Asolo Golf Club Converts to Bermudagrass with ProSelect Rio

For Nicolò Stocco, Superintendent at Asolo Golf Club in northern Italy, the decision to move away from cool-season grasses was based on years of practical experience. Having previously worked with warm-season turf at Golf della Montecchia, near Padua, Nicolò understood the advantages Bermudagrass could offer, particularly as periods of drought, disease pressure and the cost of maintaining cool-season grasses continued to increase.

Eight years ago, he oversaw the conversion of an entire hole at Asolo, including the fairway and tees, using Bermudagrass established from living plant material rather than seed, a method known as sprigging. The results were encouraging, and the converted hole remains one of the best on the course today. However, the high cost of sprigging made a larger conversion difficult to justify.

The development of high-quality seeded Bermudagrass cultivars offered a more economical alternative, prompting Nicolò to revisit the project.

Why Asolo chose ProSelect Rio

In 2025, Nicolò trialed ICL’s ProSelect Rio, a Bermudagrass cultivar combining strong seedling vigor, fine leaf texture and dense growth. Although sown relatively late in August, the trial produced promising results. Rio is also treated with ICL’s Smart Start technology, designed to support germination and early establishment.

For Nicolò, selecting the right variety meant balancing agronomic performance, visual quality and establishment costs. Disease tolerance was an important consideration, alongside the ability to produce an attractive, uniform playing surface.

“Rio impressed us with its visual quality, texture and color, as well as its competitive cost compared with other varieties available on the market.”

Encouraged by the trial, Asolo committed to converting its first complete course in 2026. The existing turf was allowed to dry out in late May before undergoing deep scarification and seedbed preparation. Rio was then sown in early June, giving it the opportunity to establish during the main Bermudagrass growing season.

With summer temperatures reaching 30–35°C, growing conditions were favorable. Light, frequent irrigation kept the seed consistently moist during germination. Approximately 20–30 days after emergence, Nicolò introduced fertilization and mowing to encourage lateral growth and accelerate turf coverage.

The difference between the previous year’s late trial and sowing at the optimum time was immediately apparent.

“This year we managed to sow at the beginning of June and the result was spectacular. The turf established extremely well and the final appearance is truly excellent.”

Improved turf quality and lower establishment costs

Weed management was one of the challenges during establishment, with weed presence initially estimated at around 50%. However, as Rio developed and weed control measures were implemented, this fell to approximately 10%. By October, Rio accounted for around 90% of the ground coverage, producing a much more uniform playing surface.

ProSelect Rio Bermudagrass established on the fairways at Asolo Golf Club, Italy.

Previously, the fairways contained a mixture of turfgrass species and weeds, resulting in inconsistent growth and appearance. With Rio established, Nicolò has been particularly impressed by its fine leaf texture, rich color and turf density.

“Previously there was a bit of everything: turfgrass, weeds and different species. Today the fairway appears much more uniform.”

The improvement has also attracted attention beyond Asolo. Players have responded positively to the new surfaces, while turf professionals from other golf clubs have visited to see the results firsthand, with some now considering a similar approach at their own facilities.

The improvement in turf quality has also come at a lower establishment cost. Nicola estimates that converting a course through traditional sprigging would have cost approximately €60,000, compared with around €25,000 for the 2026 conversion using Rio.

For a club managing 27 holes, the economics of seeded establishment have helped make a much larger conversion project achievable.

While the initial results have been extremely positive, Nicolò recognizes that assessing long-term performance will take time. Spring green-up following the first winter will be an important test, while the effects on irrigation, disease management and ongoing maintenance will become clearer over subsequent seasons.

The confidence to convert all 27 holes

The results achieved during the first growing season have nevertheless been convincing enough for Asolo Golf Club to commit to the next stages of the project.

The club plans to convert its second course in 2027 and complete the third in 2028, ultimately establishing Bermudagrass across the fairways, tees and approaches of all 27 holes.

Nicolò Stocco and ICL’s Giacomo Defanti inspect the ProSelect Rio Bermudagrass fairway at Asolo Golf Club.

Throughout the project, Nicolò has worked closely with Giacomo Defanti, Area Sales Manager at ICL, who provided technical guidance and support from the initial variety selection through to establishment. For Nicola, having that expertise available was an important part of making such a significant commitment.

“With ICL, you feel that you have a partner. Giacomo supported us continuously, helped us evaluate our options, and gave us confidence throughout the entire process.”

For Nicolò, the decision to proceed with the remaining courses is perhaps the clearest indication of his confidence in Rio.

“We started with a trial, and today we are planning the complete conversion of all 27 holes. For us, this is the clearest indication that choosing Rio was the right decision.”