Danang, Vietnam: Ba Na Hills Golf Club has earned a host of distinctions in its first year. Opened in March 2016, Ba Na Hills has stood apart from the beginning as the first signature golf course design by former world number one professional golfer Luke Donald.
Ba Na Hills provides a challenging golf experience amid beautiful scenery. Donald has described the site as having ‘good elevation change and incredible existing natural features including large trees, streams and mountain backdrops’.
IMG, who currently manages Ba Na Hills, was also intricately involved in its development and the selection of the turfgrass. MiniVerde Ultra-Dwarf Bermudagrass is the greens turfgrass with Celebration Bermudagrass featured on the rest of the course. Aesthetics and performance both played significant roles in the turfgrass selection.
Celebration’s ‘green colour was darker than all other species and varieties of turf’, according to Chris May, Regional Director of Agronomy for Asia Pacific, IMG, an Executive Member of the Asian Golf Industry Federation.
“We believed Celebration would hold its dark green colour through the winter months, and it did. The area’s cloud coverage and rainy conditions also contributed to the selection. Celebration handled low-light periods better than other varieties of Bermuda,” said May.
As for the greens, leaf texture proved important. May added: “We were looking for a variety that was finer than TifEagle at equal heights of cut and MiniVerde certainly appeared finer. Finer leaf blades generally produce a smoother and truer ball roll.”
The turfgrass does its part in making Ba Na Hills a unique course worthy of the acclaim it’s received. Jon Tomlinson, IMG’s Senior Director of Operations for Asia Pacific, says the course is ‘destined to become one of the finest in Asia’.
The article "Turfgrass Selection Takes Root at Danang Club" was originally published on http://www.agif.asia/2017/07/turfgrass-selection-takes-root-danang-club/
