Riptide creeping bentgrass establishes at Trentham Golf Club, UK

At Trentham Golf Club in Stoke-on-Trent, England, Course Manager Ed Stant wanted a newly rebuilt short-game green to establish quickly while maintaining consistency with the club’s existing putting surfaces.

Following advice from STRI Agronomist Paul Woodham, the team combined cores taken from the club’s 18 greens with overseeding using ICL Riptide creeping bentgrass (Agrostis stolonifera).

Establishing a new short-game green

Rather than relying solely on turfing or conventional seeding, the club used material already present within its established greens as the basis for the new surface.

“Having taken the decision to rebuild the short game green in March we sought advice from our STRI Agronomist Paul Woodham,” said Ed. “Rather than turfing or seeding, we took cores from the 18 course greens during greens maintenance before deciding to over-seed with ICL’s creeping bent Riptide.

“We are really pleased with the result; the cores have meant the green was in play quickly and matches the course greens. Riptide has established nicely into the sward and is improving daily.”

Using cores helped the new green retain characteristics of the existing putting surfaces, while Riptide was introduced to establish creeping bentgrass within the developing turf.

Trentham Riptide

Establishing Riptide within the existing turf

Riptide is a fine-leaved creeping bentgrass selected for golf greens and other closely mown turf. Its ability to establish and spread through stolon growth makes it suitable for both new establishment and overseeding programs where turf managers want to increase the proportion of creeping bentgrass within a surface.

At Trentham, Ed was able to see this development within the first few months.

“Over the past 3 months Riptide has filled in beautifully and is really starting to come into its own,” continued Ed. “During early morning dew you can see the creeping bent beginning to outcompete the Poa dominated cores and establishing well.”

The observation is particularly relevant to overseeding programs. Successful introduction of creeping bentgrass depends not simply on germination, but on the new plants establishing within an existing, competitive turf population.

Why Riptide was chosen

Riptide combines high shoot density with a relatively upright, low-growing growth habit and good establishment characteristics.

Its mid-green color was also well suited to Trentham’s existing putting surfaces, helping the newly introduced creeping bentgrass integrate visually with the established turf.

These characteristics make Riptide an option for turf managers looking to introduce creeping bentgrass through overseeding as well as for the establishment of new putting surfaces.

At Trentham, the combination of existing cores and Riptide delivered the result Ed was looking for.

“Good advice, good product and competitively priced – I would have no hesitation in recommending Riptide,” concluded Ed.

About Riptide creeping bentgrass

Riptide is an ICL ProSelect creeping bentgrass (Agrostis stolonifera) cultivar for golf greens. It can be used as a straight cultivar for new establishment or overseeding where the objective is to introduce or increase creeping bentgrass within the turf.