The Hyde Park Golf and Country Club Grounds Department: Greener Days Ahead: Zoysia’s Slow Wake-Up

As we move deeper into spring, signs of green are slowly returning to the Zoysia fairways. While it’s always exciting to see the course come back to life, it’s important to remember that Zoysia breaks dormancy gradually and on its own schedule.
Zoysia is a warm-season grass that typically greens up in mid to late April, though in cooler years it may wait until early May. Once active, it thrives in our hot Cincinnati summers, delivering the dense, resilient fairways HP is known for.

Zoysia’s transition from dormancy depends on soil temperature, air temperature, and day length. Until those cues line up consistently, the grass remains mostly inactive.
Before allowing scattered cart traffic, we aim to complete:
• One full mowing
• A surface rolling
These steps smooth the turf, stimulate early growth, and prepare it to handle wear from play.

File Photo- Rolling of the Fairways

Cart Traffic During Dormancy

While Zoysia is dormant, it has very limited recovery ability. Cart traffic during this period—especially when conditions are wet—can cause lasting injury to the turf.
To help protect the course:
• Cart access to fairways is restricted until the turf is actively growing and soil conditions are dry.
• Never drive or park carts in the rough, regardless of conditions.
• Check the rooster book, golf shop, or cart signage daily for updates on cart rules.

Pat O’Brien
Grounds Superintendent