Best grass for fairways?

[Rock Chalk Jayhawk]

I grew up on a course that has Ryegrass fairways, and I firmly believe it is the best surface available for fairways. High, tight, level, firm, and fast.

[Willie Malay]

I'd bet a lot of people have never played on Zoysia fairways. Quite awesome. It's like the ball is sitting on a miniature tee. If you can't hit a ball off it, you can't play.

[Rock Chalk Jayhawk]

[quote name='Willie Malay' timestamp='1362066966' post='6520129']
I'd bet a lot of people have never played on Zoysia fairways. Quite awesome. It's like the ball is sitting on a miniature tee. If you can't hit a ball off it, you can't play.
[/quote]

I absolutely loathe Zoysia. First of all, it always looks dead. Also, you get way too many flier lies and absolutely no roll.

[esketores]

The best grass? Whatever is the cheapest to maintain. Keep the costs down.

[wfrogg]

Love Bent Grass tee to green. Allows for tight, soft fairways with reasonable rollout. however, they do cost alot to maintain...

[swansone8]

[quote name='Rock Chalk Jayhawk' timestamp='1362068603' post='6520337']
[quote name='Willie Malay' timestamp='1362066966' post='6520129']
I'd bet a lot of people have never played on Zoysia fairways. Quite awesome. It's like the ball is sitting on a miniature tee. If you can't hit a ball off it, you can't play.
[/quote]

I absolutely loathe Zoysia. First of all, it always looks dead. Also, you get way too many flier lies and absolutely no roll.
[/quote]

I agree, a lot of fliers or just hitting it high on the face. Bent grass is my favorite

[fore]

I guess the poll wants favorite for play. Not necessarily best from a maintenance standpoint. So I voted bent.

[jli2636]

I enjoy zoysia because I'm more of a sweeper with my swing. Makes it easier for solid contact for me. If I was a better ball striker I would have to say bent, I think bent looks better but I enjoy playing on zoysia better.

[Kaysquare]

I don't care what kind of grass is in the fairway, as long as my ball lands on it.

[Hstead]

I love good bent. The clubhead flies through it compared to zoysia.

[tonster]

Fescue

[bwb]

[quote name='tonster' timestamp='1362078013' post='6521249']
Fescue
[/quote]

+1

[thatboygaule]

the best grass is green grass no matter the seed

[360_CS]

[quote name='thatboygaule' timestamp='1362091443' post='6522677']
the best grass is green grass no matter the seed
[/quote]

Exactly what I was thinking. Nothing worse than hitting of brown fairways with patches of dirt.

[SkyyDesigns]

Bent by far...especially when maintained well.

[Llortamaisey]

[quote name='Willie Malay' timestamp='1362066966' post='6520129']
I'd bet a lot of people have never played on Zoysia fairways. Quite awesome. It's like the ball is sitting on a miniature tee. If you can't hit a ball off it, you can't play.
[/quote]

Four words: driver off da deck.

[adamjstl]

It may depend on your location, as well as the caliber of courses you play. Most private courses have firm, fast fairways- whether it be bent or zoysia. Most of the public courses around here have shaggy, too tall Zoysia that offers little roll and stays wet far too often. If you go to a private club, though, it's firm and fast. My home course has abysmal fairways and tees (shaggy, soft Zoysia).

That being said, the best I've ever played on was bent at The Fort in Indianapolis. Firm, fast, and a surface that DEMANDS pure ballstriking.

[Rock Chalk Jayhawk]

I'm guessing very few of you have played Ryegrass fairways....

[J13]

My club we have Bent from tee to green. Super tight fairways which make you a better ball striker as a chunk is right around the corner if you don't catch ball first.

[dporto]

Silly poll - as most polls are (no I didn't vote)...A few posters alluded to the fact that it really should be "Favorite" fairway grass to hit off of, or something along those lines - I agree. That being said, there are many factors (soil type, geography, weather conditions, architectural philosophy etc.) that go into the decision of what type(s) of grass to use on a course - besides what players like to hit off of. Given all the right conditions just about any turf can be maintained in way that is more than suitable (i.e. firm and fast) for a faiway. Of course we'll always have favorites that suit our personal styles of play - that in no way means that those favorites are the "best"

[mikpga]

Zoysia great for all the sweepers of the ball!

[Mulligan26]

I've only played bent grass tee to green, so I like that the best?

[Willie Malay]

Zoysia....wet? Never run into that myself. Now Bent on the other hand...
Went to Spring Creek Ranch to play the day after a big downpour. We even though the course might be closed. The driving range hitting area was mostly under water. The fairways were nice and dry.

[teejaywhy]

[quote name='dporto' timestamp='1362147562' post='6525861']
there are many factors (soil type, geography, weather conditions, architectural philosophy etc.) that go into the decision of what type(s) of grass to use on a course ...
[/quote]

This ^

"Best" grass is dependent on locale and climate.

Here in the AZ desert, the turf is Bermuda, overseeded in the winter with rye. Both surfaces are fine for full shots however, Bermuda is rather "grabby," which makes chip and run shots very difficult to judge.

I enjoyed the all fescue surface at Chambers where the fairways flowed right into the greens and one could putt from 50 yards off the green.

[adamjstl]

[quote name='Willie Malay' timestamp='1362152930' post='6526761']
Zoysia....wet? Never run into that myself. Now Bent on the other hand...
Went to Spring Creek Ranch to play the day after a big downpour. We even though the course might be closed. The driving range hitting area was mostly under water. The fairways were nice and dry.
[/quote]

Not soaked by any means, but soft and spongy. It's common in St. Louis unless you want to pay $50 per round. Many of us better players have talked to the pro and the gm, and they just act like that's how things are going to stay.

[stlglfr]

Bent grass seems to be the most consistent grass and the feel coming off of it on a pure struck iron is second to none (luckily that's all there is here in Chicago). With that said, I grew up playing on bermuda and typically hate it but the bermuda in Florida and similar climates is superb, as opposed to the bermuda in KY where I grew up. It's not always apples to apples even with the same grass, IMO.

[GoStars]

My club in Dallas had 419 Bermuda fairways, zoysia approaches and collars, and bent greens.

I've played high quality Bermuda, zoysia, and bent fairways. Always preferred a firm Bermuda fairway with tighter turf. Zoysia is second. Nice thing about zoysia.. At least here is that it is built on a big sand base so it drains super well. The bent fairways I played on were in Michigan, and were a bit soft and shaggy.. That might have hurt my experience with bent FWs.

[One_Putt_Blunder]

[quote name='thatboygaule' timestamp='1362091443' post='6522677']
the best grass is green grass no matter the seed
[/quote]

I would disagree, playing on dormant bermuda is quite fun tons of roll no mud balls, Although I have not played it Bandon looks fantastic when the fescue is burnt out in the summer. The only downside is there is not much cushion if you are a digger.

I do enjoy the bermuda in the summer here in AZ as long as it has not been over watered

[BENNYSUPREME]

I'm going to have to say mowed grass is my favorite!

[BENNYSUPREME]

How about Paspalum?