With all the emphasis these days on putting green speed, scientists at Purdue University have examined all the ways golf course superintendents can ease golfers' frustrations with high scores, long rounds and putting green speed, depending on how the turf is managed.

Turfgrass researchers and golf course management experts have ways of influencing how difficult a green is to play, said Cale Bigelow, a Purdue University agronomist and turf expert. The type of grass and management programs can determine whether the velvety looking greens are fast or slow. On fast greens, a slight tap of the putter sends the ball many feet, while a ball struck the same way on a slow green will travel only inches.

To meet specific needs of both professional golfers and weekend duffers on the United States' 16,000 courses, turf scientists have developed and bred new species and varieties of grasses, he said. The various grasses, such as bermudagrass, fescue, bentgrass and Kentucky bluegrass, fill niches on golf courses since different conditions are required depending on the level of play and whether the turf is in the rough, on the fairway or on the green. Climate and soil conditions also play a role in the type of grass used.

They evaluated various turf management techniques and bentgrass varieties to learn ways golf course managers achieve optimum results to create the desired playing conditions. The Journal of Natural Resources Life Science Education is publishing a paper by Bigelow and turfgrass graduate student Kristina Walker about their research. The study explains important golf course management considerations and is a template to teach an important topic in turf management – putting green maintenance.

"I wanted to show that there are other ways besides lowering the mower height to achieve some of the functional characteristics course managers strive for," Bigelow said. "A lot of emphasis is put on maintaining golf greens not only for aesthetic appearance but also for functional quality, such as surface firmness and smoothness. It's a lot more complex than just cutting and watering the grass." For more on the study, click here.