Rutgers turfgrasses hold a strong presence at the 2016 PGA Championship

By Golfdom Staff| August 1, 2016 0 Comments

Baltusrol Golf Club, located in Springfield Township, N.J., played host to this year’s PGA Championship Tournament. The tournament was played on the historic Lower Course at Baltusrol, which is significantly composed of turfgrasses developed at Rutgers University. Due to Rutgers’ cool-season location in New Jersey, they are in a prime spot to grow and test turfgrass. They provide their grasses to some of the most important venues in the world, including World Cup soccer stadiums, Super Bowls and famous U.S. locations, including the White House.

Mark D. Kuhns, the Baltusrol Golf Club’s director of grounds, told Rutgers Today that he believes that the university has the finest research team in the country, and is impressed by how they are always looking for better varieties and grasses. According to Kuhns, they perform well for golfers, and Rutgers strives to develop grasses that resist disease, insects, heat and drought stress.

Kuhns also shared with Rutgers Today that the main turf that the Upper and Lower Baltusrol courses contain is Rutgers’ L-93 creeping bentgrass, mainly found on the tee boxes and fairways throughout the course. Kuhns hopes that this turf will be incorporated on to the greens in the near future.

The club has continuously been recognized for its consistency when it comes to its conditions and field quality. The Lower Course has been ranked in Golf Digest’s “America’s Top 100 greatest Courses” since 1966, and currently sits at number 41 on the latest list.

To read the full story on the turfgrasses bred at Rutgers, click here.