2016 Olympic Golf Course to use same turfgrass as Cordillera Ranch

Photo: Cordillera Ranch

What do Cordillera Ranch, in the heart of the Texas Hill Country, and Rio de Janeiro, on the coast of tropical Brazil, have in common? A revolutionary golf course turf grass known as Zeon Zoysia, as it turns out.

Opened in 2006, the Jack Nicklaus Signature course just north of San Antonio was one of the first layouts in Texas to feature the drought-tolerant strand. Zeon Zoysia will also be used for fairways, rough and tees on the Gil Hanse-designed course used in the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro.

Both courses are supplied by Bladerunner Farms in Poteet, Texas, owned by turfgrass expert David Doguet. Zeon Zoysia was developed by Doguet, and Bladerunner is the largest privately held zoysia breeding facility in the world.

“Our members love it because the ball sits up on it like a tee,” says Cordillera Ranch Director of Agronomy, Mark Semms. “It is the most playable fairway turf on the market because of its blade density. We have Zeon Zoysia on our tees, fairways and practice range, and it is a perfect complement to our A-5 bentgrass greens and Bermuda rough.”

One of those resident-members happens to be PGA TOUR player Jimmy Walker, winner of the Frys.com Open and currently No. 1 in the TOUR’s FedExCup Standings. Walker was attracted to the tournament-caliber Nicklaus Signature Course, ranked No. 5 in the state by the Dallas Morning News, as well as the TOUR-level practice facilities turfed with Zeon Zoysia.

“Zeon Zoysia is a world-class playing surface that provides superior lies, excellent feedback on ball-striking, and excels in stressful conditions brought on by extreme drought and heat,” says Walker. “The Olympic Committee made an excellent decision to use it in Rio and the players are going to love it.”

Last spring at a Valero corporate instruction clinic, Hall-of-Fame golfer Greg Norman hit a 3-wood directly off the grass on Cordillera Ranch’s practice tee. He turned around and remarked to the audience, “Wow, that zoysia is phenomenal.”

But having favorable lies is only an ancillary benefit of Zeon Zoysia, says Semm.

“We selected the grass because it assimilates perfectly to the climate of this region,” he adds. “It uses between 30 and 40 percent less water and fertilizer, is drought tolerant and able to persevere through extreme conditions.”

The turf’s protection against cold weather and long periods without water is dormancy. Normally a translucent green, Zeon Zoysia will “dim out” to a muted green and ultimately, light brown. It only takes a few consecutive days over 75 degrees, however, to restore it to its native grandeur.

PGA, LPGA and European Tour players encounter nearly every type of turf during the season – bentgrass, Bermuda, fescue and even the invasive Poa annua. Due to its limited growing range, however, zoysia grasses aren’t as prevalent at tour venues.

“Most of them have played on it at some point, but not necessarily Zeon,” says Semm. “They are going to be pleasantly surprised and with the lies they’ll get, it will only make the best players in the world even better.”

Zeon has the same effect on members’ games. But the grass’s dormant periods require an explanation, up front.

“There’s an educational process with new members, but once we explain the environmental and playing benefits, they get it quick,” says Semm. “Eventually, they get spoiled and don’t even want to play on Bermuda fairways anymore.”

Walker couldn’t agree more.

“We’ve been to the most premier golf courses in the country and we just marvel at what an amazing facility that Cordillera is,” says Walker. “There’s nothing like it in the country.”

To explore more of Cordillera Ranch, visit www.cordilleraranch.com.