The Many Benefits of the New Impressive Zoysia Grasses

Of course, having great grass on a golf course is essential to offer excellent golf experiences.

Choosing grasses that provide optimal year-round playing conditions is essential; the new Zoysia varieties present an excellent warm-season grass option. With the impressive hybrids available today, varieties like Zeon, Lazer, Prizm, and Stadium Zoysia are increasingly favored as the grass of choice at many top golf courses. Here are eight reasons to consider using this distinctive grass on your golf course.

IT’S A SUPERB PLAYING SURFACE 

The quality of the playing surface is paramount in golf. Zoysia grass provides a consistent and firm surface, enhancing ball roll and shot precision. Players often value the ideal “sitting on top of a brush” lie that Zoysia offers, which contributes to a more enjoyable and fair game. The leaves of Zoysia's green varieties emerge from the rhizomes at 90 degrees, eliminating the inherent graininess of Bermuda grass.

IT’S REMARKABLY HARDY

Zoysia grass is known for its impressive resilience and adaptability to a wide range of environmental conditions. It thrives in both warm and cool climates, making it a flexible choice for different regions. This type of grass shows strong tolerance to drought, heat, and cold, ensuring it stays healthy and green year-round.

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MINIMAL MAINTENANCE REQUIREMENTS

One key benefit of zoysia grass is its low maintenance needs. Its slow growth rate means it requires less mowing than other grass types—about 50% less than Bermudagrass varieties. Additionally, zoysia grass forms a dense mat that helps suppress weeds, reducing the need for herbicides and other weed-control methods. Its low nutrient requirements decrease fertilizer use, saving money and reducing environmental impact; zoysia can thrive on only 30% of the nitrogen needed for Bermudagrass.

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IT’S HIGHLY RESISTANT TO WEAR AND TEAR.

Golf courses experience significant foot traffic and mechanical stress from equipment. Zoysia grass is highly resistant to wear and tear, making it an ideal choice for fairways, tees, and greens. Its dense, resilient turf can withstand repeated use without significant damage, ensuring a smooth, consistent playing surface. Zoysia divots are about one-third the size of Bermuda grass divots and recover quickly from stems and rhizomes.

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ZOYSIA IS MORE SHADE TOLERANT  

Unlike other warm-season grasses, zoysia grass exhibits exceptional shade tolerance. This trait is especially useful for golf courses with tree-lined fairways or areas that receive limited sunlight. Zoysia grass can thrive in partial shade while maintaining its appearance and playability, even in less-than-ideal lighting conditions. For example, zoysia green varieties like Prizm and Lazer need only 50% of the sunlight that Bermuda varieties require.

IT NEEDS LESS WATER 

Water management is essential for maintaining golf courses, especially in drought-prone areas or regions with limited water supplies. Zoysia grass has a deep root system that allows it to draw moisture from lower soil layers, reducing the need for frequent watering. This water efficiency results in considerable cost savings and environmental benefits, helping golf courses conserve valuable water resources. Stadium zoysia eliminates the need for overseeding, lowering costs for water, seed, fertilizer, and mowing, and minimizing downtime during spring and fall transitions.

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ENHANCED AESTHETICS

Aesthetics are crucial to a golf course's overall appeal. Zoysia grass has a fine texture and maintains its color and density throughout the seasons, ensuring the course looks well-kept and attractive year-round. It also greens up sooner and stays green longer than Bermuda varieties.  

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YOU WILL MOW IT LESS OFTEN

Zoysia's lower nitrogen needs and reduced mowing frequency make it more environmentally friendly and cost-effective to maintain over time. Additionally, less mowing lessens the impact on players and reduces noise, creating a more enjoyable playing environment.

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THE THREE MOST POPULAR VARIETIES

There are three varieties you should consider.

1. Zeon Zoysia. Introduced in the late '90s, Zeon Zoysia has become the standard for fairways and tees. Its vibrant green color, shade tolerance, cold resistance, and low nitrogen requirements have made it a benchmark for quality.

2. Stadium Zoysia. Bladerunner Farms introduced Stadium two years ago. It is a newer type of fairway and tee grass with a dark green hue similar to ryegrass. It has slower vertical growth and better disease resistance, and has quickly become popular among top courses across the country.

3. Prizm Zoysia is a distinctive variety from Bladerunner that can be used “through the green.” Its fine texture makes it ideal for putting surfaces and allows for higher mowing on fairways. Prizm has cold, shade, and wear tolerances similar to those of other zoysia varieties, but it features a strong rhizome system. Additionally, it needs less coverage than ultra-dwarf types.

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