7/28/2022 12:07 PM
in reply to
Jason Baker
Jason,
I managed Meyer zoysia fairways and tees + tested a few different varieties in the southeast for over 30 years. I am in my 6th year of retirement so I may not be up on all the latest but I am not aware of any new seeded zoysia varieties.
I have seen Zenith on a golf course fairways in Kentucky. Quality wise it is somewhat more open than Meyer zoysia and perhaps slightly broader bladed. I do not think it would make a good tee grass. In my experience with zoysia grasses, I have yet to test one as drought tolerant as bermuda. I would think a grass that required less water would be really important in your area.
I think sodding tees is 1,000 times better than seeding them. It is likely to take more than one growing season for seeded bermuda or zoysia to form rhizomes that can come back from divots. Also I am not aware of a seeded bermuda with texture nearly as good as some of the hybrid bermudas that can be mowed short.
Tahoma 31 is quickly becoming the bermuda of choice in the middle and upper parts of the southeast. It can be mowed as low as 1/4 inch and still have great texture and density. In the NTEP trials it was one of the top 2 as far as drought tolerance. I don't know where you are in Arizona so cold tolerance may not be an issue for you but it is the most colder tolerant bermuda on the market today. I looked it up and West Coast Turf says they grow it so you should be able to get it in your area.
Hope this helps,
David Stone