| Celebration Field Day Highlights Research Results and Success Stories (August 2006) |
The first annual FSGC Field Day for Celebration™ Bermudagrass was held June 23rd at Celebration Sod and Turf in Ruskin, Florida. In attendance were members of the Sun Coast Golf Course Superintendents Association, directors of nearby parks and recreation departments and city officials, as well as several turf producers from Florida, Georgia and Texas. The day’s program included the latest university research results and testimonial success stories for Celebration that is in use on golf courses and in residential developments sports fields.
Following a farm tour, which included instruction on post harvesting techniques for maximum regrowth in minimum time, attendees gathered for a BBQ luncheon and presentation from keynote speaker, Chip Powell, founder of Powell Golf Design.
Mr. Powell has been using Celebration in his designs for the last six years, and has completed more than fifty golf course design projects since 1991. Powell shared ten reasons why landscape professionals should feel very comfortable in specifying Celebration for their sport, golf or residential projects.
Ten Reasons to Specify Celebration Bermudagrass
1. Mow-ability
Celebration can be mowed with a reel or rotary mower; it can be maintained at variable mowing heights and as low as .200 inches.
Celebration can be mowed with a reel or rotary mower; it can be maintained at variable mowing heights and as low as .200 inches.
2. Cold Tolerance
Celebration is performing wonderfully on golf courses as far north as Illinois.
Celebration is performing wonderfully on golf courses as far north as Illinois.
3. Shade Tolerance
Rated #1 by Clemson University in a shade study, Celebration has been documented to maintain acceptable turfgrass quality under 58% shade.
Rated #1 by Clemson University in a shade study, Celebration has been documented to maintain acceptable turfgrass quality under 58% shade.
4. Deep Dark Green Color without Excessive Inputs
One of Celebration’s hallmark features is its standout blue-green color, which can be achieved with fewer inputs than most other bermudagrass cultivars.
One of Celebration’s hallmark features is its standout blue-green color, which can be achieved with fewer inputs than most other bermudagrass cultivars.
5. Rapid Establishment
Celebration has been documented to establish from sprig to playable surface in 100 days, or 60 days sooner than 419.
Celebration has been documented to establish from sprig to playable surface in 100 days, or 60 days sooner than 419.
6. Renovation Market
No one stands to benefit more from the aesthetic and regenerative qualities of Celebration than those that renovate their golf courses and sports fields with this improved bermudagrass.
No one stands to benefit more from the aesthetic and regenerative qualities of Celebration than those that renovate their golf courses and sports fields with this improved bermudagrass.
7. Rapid Recovery from Injury
Rated #1 by North Carolina State University in a study simulating athletic foot traffic, Celebration achieved the greatest recovery from injury than seven other bermudagrass cultivars.
Rated #1 by North Carolina State University in a study simulating athletic foot traffic, Celebration achieved the greatest recovery from injury than seven other bermudagrass cultivars.
8. Drought Tolerance and Drought Resistance
Clemson University found that Celebration exhibited better ratings for drought tolerance and drought resistance than five other bermudagrass cultivars.
Clemson University found that Celebration exhibited better ratings for drought tolerance and drought resistance than five other bermudagrass cultivars.
9. Nematode Tolerance
Side by side observations of 419 and Celebration at Kings Point Golf Course (WCI Communities, Sun City Center) demonstrate that the 419 had higher pathogenic nematode population counts and exhibited more damage; Celebration, on the other hand, exhibited a resistance to high populations of pathogenic nematodes and displayed acceptable turfgrass quality.
Side by side observations of 419 and Celebration at Kings Point Golf Course (WCI Communities, Sun City Center) demonstrate that the 419 had higher pathogenic nematode population counts and exhibited more damage; Celebration, on the other hand, exhibited a resistance to high populations of pathogenic nematodes and displayed acceptable turfgrass quality.
10. Over-Seeding Transition
With the aggressive growth habit of Celebration, groundskeepers need not worry about the unsightly spring transition from ryegrass overseeding.
With the aggressive growth habit of Celebration, groundskeepers need not worry about the unsightly spring transition from ryegrass overseeding.
Each year the Celebration Field Day will rotate to a different region in the state; next year’s event will be held in southeast Florida. Celebration Bermudagrass is exclusively available from select FSGC members through a joint release program between the FSGC and Sod Solutions, Inc. For more information, including where to buy, visit sodsolutions.com.
EMPIRE Turf featured on ABC's Good Morning America.
