Hanoi, Vietnam: In North Vietnam, the Montaña Golf Project by Olazabal Design’s Toni Ortner stands as a compelling example of how innovative turfgrass selection and precise agronomic execution can elevate golf course quality in challenging climates.

A key contributor to this success has been the establishment of Mach 1 Ultradwarf Bermuda greens – delivering exceptional playability, resilience, and aesthetics that rival traditional cool-season surfaces.

This achievement was made possible through the collaboration and expertise of Jebsen & Jessen Turf and Irrigation and Atlas Turf International, whose combined knowledge and execution played a critical role in the successful delivery of the greens.

North Vietnam presents a unique set of environmental conditions for golf course management. With hot, humid summers and notably cool winter periods, maintaining consistent putting surfaces year-round can be particularly demanding.

While Bentgrass has traditionally been regarded as the benchmark for greens globally, its vulnerability to summer stress in this Southeast Asia region makes it a high-risk, high-input option.

In response, the project team – working alongside Jebsen & Jessen Turf and Irrigation and Atlas Turf – selected Mach 1 Ultradwarf Bermuda, a next-generation Ultradwarf specifically developed to push the boundaries of Bermudagrass performance.

One of the most remarkable aspects of the Montaña Golf Project was the timing of the grow-in phase. The Mach 1 greens were established during the coldest months of the year, with temperatures ranging from lows of 9°C to highs of just 18°C.

These conditions are widely considered outside the optimal range for Bermudagrass establishment. Despite this, the greens achieved successful coverage, density, and uniformity, demonstrating not only strong adaptability, but positioning Mach 1 as a cold-tolerant Ultradwarf Bermudagrass.

This outcome challenges traditional assumptions about Bermuda limitations and highlights its suitability for transition and cooler-edge climates.

The success of the Mach 1 greens was driven by meticulous planning and disciplined execution, led by Jebsen & Jessen Turf and Irrigation and supported by Atlas Turf International. In addition, Cameron Thompson, of Thompson Golf Management, provided initial agronomic support.

Key factors included:

• Optimised rootzone construction for drainage and oxygen exchange
• Strategic sprigging during marginal temperatures
• Tailored nutrition programmes to sustain growth under reduced metabolic activity
• Highly controlled irrigation practices
• Crucial key fertility applications

This level of agronomic precision ensured consistent establishment even under climatic constraints rarely associated with Bermudagrass success.

While Ultradwarf Bermudagrasses such as TifEagle, MiniVerde, and Champion have long set the standard for warm-season putting greens, Mach 1 represents a significant advancement beyond these legacy varieties.

Mach 1 distinguishes itself through several key performance advantages:

• Superior density and tighter canopy
• Mach 1 produces higher shoot density and more lateral stems than other Ultradwarf species, resulting in a smoother, more stable surface
• Finer leaf texture and enhanced uniformity
• Its finer leaf blade and shorter internode spacing create a cleaner, more refined surface with reduced grain interference
• More true ball roll with minimal grain effect
• Unlike many Ultradwarf species, Mach 1 exhibits little to no ‘swirling grain’, delivering consistent and predictable putting conditions
• Greater speed potential with flexibility in maintenance
• Mach 1 can achieve extremely high green speeds while maintaining plant health, even at slightly higher mowing heights
• Thicker stolons and aggressive lateral growth contribute to quicker grow-in and superior recovery from wear

These characteristics collectively position Mach 1 as a next-generation Ultradwarf Bermudagrass that outperforms traditional varieties in both playability and agronomic efficiency.

Mach 1 Ultradwarf Bermuda delivers a playing experience that meets – and often exceeds – the expectations associated with other Ultradwarfs and Bentgrass greens:

• Ultra-smooth, high-density surfaces
• Consistent, true ball roll at tournament speeds
• Excellent tolerance to low mowing heights
• Strong wear recovery under high traffic

Its ability to maintain these characteristics across varying climatic conditions makes it uniquely suited for modern golf course demands.

A defining success of the Montaña Golf Project is how closely Mach 1 greens replicate Bentgrass performance in both aesthetics and playability.

Developed by Certified Golf Course Superintendent Rod Lingle, an industry expert on Ultradwarfs, Mach 1 features fine texture, density, and purity that deliver unmatched putting conditions compared to other warm-season species.

Expert implementation by Jebsen & Jessen Turf and Irrigation ensured that this potential was fully realised on-site.

Beyond performance, Mach 1 Ultradwarf Bermuda supports long-term sustainability:

• Reduced water requirements
• Lower chemical inputs due to improved disease tolerance
• Enhanced resilience to both heat and cooler seasonal variation

These advantages contribute to lowering operating costs while maintaining elite playing conditions.

*Article contributed by Andre Gerber, Agronomy & Accounts Manager – Chemicals and Fertiliser, Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia, Jebsen & Jessen Technology.