Choosing The Right Bermudagrass Cultivar For your Greens
| Situations, Factors | Best Suited For CHAMPION | Best Suited For EMERALD |
Play |
|
|
Putting surface |
Best surface available |
Comparable to TifeagleTM |
Ball roll speed |
Fastest possible speed (Stimp 10’+) |
Good speed (Stimp 9’+) |
Greens at other area courses (competition) |
Bentgrass, Champion |
Other Bermudagrass Cultivars |
Pace of play (faster greens = slower play) |
Pace not big issue |
Pace is big issue |
Resort or private play (time for maintenance) |
Private |
Resort |
Public fee/municipal or private play |
Private |
Public fee/municipal |
Winter surface in cold climate |
Focus on ball roll (paint) |
Focus on appearance (overseed) |
Architectural |
|
|
Contouring of surfaces |
Subtle contours |
Dramatic contours |
Focus on green speed to add difficulty |
Yes |
No |
Firm or soft greens |
Soft |
Firm |
Regional |
|
|
Upper Transition Zone |
Excellent |
Good |
Southeastern Plains, Upper Atlantic |
Excellent |
Excellent |
Gulf Coast |
Good |
Excellent |
South Florida |
Excellent |
Good |
Desert |
Good |
Excellent |
Agronomic/Maintenance |
|
|
Rootzone |
Finer sand, more organic, slower percolation |
Coarse sand, less organic, rapid percolation |
Irrigation water quality |
Tolerates moderate sodium water |
Tolerates high sodium water |
Irrigation system |
Separate in & out heads best |
Full-circle, block systems acceptable |
Mowing |
Walk-behind best |
Triplex or walk |
Topdressing, verticutting, grooming, spiking |
Frequent |
Infrequent |
Fertility program |
Primarily foliar |
Primarily granular |
Aerification |
More aerification required |
Less aerification required |
Manpower |
Larger crews (frequent inputs) |
Smaller crews (infrequent inputs) |
Equipment |
More, top condition (frequent inputs) |
Less, average condition (infrequent inputs) |
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