Assessing fine fescue mixtures and plant growth regulator applications to determine their effect on traffic tolerance and divot recovery

Abstract

AbstractThere has been some transition to using low‐input fine fescues on golf courses, but these species have poor traffic tolerance and divot recovery, making them impractical for playable areas on golf courses. The objectives of this study were to determine the effect of the plant growth regulator (PGR) trinexapac‐ethyl on the performance of fine fescue mixtures when managed as a golf course fairway and to identify fine fescue mixtures that perform well under traffic stress. Twenty‐five mixtures were tested that combined ‘Treazure II’ chewings fescue (Festuca rubra L. ssp. commutata Gaudin), ‘Beacon’ hard fescue (Festuca brevipila Tracey), ‘Navigator II’ strong creeping red fescue (Festuca rubra L. ssp. rubra Gaudin), ‘Shoreline’ slender creeping red fescue [Festuca rubra L. ssp. littoralis (G. Mey.) Auquier], and ‘Quatro’ sheep fescue (Festuca ovina L.). Field experiments were conducted in St. Paul, MN, with PGR, mixture, and traffic treatments. The benefits of the PGR trinexapac‐ethyl on fine fescue fairway quality was relatively small compared with the benefits of traffic management and mixture selection. Hard fescue, slender creeping red fescue, strong creeping red fescue, and sheep fescue had the greatest impact on increasing visual turfgrass quality after traffic treatments. There was no significant difference in divot recovery with any mixtures, and no divots had recovered after 12 mo.