Divot Resistance Varies Among Bermudagrass and Zoysiagrass Cultivars.

Divots created by a golf stroke are a natural occurrence on golf courses and the resistance of turf to divot injury is an important factor that should be considered when selecting a turfgrass species or cultivar.  Therefore, the primary objective of this experiment was to quantify the divot resistance for various bermudagrass [Cynodon spp. (L.) Rich.] and zoysiagrass (Zoysia spp. Willd.) cultivars in a field experiment, with a secondary objective to compare evaluation methods for quantifying divot resistance.  This study was conducted at the Arkansas Agricultural Research and Extension Center in Fayetteville, AR, and completed after two collection dates in 2009 and one collection date in 2010.  Divot resistance was evaluated using divot type, severity and volume as well as a Turfgrass Shear Tester to determine the divot resistance of five cultivars of bermudagrass and seven cultivars of zoysiagrass.  ‘Riviera’ bermudagrass had the largest volume divots (41 cm³).  The cultivars with the smallest volume divots (<20 cm³) were ‘Cavalier’, ‘Diamond’, and ‘Zorro’ zoysiagrass.  Zoysia matrella (L.) Merr. consistently demonstrated greater divot resistance than Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers.  The four methods for evaluating divot resistance provided similar findings for divot resistance for the cultivars and species tested, but a visual severity rating and a Turfgrass Shear Tester were the fastest and least variable methods for collecting data.  These results provide researchers methods for evaluating divot resistance and will allow golf course superintendents to better select cultivars and species that will improve playing conditions and decrease divot injury.