Zoysiagrass event scheduled for GIS

Experts involved in the building of the Olympic Golf Course in Rio are participating in a zoysiagrass educational event from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday, Feb. 23 as part of the Golf Industry Show in San Antonio. In addition to meeting those involved in the building of the Olympic course, “The Zoysia as a Game Changer Tour” includes visits to a zoysiagrass breeding facility and the country’s first 100 percent zoysiagrass golf course as well as discussions with researchers.

Zoysia is low-maintenance, drought-tolerant turfgrass and new varieties accommodate every golf course playing surface, including greens. Bluejack National, a Tiger Woods design in suburban Houston, and Trinity Forest, a Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw design in suburban Dallas, are among the other high-profile projects using zoysiagrass.

The “Zoysia as a Game Changer Tour” will stop at Bladerunner Farms, the world’s largest independently owned zoysiagrass research center, and the Golf Club of Texas, the first golf course to be grassed with zoysia on every playing surface. Panelists from the Olympic Golf Course, which is grassed with Zeon Zoysia, include superintendent Neil Cleverly, David Doguet of Bladerunner Farms and sod producer Marcelo Matte. Atlanta Athletic Club director of golf courses and grounds Ken Mangum, retired Austin Golf Club superintendent Doug Petersan, golf course architect Roy Bechtol, Texas A&M’s Dr. Milt Engelke and Dr. Ambika Chandra, University of Georgia’s Dr. Brian Schwartz, Team Zoysia’s Arthur Milberger, The Turfgrass Group’s Bill Carraway and Don Roberts of Don Roberts International are also scheduled to speak during the event.

Registration for the event is open and GCSAA members earn 0.7 continuing education points for participating in the tour.