Tee turf selection Cancel The title field is required!

1. Jeffrey Gaylor

   

   0 posts
   
   1/28/2016 2:01 PM

   I have a par 5 tee that is heavily shaded. I'm going to regrass this mid spring with either Celebration Bermuda or a variety of zoysia. (Cavalier or El toro).
   Just looking for some opinions and if anyone has any info..
   
   Thanks,
   
   Jeff Gaylor

   
   
   
   
2. Steven Huffstutler

   

   11 posts
   
   1/28/2016 6:01 PM

   I would definitely go with Celebration. I have put it on several shaded tees and it has performed very well. I have also put out a bunch of Zoysia and it just won't recover fast enough to continue using it. I use Zoysia on the clubhouse lawns and places like that, it is a very pretty grass, but I don't like it on the golf course here.
   
   Steve

   
   
   
   
3. Brian Green

   

   0 posts
   
   1/29/2016 7:01 AM

   Jeff,
   How big is the tee? Is the tee large enough for good rotation of tee markers to prevent wearing out the same area? Being a par 5 tee, divot recovery is not a concern. If the tee is large enough that wear is not concentrated in one area, I would go with zoysia because it is more shade tolerant than any bermuda variety. If the tee is small and wear is an issue, I may consider Celebration because of it's recovery potential. If you do go with zoysia and wear is a concern, you may consider a coarser zoysia such as El Toro or Meyer. The coarser textured zoysias are more aggressive laterally.
   Brian

   
   
   
   
4. Patrick Reinhardt

   

   0 posts
   
   1/29/2016 8:01 AM

   I'll throw in a TifGrand opinion. The color, density, and shade tolerance are all outstanding. The texture is a little finer than 419, and the color a little darker. Most golfers won't be able to tell a difference. A lot of it depends on where you are located though, especially when it comes to the success of Celebration, zoysias, etc.

   
   
   
   
5. Joshua Sawyer

   

   0 posts
   
   1/29/2016 10:01 AM

   I have tried TifGrande, as well as several zoysias for similar issues. I haven't used Celebration, so I can't speak to it.
   
   TifGrande is a very nice grass when its happy-if you are after a shade grass, I would personally stay away from the bermudas all together. TifGrande with sun is a nice semi-dwarf that presents well for tees or collars. We have seen poor cold tolerance (winterkill) as well as chemical sensitivity we didn't expect (Tupersan).
   
   Pallisades zoysia-questionble cold tolerance, but very aggressive laterally. It is a coarse texture, so may not be suitable for high end use. I have never seen runners coming off a zoysia like I have seen with this grass...very aggressive recuperation if divot recovery is a concern.
   
   Diamond zoysia-good choice for shady tee, but doesn't handle wet feet. Make sure you have drainage. Very slow recuperation.
   
   Zeon zoysia-I like this one the best so far. Fine texture, decent drought and shade tolerance. Nice.
   
   Cavalier-I have played a little with it, looks good, but don't know much about it.
   
   That my experience...good luck.

   
   
   
   
6. David Stone

   

   9 posts
   
   2/1/2016 10:02 AM

   Of all the grasses mentioned I think Palisades zoysia is your best option. Over the years I have tried about everything possible. It is one of the broader blades zoysias but I believe it's recovery is the fastest of all the zoysias. However, when in the shade recover is slower for all grasses than when in full sun. Also when in the shade the grasses are not as winterhardy. Palisades is actually quite winterhardy. Celebration is one of the least winterhardy bermudas. That is likely to be a factor in North Carolina. If you use Palisades or El Toro be sure to spray them at least twice in the spring and twice in the fall for Large Patch. If possible do not sod until it is getting warm enough for recovery. If put down too early in the spring it may get beat up so bad before it is hot enough for recovery that you will be disappointed and blame it on the variety. These are all warmseason grasses that should be called hotseason grasses. Lastly just like the old Bobby Bare country song "There Ain't No 10s". None will be perfect all the time.
   
   David Stone
   The Honors Course
   Chattanooga, Tn.

   
   
   
   
7. Todd Caudill

   

   7 posts
   
   2/4/2016 1:02 PM

   We have bermuda tees throughout the course except for two heavily shaded tees. One is a par 3 and the other is a par 4. They are L-93 bentgrass and are probably our best looking tees. We spray them right along with our regular bentgrass greens program.
   
   Franklin, KY