What Is Bentgrass on a Golf Course?
Bentgrass: The preferred putting green grass in the northern U.S. — ultra-smooth, fast, and true-rolling.
Bentgrass — full definition
The preferred putting green grass on courses in the northern United States and transition zone. Bentgrass (Agrostis stolonifera) produces an ultra-smooth, fine-bladed surface that can be mowed extremely low — as short as 0.100 inches on tournament greens. This creates fast, true-rolling putting surfaces with minimal grain. Common varieties include Penn A-1, A-4, and Penncross. Found across the Northeast, Midwest, Pacific Northwest, and at elevation in cooler mountain courses. Bentgrass struggles in extreme heat and humidity, making it expensive to maintain in the transition zone (Virginia, Tennessee, Kentucky, Missouri).
Bentgrass — frequently asked
Bentgrass — how does it play?
- Ultra-smooth, fine-bladed surface with minimal grain
- Can be mowed as short as 0.100 inches on tournament greens
- Creates fast, true-rolling putting surfaces
Bentgrass — where is it found?
- Northeast, Midwest, Pacific Northwest, and cooler mountain courses
- Struggles in extreme heat and humidity
- Expensive to maintain in the transition zone (Virginia, Tennessee, Kentucky, Missouri)
Which bentgrass varieties do golf courses use?
- Penn A-1, A-4, and Penncross
More on Bentgrass
Bentgrass follows the climate line — north of it, the greens are usually bent.
- Golf courses in MichiganPrime bentgrass country — cool summers, sandy soil, bent greens.
- Golf courses in New YorkNortheast courses, mostly bent greens.
- Poa annuaThe grass that invades bentgrass greens, and sometimes wins.
Other grass types
Bermuda Grass
The dominant warm-season turf across the southern United States — dense, grainy, and affects ball roll.
Poa Annua
Annual bluegrass — considered a weed on most courses, but the intentional putting surface at Pebble Beach and top West Coast tracks.
Zoysia
A warm-season grass popular in the transition zone — handles both heat and cold better than alternatives.
Ryegrass
A cool-season grass used as permanent turf in the north and as winter overseed in the south.
Paspalum
A salt-tolerant warm-season grass for coastal and island courses — can survive ocean spray and brackish water.
Fescue
A cool-season grass family — fine fescue creates the iconic golden links-style rough, tall fescue is used on fairways.
Kentucky Bluegrass
The backbone of northern fairway turf — dense, self-healing, and provides clean lies.
Overseeding
Spreading cool-season grass seed over dormant bermuda in fall to keep courses green through winter.