Introduced in the summer of 2023, Johnsons Sports Seed’s innovative hard fescue J Sustain-Fairway mixture is already proving its mettle at the historic Prestwick Golf Club, the birthplace of The Open Championship. This sustainable blend, praised for its quick germination and adaptability to the undulating links course, has earned accolades from Prestwick for its role in fortifying their fairways against future challenges.
Dave Edmondson, Prestwick’s Head Greenkeeper, describes his approach as a guardian of the venue’s rich golfing history, following the traditional greenkeeping principles. “We don’t use any pesticides, fungicides, hardly any fertilisers, and very limited water,” says Dave. Seeking ways to enhance hard fescue and sheep fescue populations, he discovered Johnsons J Sustain-Fairway through consultations with the golf course consultant.
Designed for golf clubs aiming to boost resilient varieties, J Sustain-Fairway from DLF provides a foundation of quality and strength with increased tolerance to various turf stresses. Dave explains, “A chat with my DLF Technical Manager Stuart Yarwood made it clear that this mix would tick a lot of boxes, so we opted for this for our main annual fairway overseed.”
Sown at a rate of 7g/m2 in early September, the germination process took just over two weeks, and the seedlings are now thriving under Dave’s meticulous care. He notes the positive results, especially on the natural undulations of Prestwick, where certain species had previously struggled. Additional sowings of J Sustain-Fairway on the hilltops are contributing to the success.
“The hard and sheeps fescue like a nice, settled environment, and that’s exactly what we can give them,” says Dave. By building populations with top-rated cultivars, Prestwick aims to better withstand environmental challenges and secure the course’s future. The J Sustain-Fairway mixture aligns with Prestwick’s commitment to low-input and links conditions, showcasing its potential for sustainable turf management in prestigious golf courses.