Highlands is such a unique environment. The reasons why we all love it, also are the reasons why we are constantly battling this issue on the golf course. I'm specifically referring to the Creeping Bentgrass (CBG) contamination that occurs in newly sodded roughs. There is nothing more frustrating than watching brand new Kentucky Bluegrass (KBG) or Tall Fescue (TF) sod become inundated with spotty looking CBG- by the way, that is the same species of grass growing on our fairways. The reason this occurs is because our climate is so conducive to CBG growth. Before I go farther, you must first understand that CBG commences growth long before KBG, in the Spring. It also thrives in damp, wet conditions better than KBG. If we lived in a more "normal" cool season climate, the CBG would never be able to get established in the rough, because it would check out long before it had a chance to take over.
As the temperatures starts to steadily warm in March, the Bentgrass growing in the rough has about a three to four week head start over the desired turf, KBG. This is a time of year when we lose a lot of ground. It continues in the summer, especially during the times the turf is very wet. After 4-5 seasons of these conditions, the once pristine KBG rough is now predominately CBG.
You might be asking yourself, why do we keep resodding rough if this is going to be the case? Why not just leave the CBG and manage it? It is a valid question.
First, maintaining CBG is far more expensive than that of KBG. Fungicides are required on a three week interval to prevent dollar spot and other fungal diseases that don't impact KBG. This is a big ticket commitment due to the cost of fungicides and the labor associated with the applications.
Second, CBG doesn't offer the same definition and contrast between the different playing surfaces. Greens always look nice when they are framed with the deep green color of KBG.
Third and most importantly, when we get into drought conditions like we currently are, CBG will thin out and die much faster than KBG. Getting irrigation water to wilted CBG areas in the rough is a job that requires 4-5 workers with hoses every afternoon. It's near impossible to keep up with. The photo above, an out of play area on the first hole, is a prime example of how CBG will perform in hot, dry conditions.
For these reasons, it is important we continue spending resources to replace sod in highly visible areas and areas that are in play.