Poipu Bay on Kauai the latest Hawaiian golf course to convert to paspalum grass; River's Edge near Myrtle Beach reopens

The paspalum turf domino effect is continuing along the world’s island and warm weather golf courses.

Following next door Kiahuna Golf Club and the Princeville Makai’s lead, Poipu Bay Golf Course on the Hawaiian island of Kauai will close in April of 2010 for approximately eight months to reseed their bermuda greens with salt tolerant, water-efficient paspalum.

When I played Poipu Bay a few years ago, it was as scenic of a coastal course as there is in this world, but the greens were a bit more grainy compared to Princeville and next door Kiahuna (which already uses paspalum form tee to green). Club officials expect the new paspalum to not only be more eco-friendly and easier to maintain but to play better as well.

“The new greens will provide a more consistent and faster putting surface for our guests,” says Poipu Bay’s Director of Golf, Craig Sasada.

One little difference to this reseeding is that the course will seed with a new type of paspalum turf: “Sea shore paspalum supreme hybrid.” With a name like that I’m not sure if you’re supposed to golf on it or smoke it (or both, ala Carl Spackler), but it sounds like this relatively new type of grass continues to be tweaked and enhanced.

Elsewhere, just in time for the peak fall golf season, River’s Edge Golf Club north of Myrtle Beach in Shallotte recently reopened with seadwarf paspalum greens. Closed all summer to replace the suffering bent grass greens, Myrtle Beach Golf Holiday has a full report on the reopening. If you have played River’s Edge since reopening, we’d love to get your thoughts on the course in our exit polls.

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