Tahoma 31 Bermudagrass: Elevating Golf Course Playability at Lookout Mountain Club

The historic Lookout Mountain Club, originally designed by legendary architect Seth Raynor, recently underwent a major restoration to revitalize its classic design. Facing challenges due to its high elevation (1,730 feet) and cold climate, the club sought a turfgrass solution that could enhance playability and aesthetics.

Director of Grounds, Gary Guilloz, selected Tahoma 31 Bermudagrass for tees, approaches, bunker surrounds, and collars due to its exceptional cold tolerance. This choice extended the playing season by approximately 60 days, allowing for earlier spring green-up and later fall dormancy.

Faster Grow-In

Legacy Turf Farms in Northwest Georgia delivered the harvested sod to the project on Lookout Mountain. Guilloz says the grass had the best chance to establish roots in the bare dirt because of the freshness of the sod.

“What really matters for establishment is getting healthy grass. That is something that Legacy Turf Farms did an outstanding job with. By the delivery, we had good grass to work with. It helped shorten the time to get it established with roots to be able to sustain itself. That definitely makes guys on our side of the business happy. It makes our lives a lot easier.

“It took half the time to get roots established. When you put sod down, you’ll do a pull test to see if the roots are taking. We were mowing sodded areas very close to the end height of cut within a week-to-10 days, and starting to cut the water back substantially. From a playability standpoint, and from a labor standpoint, it just really helps on the golf course if the grass comes in healthy and ready to go.”

Key Benefits of Tahoma 31 Highlighted at Lookout Mountain:

• Extended Playing Season: Its superior cold tolerance enables play during shoulder seasons such as early spring and late fall, previously hindered by early dormancy. As Guilloz states, “Because Tahoma 31 stays green longer than 419, we feel it allows us 60 more days of good performance.”
• Enhanced Aesthetics: Tahoma 31 maintains a lush, green appearance for a longer period compared to other Bermudagrass varieties.
• Superior Playability: It allows for low mowing heights, creating firm, fast conditions and aesthetically defined tees. Guilloz emphasizes, “The Tahoma 31, the role that it ended up playing in our finished product, is that we’re able to mow it below half-an-inch and create the firm, fast conditions that we want to have around our greens to promote the bump and run shots.¹
• Drought Tolerance: It uses less water than other Bermuda grasses, demonstrating resilience in challenging conditions.
• Efficient Grow-In: Healthy sod from Legacy Turf Farms in Cartersville, Georgia led to rapid root establishment, minimizing downtime and labor.
• Improved PGR Response: Allows for the efficient use of plant growth regulators with less bronzing.

The successful renovation, recognized as Golf Digest’s 2023 Renovation of the Year, underscores Tahoma 31’s ability to thrive in demanding environments, delivering exceptional playability and visual appeal. This project showcases the grass’s suitability for regions with challenging climates, making it an excellent choice for golf courses seeking to maximize their playing season and turf performance.

1 The full article can be found at tahoma31.com.