Cool Season Grass Development with PGG Wrightson & Scott Roberts - The Greenprint 30

It's an agronomy based episode of The Greenprint, and Leighton Walker is joined by Scott Roberts, Course Manager at Hindhead Golf Club in the UK, alongside Mark Shaw and Will Bowden from PGG Wrightson Seeds in New Zealand. Together they explore the fascinating world of cool-season turfgrasses, uncovering the science, research and long-term planning that underpin the playing surfaces golfers often take for granted. There's also a strong emphasis on how these grasses effect playability of Golf Courses

The conversation begins with an introduction to PGG Wrightson Seeds and their role within DLF, one of the world's largest seed companies. Mark and Will explain how New Zealand has become a global centre for turfgrass breeding, particularly for colonial browntop, and discuss how genetics collected from golf courses and natural environments are used to develop new cultivars capable of meeting the demands of modern golf.

Scott shares his journey through the greenkeeping profession, including his involvement in the complete redevelopment of Basingstoke Golf Club before moving to Hindhead. His experience provides valuable insight into the practical challenges of selecting grass species during construction projects and balancing performance, maintenance requirements and golfer expectations.

A major theme throughout the episode is the complexity of turfgrass breeding. Mark and Will explain that developing a new cultivar can take more than a decade, from identifying promising parent plants and carrying out controlled crosses through to years of evaluation, seed multiplication and commercial production. They discuss the constant challenge of improving turf quality while simultaneously increasing resilience to drought, disease and wear.

The group also examines the differences between creeping bentgrass, colonial browntop and fine fescues, discussing the strengths and weaknesses of each species. While creeping bentgrass offers exceptional playing quality and recovery, browntop and fescues often require fewer inputs and can provide greater sustainability in the right environment. The discussion highlights that there is rarely a universal solution, with successful grass selection depending heavily on climate, soil conditions, maintenance budgets and the overall vision for the golf course.

Sustainability features heavily in the conversation as the panel explores the impact of declining pesticide availability, increasing pressure on water resources and changing climatic conditions. The guests explain how breeding programmes are increasingly focused on disease resistance and drought tolerance, helping golf courses adapt to future challenges while maintaining acceptable standards of play. They also discuss examples from Europe and New Zealand where golf courses are operating with significantly reduced chemical inputs, providing a glimpse into the future direction of turf management.

The episode concludes with a discussion around the importance of collaboration between breeders, architects, agronomists and course managers. Through examples including Tara Iti, Te Arai Links, Jack's Point and Royal Melbourne, the guests demonstrate how early involvement in the design process can help ensure the right grass species and cultivars are selected to deliver both exceptional playing conditions and long-term sustainability.

This episode offers a fascinating look behind the scenes of turfgrass development and highlights the crucial role that genetics will play in shaping the future of golf course management. It also sets the stage for the next instalment in the series, which will focus on warm-season grasses, including Bermuda and Zoysia, and their growing relevance in an increasingly unpredictable climate.

Hindhead Golf Club

PGG Wrightson

Will Bowden

Mark Shaw

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