A panel of experts, including several of those involved in the construction of the recently-completed Olympic course in Rio de Janeiro, will host an educational event during the forthcoming Golf Industry Show in San Antonio. The event is intended to promote the use of zoysia grass, which has been planted in Rio.

The event, entitled ‘Zoysia as a Game Changer’ will be held on Monday 23 February and will include tours of the world’s largest independently owned zoysia breeding facility and the US’s first entirely zoysia-grassed golf course. Registration for the event is now open and GCSAA members earn 0.7 education points for attending.

At the Golf Club of Texas, which will reopen in the spring after a renovation that has seen zoysia used for greens, fairways and roughs, architect Roy Bechtol and course co-owner (and Zeon Zoysia breeder) David Doguet will describe the reasons for their choices. Retiring Atlanta Athletic Club superintendent Ken Mangum will also present on his experiences of hosting major professional events on the grass.

The Olympic course panel will include course superintendent Neil Cleverly and turf producer Marcelo Matte, as well as Doguet, whose Bladerunner Farms facility developed the strain of zoysia used in Rio. The event will also feature a tour of Bladerunner Farms, where top US turf experts will discuss the grass.

Registration for the event is open now at the GCSAA website at a cost of US$95.