Fine Fescues Place In Golf

Fine fescues have many desirable characteristics, most importantly their tolerance to shade and drought conditions. Being drought tolerant it is assumed that a fescue fairway could be drier, thus creating a playing surface that is more firm than a bentgrass fairway. It seems fescues would benefit both the superintendent with cutting down irrigation and the golfer with some added distance.

From a management perspective fine fescues need a well drained soil.
With the compaction from everyday play and cart traffic this can be difficult. This wet soil will create an environment for annual bluegrass or even creeping bentgrass to infiltrate and ward off the fescues. With the proper cultivation practices the compaction can be prevented. Restricting cart traffic to cart paths only is another option that would reduce compaction greatly.

Across the Atlantic in Great Britain fine fescues are common on fairways as well as greens. There are fescues that can be cut to recommended low of 1 inch in height. This may be a little high for the preferred fairway height but is playable none the less. The influence of greens committees and golfers may be too strong in the United States where lush green conditions are expected. Sustaining a fescue fairway with dry conditions may not be the aesthetic look that American golfers are looking for. With people becoming more environmentally conscious, the future is leading to more strict regulations on chemical applications for golf courses. Golfers are one day going to realize that sacrificing the look of the lush green turf does not mean sacrificing the quality of play.