What Is Poa Annua on a Golf Course?
Poa Annua: Annual bluegrass — considered a weed on most courses, but the intentional putting surface at Pebble Beach and top West Coast tracks.
Poa Annua — full definition
Annual bluegrass (Poa annua) is a light-green, clumpy grass that produces visible seed heads in the afternoon, causing bumpy putting conditions late in the day. While considered a weed on most courses, Poa annua is the dominant and intentionally maintained putting surface at many prestigious West Coast courses, including Pebble Beach, Oakmont, and most courses in the Pacific Northwest. Found naturally throughout California, Oregon, Washington, and parts of the Northeast. Poa greens putt differently than bentgrass — they tend to be bumpier in the afternoon as seed heads emerge and require more aggressive putting strokes.
Poa Annua — frequently asked
Poa Annua — how does it play?
- Bumpier than bentgrass, especially in the afternoon as seed heads emerge
- Requires more aggressive putting strokes to hold the line
- Light-green, clumpy appearance
Poa Annua — where is it found?
- California, Oregon, Washington, and parts of the Northeast
- Famous courses: Pebble Beach, Oakmont, and most Pacific Northwest clubs
More on Poa Annua
Poa is a weed almost everywhere and the intentional putting surface on the West Coast.
- Golf courses in CaliforniaPoa greens up and down the coast, Pebble Beach included.
- Golf courses in OregonPacific Northwest poa, by design.
- BentgrassWhat poa is usually competing against.
Other grass types
Bermuda Grass
The dominant warm-season turf across the southern United States — dense, grainy, and affects ball roll.
Bentgrass
The preferred putting green grass in the northern U.S. — ultra-smooth, fast, and true-rolling.
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.