Warm-Season Grasses: The Future of Sustainable Golf?? - Episode 32

Guests: Brad Burgess (Sports Turf Solutions) & Ryan McKuhen (Blade Runner Farms)

In the second episode of our mini-series exploring the evolution of golf course turfgrasses, Leighton Walker shifts the focus from cool-season species to the exciting world of warm-season grasses.

Joined by Brad Burgess, founder of Sports Turf Solutions, and Ryan McKuhen, President of Blade Runner Farms, the conversation explores how decades of research and development are transforming the way golf courses are built, maintained and experienced through the turf that it's played on.

The episode examines the evolution of modern Zoysia grasses, how they compare with traditional Bermuda and Paspalum varieties, and why many architects, owners and agronomists now see them as one of the biggest advances in golf course sustainability. Brad shares his experience introducing warm-season grasses across Asia, while Ryan explains the years of research and breeding behind Blade Runner Farms' latest turfgrass innovations.

Using Miakka Golf Club in Florida as a real-world case study, the discussion highlights how these new grass varieties are helping create firmer, faster playing surfaces while dramatically reducing water consumption, maintenance inputs and long-term operating costs. The conversation also explores how these grasses are giving golf course architects greater design freedom, allowing more creative shaping without increasing maintenance demands.

Looking ahead, Brad and Ryan discuss the future of warm-season turfgrasses, from improved drought and salt tolerance to even lower maintenance varieties, and explain why many believe they will play a vital role in making golf more sustainable for generations to come.

Whether you're a golf course architect, superintendent, club manager or simply fascinated by golf course design and agronomy, this episode offers a fascinating insight into one of the most significant developments shaping the future of golf.

https://www.bladerunnerfarms.com/

https://sportsturfsolutions.com/

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