Ever stood over a 140-yard approach shot in Thailand and felt as if you’ve done everything right, only to watch your ball hit the green and behave in a way you didn’t expect? If you’re playing on the lovely emerald-colored carpets that are prevalent in the Land of Smiles, there is a high chance you’re dealing with Seashore Paspalum. It’s the darling of tropical course architects everywhere, but for the bewildered golfer, it can be something of a puzzle.
Unlike the wiry Bermuda or Bentgrass you might be accustomed to back home, Paspalum has a distinct and quirky individuality. If you want to stop scratching your head and start sticking pins, you have to understand the physics behind this salt-tolerant turf.
The Velcro Effect on Your Ball Flight
The first thing that will strike you about Paspalum is its incredible color, which is a deep, neon green that practically looks painted on. But beneath that beauty lies a dense, waxy leaf structure. Unlike Bermuda, which has a very distinct grain that can pull your ball in different directions, Paspalum is largely non-directional. What it lacks in grain, however, Paspalum more than makes up for with friction.
Yet when your ball is sitting on a Paspalum fairway, it often sits up beautifully, almost as if it’s on a tiny tee. That might be great for confidence, but the grass’s waxy nature can actually reduce the amount of backspin you create if you don’t make crisp contact. Because the grass is so thick, even a touch-heavy strike allows those waxy blades to get between the clubface and the ball, acting like a lubricant that kills spin.
For those planning a visit to experience these conditions firsthand, SawadeeGolf Thailand offers information on packages that can get you onto the country’s most iconic Paspalum-filled courses, such as the Thai Country Club or the coastal offerings of the beautiful island of Phuket. The difference between a birdie look and a scramble is knowing the turf before heading to the greens.
Why Your Stop and Check Might Just Hop and Go
On a normal course of action, we might expect the ball to strike and then hip or hop once and check up. On a Paspalum green, however, the greens are slightly more plush as a way of maintaining health during this hot season, and the ball reacts differently.
Since Paspalum is a high-moisture grass, the surfaces can be a little spongy in comparison to the hard, fire-breathing greens of the US Open. In fact, research done by the Asian Turfgrass Center has shown that unless these greens are delicately maintained through top dressing with sand, they can even become sticky.
This, in turn, implies that your descending, spinning wedge shot might dig into the grass too soon, thereby losing speed and potentially finishing short of the cup. On the other hand, if you use short, high trajectories and smaller amounts of spin, the grass may absorb the momentum of the ball, leading to almost zero roll.
Pro Tip: In Thailand, the aerial approach is usually the safest bet. Bumping and running in the Paspalum grass is a recipe for disaster, as the thick Paspalum blades will grab your ball like Velcro.
Adjusting Your Wedge Game for Tropical Humidity
Humidity levels, for example, not only affect the shirts worn but also the density of the turf. On a humid afternoon, the Paspalum is thicker in Bangkok or Pattaya.
To counter this, many pros advise you to narrow your strike. As the ball is out of the grass and sitting up, there is no need to take a big divot. In fact, taking a big divot on Paspalum turf is a bad idea. It is so strong that it will start to slow the speed of your club before you even start to hit the ball. It is almost a clip as opposed to a thump.
Keep in mind the following:
- Club Selection: Consider taking one extra club and swinging at 80%. This helps you maintain a shallow path and ensures the clean contact needed to keep the spin rates predictable.
- The Landing Zone: Aim for the fat part of the green. Because Paspalum can be less predictable with rollout, trying to fly the ball all the way to a tucked pin is high-risk.
Consistency is King
One of the things you have to love about Paspalum is that, unlike some courses where you’ve got different grasses in the tee areas, fairway, and the green, in Thailand, in particular, many courses have Paspalum wall-to-wall. This means the same feeling under your feet from the time you leave the cart, through hitting your ball, right through to lining up your par putt.
Even though it takes an adjustment period, most people grow to love it. The ball simply sits up so well that it gives the golfer the confidence to be aggressive or go for it. One caveat is that you must respect the stickiness, avoid the heavy miss, and trust your carry distance over the rollout.
Final Thoughts on Mastering the Thai Turf
Playing golf in Thailand is a sensory experience, and that’s because of the lush feeling of the Paspalum, which is so beautiful to look at, and at the same time, there’s a level of precision that has to take place to make sure that you make an approach shot to the green.
Ever notice the way your wedges behave when you’re playing on tropical turf? It’s a learning curve, but unravel the code and the fairways of Thailand become your best friend.
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