What Grass Is Used on Golf Courses in Australia?

Ever stand over a pure white golf ball nestled on a perfectly manicured green and wonder what kind of surface you're actually putting on? That impressive turf is a key part of the Australian golf experience, and it's no accident. Understanding the different types of grass used on courses across the country, from the fairways to the greens, unlocks a new level of course management and can absolutely help you shoot lower scores. This guide will walk you through the most common grasses you'll encounter on Australian golf courses and explain exactly how to adjust your game for each one.

Why the Type of Grass Matters to Your Game

As a golf coach, one of the first things I observe with any player is how they interact with the turf. The grass under your ball is far more than just green window dressing, it's the foundation of every shot you hit. It directly influences how the ball sits (its "lie"), how much spin you can generate, how the ball will roll on the green, and even the type of shot you should attempt.

A ball sitting perfectly on top of thick, lush grass begs for a crisp iron shot, while one hunkered down on a sparse, firm fairway requires a different technique to avoid a thinned-out result. A fluffy lie in the rough might produce a "flyer" that travels much further than expected, while a shot from sticky turf can grab your clubhead and come up short. Learning to "read the turf" is just as important as reading the green, and it's a skill that separates savvy players from the rest.

The Two Big Families: Warm-Season vs. Cool-Season Grass

Golf course grasses in Australia generally fall into two broad categories, dictated by the local climate. Think of it as the fundamental dividing line for turf.

• Warm-Season Grasses: These grasses, as the name suggests, thrive in the heat. They love sunshine and are common in most parts of Australia, especially Queensland, New South Wales, Western Australia, and South Australia. They can handle heat and drought but tend to go dormant and turn a brownish colour in the cooler winter months. The main players here are Couch and Kikuyu.
• Cool-Season Grasses: These prefer a more temperate climate. You'll find them predominantly in Victoria, Tasmania, and the cooler, elevated regions of NSW. They maintain their green colour year-round but can struggle under the intense heat and humidity of a northern summer. The star of this family is Bentgrass.

Most courses you play won't be just one type. Often, there’s a combination, with sturdier grasses on fairways and more delicate, specialised types reserved for the pure surfaces of the greens.

The Workhorses: Grasses on Australian Fairways and Tee Boxes

Tees and fairways take a beating, so they require tough, durable grasses that can repair themselves quickly. In Australia, you’ll most likely be playing off one of these two.

Couch Grass (Bermudagrass)

By far the most prevalent and popular warm-season turf for Australian fairways, Couch is a fantastic playing surface. It has a fine leaf blade and a very dense, horizontal growth habit. Modern hybrids like TifTuf have made it even more popular due to their amazing drought tolerance and hardiness.

How It Plays: Because its blades grow sideways, Couch grass provides a very tight, firm lie. The ball doesn't sit up high, it tends to nestle down onto the turf. This consistency is great, but it can be punishing on mishits.

Your Coaching Tip: To get the best out of a Couch fairway, you need to hit the ball first. A sweeping motion can lead to thin shots. Focus on a descending blow with your irons, compressing the ball against the turf before your club makes contact with the ground. Clean contact is everything. For chipping around Couch greens, you will often need to use the leading edge of your wedge rather than the bounce, as the firm turf won't allow the club to slide underneath as easily.

Kikuyu Grass

If you're playing golf anywhere near the coast or in a region with good rainfall, you’ve definitely encountered Kikuyu. It's an incredibly aggressive, lush, and fast-growing grass with a much thicker blade than Couch.

How It Plays: Kikuyu creates a soft, spongy surface. This is its defining characteristic. The ball will almost always sit up beautifully, looking like it's perched on a tee. This sounds perfect, but it comes with its own challenges. The grass is very grabby and surrounds the ball, which can lead to unpredictable shots, especially from the rough.

Your Coaching Tip: That perfect-looking lie can be a trap! Because of the lush grass cushioning the ball, you can easily get a "flyer" lie. This happens when grass gets between the clubface and the ball at impact, drastically reducing spin. The ball will come out hot, low, and run a lot - so consider taking one less club. When chipping from a fluffy Kikuyu lie, use a wedge with more bounce (the rounded sole of the club). The bounce will help the club glide through the spongy turf instead of digging in.

The Money Zone: Grasses on Australian Putting Greens

The putting green is where course superintendents truly showcase their art. The grass here is specialised, mown incredibly short, and requires intensive care. Your experience will change dramatically bases on which type you're playing.

Creeping Bentgrass

Bentgrass is the stuff of dreams for golfers and greenkeepers in cooler climates. You'll find these pristine surfaces on the world-famous courses of the Melbourne Sandbelt, across Tasmania, and in other temperate areas.

How It Plays: It’s considered the ultimate putting surface for a reason. Bentgrass has an upright, non-directional growth pattern and incredibly fine blades. This allows superintendents to mow it very low, creating a putting surface that is exceptionally dense, smooth, and true. What you see is generally what you get. Putts roll out consistently with very little influence from the grass itself.

Your Coaching Tip: Trust your read. On Bentgrass greens, the surface is so true that you can fully commit to the line you’ve chosen. Speed control becomes the absolute priority. Because the roll is so pure, subtle breaks can be quite deceptive. Pay close attention during your pre-round putting practice to get a feel for the day's speed.

Couch Grass (Ultradwarf Varieties)

In the warmer parts of Australia where Bentgrass wouldn't survive, advanced hybrid Couch grasses(like TifEagle or Ultradwarf) are used to create incredible putting surfaces. These are not the same as fairway Couch, they are highly refined to produce a dense, high-quality roll.

How It Plays: Couch greens present a unique and fascinating challenge for golfers: grain. Because Couch blades grow horizontally, they all tend to lay in a particular direction, often influenced by the setting sun, water drainage, or mowing patterns. This grain has a massive effect on your putts.

Your Coaching Tip: Learning to read grain is a game-changer on Couch greens.

• Look at the Color: If the grass looks shiny and lighter in color, you're putting with the grain. The putt will be extremely fast. If it looks dark and dull, you're putting into the grain, and the putt will be significantly slower.
• Check the Cup: Look at the edge of the hole. You’ll often see one side that looks ragged or worn - that’s the direction the grain is growing towards.
• Adjust Your Read: When putting with the grain (down-grain), your putt will pick up speed and break more. When putting against the grain (into-grain), the putt will be slow, and the break will be less pronounced. Always factor grain into both your speed and your line.

A Golfer's Quick Guide to Playing Different Grasses

Before your next round, take a moment to be a turf detective. It'll pay off.

1. Pre-Round Reconnaissance: Walk to the practice chipping area and green. What does the fairway cut feel like under your feet? Is it firm (likely Couch) or spongy (Kikuyu)? Drop a few balls. Do they sit up or settle down? On the practice green, look for the sheen of grain. Hit a few putts uphill and downhill to feel its effect on speed.

2. Adjusting from the Fairway: From tight Couch lies, position the ball slightly further back in your stance and focus on a "ball-first" strike. From fluffy Kikuyu lies, be wary of flyers with your irons and expect less spin.

3. Short Game Selection: From firm ground around Couch greens,a lower-bouncing wedge or even a "bump-and-run" with a 7 or 8-iron is often a safer play. From spongy Kikuyu, use your sand wedge or a high-bounce wedge to let the club slide through the thick turf without digging.

4. Own the Putting Green: On Bentgrass, focus entirely on pace and hitting your line. On a Couch green, reading the grain is your top priority - it will influence both your speed and break more than anything else.

Final Thoughts

Knowing whether you're about to play off Couch, Kikuyu, or Bentgrass is more than just trivia, it's vital information for your on-course strategy. By understanding how the ball reacts on these different surfaces, you can make smarter club selections and adjust your technique to fit the shot, taking the guesswork out of your game.

Of course, understanding the theory of how to play from a specific type of turf is one thing, executing the perfect shot from a tricky lie in the rough is another challenge altogether. For those a moments on the course when you're feeling stuck, I built Caddie AI to be your ever-present coach. You can get instant, expert advice for any situation - just describe your lie or even snap a photo of it, and I'll give you a simple, effective strategy so you can play your next shot with total confidence.