Turfgrass
Touring the turfgrass
A tour of the Washington State University turfgrass research farm with director and plant biologist Michael Neff.
Listen to this episode of the magazine podcast, Viewscapes, on November 15.
Read more about plant biosciences research in “Just a small thing making a big difference.”
Just a small thing making a big difference
Game changer
A small, brownish dry spot is visible on the ninth fairway at Palouse Ridge Golf Club.
Superintendent Mike Bednar is unbothered, which might seem a bit surprising given the course’s enviable reputation among national golfing groups.
“This is designed to play hard and fast,” says Bednar ’92, ’04, explaining Palouse Ridge needs to be a bit on the dry side to deliver the kind of gameplay challenge that’s kept it atop national rankings ever since its 2008 opening. “We’ve got an irrigation system that lets us water only when and where it’s necessary.”
The design isn’t just about gameplay, though.
As water becomes … » More …