The four methods for evaluating divot resistance provided similar findings for divot resistance for the cultivars and species tested. These results provide researchers methods for evaluating divot resistance and will allow golf course superintendents to better select cultivars and species that will improve playing conditions and reduce divot injury.

Bermudagrass and Zoysiagrass Cultivar Selection: Part 1, Clipping Yield, Scalping Tendency, and Golf Ball Lie

“…The cultivars Patriot, Riviera, Tifsport, and Tifway bermudagrass, and Meyer and Diamond zoysiagrass had the best ball lie in unmown conditions, while Palisades had the poorest ball lie in unmown conditions. These results along with data on traffic tolerance (40) and divot resistance (38) and recovery (39) will assist golf course superintendents in selecting cultivars of bermudagrass and zoysiagrass well-adapted for golf course fairways or tees that contain low clipping yields and scalping tendencies as well as a good golf ball lie in order to help to reduce plant growth regulator use, equipment wear, and labor and fuel costs associated with maintaining a golf course turf.…”

“…Across the transition zone and southern United States, bermudagrass is the most commonly used turfgrass on fairways and tees (24), and bermudagrass and zoysiagrass are adapted to the transition and warm humid, climatic zones (4). Bermudagrass and zoysiagrass are desirable species for golf course fairways and tees due to their deep rooting, disease resistance, recovery potential, drought, heat, wear, traffic, and low mowing height tolerance (3,38,39,40).…”

Ecological Implications of Zoysia Species, Distribution, and Adaptation for Management and Use of Zoysiagrasses

“…On golf courses, the removal of divots and recovery from divoting caused by golfers are important considerations. Trappe et al (2011b) found that more force was required to remove divots from zoysiagrasses and that the divots removed were smaller than from bermudagrasses. Recovery from divoting, however, was fastest in C. dactylon cultivars, although the recovery of the best zoysiagrass cultivars was equivalent to that of hybrid bermudagrass (Trappe et al, 2011a).…”

Bermudagrass and Zoysiagrass Cultivar Selection: Part 2, Divot Recovery

“…Another aspect of divot management is the overall size and the frequency a divot is made, otherwise known as divot resistance (9). Little work has attempted to quantify divot resistance or combine divot recovery and resistance to quantify a divot fitness index for a particular turfgrass.…”