More than 100 superintendents hit the road yesterday to take a look at the zoysia breeding and growing operation at Bladerunner Farms in Poteet, Texas. Later in the day, the three-bus road show moved to the Golf Club of Texas just outside of San Antonio, which has been recently renovated with zoysia on every surface.
The event, “Zoysia as a Game Changer: The Olympic Golf Course, New Zoysia Grasses and You,” was presented by Team Zoysia, an affiliation of producers, scientists, golf course superintendents, equipment manufacturers and distributors. On hand for yesterday’s events were representatives from Bladerunner, Jacobsen, Cushman, Doguet Ventures, Team Zoysia International, The Turfgrass Group, TurfMaker and Green Up Services.
Braving freezing temperatures and occasional drizzle, the supers rotated through stations set up on Bladerunner Farms’ zoysia research and demonstration plots that showcased the latest varieties, including Zeon, L1F and JaMur. Presenters included the domestic and international licensing team of Don Roberts, Arthur Milberger and Bill Carraway; superintendents Doug Petersan, CGCS, and Ken Mangum, CGCS; and researchers Ambika Chandra, Ph.D., of Texas A&M; Brian Schwartz, Ph.D., of the University of Georgia; Wayne Hanna, Ph.D.; and Milt Engelke, Ph.D., Texas A&M professor emeritus. Welcoming attendees and overseeing the day’s activities was the farm’s colorful owner, David Doguet.
Engelke told attendees he wasn’t exaggerating much when he told them that, when it comes to zoysiagrass, “Don’t fertilize a thing and mow it right.”
Doguet, who is part of the ownership group for the Golf Club of Texas, joined Roy Bechtol, the architect for the renovation, to lead a tour of the rolling, links-style course. Bechtol said Doguet had “opened his eyes” to how different varieties of zoysia, with their different shades, textures and heights, could be used to “paint with grass.” The course’s 91 acres, including a unique 10-acre practice area, have been completely sodded rather than sprigged in anticipation of a late spring opening for this public course.
Said course co-owner Tom Bevans, “I’m looking forward to green grass in the summer in Texas.”
Attendee Kirt Phillips, the Class A superintendent at Dallas Country Club and a 16-year member of GCSAA, said the field day and tour had helped him learn more about new zoysia varieties for use on his course.
“About a third of our tees, the ones in shady areas, are zoysia. We’re always looking at improving our existing grass, and every year we’re planning to convert a few more tees to zoysia,” he said.
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