|
Distinguished Superintendent Thrilled With GN-1
CORONA, Calif. -- Dave Mastroleo, superintendent of the Trilogy at Glen Ivy in Corona, Calif., recently spoke about his enthusiasm for GN-1, the hybrid bermudagrass patented by the Greg Norman Turf Company.
Mastroleo is well respected in the golf course industry, and was recognized nationally by his peers when he was presented the Distinguished Service Award from the GCSAA in 1998.
A working golf course superintendent for over 50 years, Mastroleo's experience with turfgrass is legendary, and boasts a record setting 50 years of membership to the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America (GCSAA).
GN-1, an industry leader because of its rapid recovery, is unmatched as a turf for high-traffic athletic venues.
Since 1953, when Mastroleo began his career at Arrowhead Golf and Country Club in Wheaton, Ill., he has seen and heard it all about golf course turf varieties.
Mastroleo came to California in 1959 to run Fox Hills Golf and Country Club, and then spent 30 years caring for the famous Hillcrest Country Club in Los Angeles. When he had a chance to be a part of a new high-end course in Ventura County, he discovered a new turf variety called GN-1 that had been making appearances at some high profile venues.
"I was excited to grow in Tierra Rejada (in Moorpark, Calif.) using GN-1," said Mastroleo. "It had been gaining momentum as a premium turfgrass for the golf and athletic markets, because of it's quick green-up in spring, and lasting color going into winter.
"GN-1 was also aggressive enough to repair big divots and had an excellent blade texture. Over-seeding was also relatively trouble free with Greg Norman's turf."
Although Mastroleo left Tierra Rejada for The Trilogy at Glen Ivy, his assistant stayed on at Tierra Rejada, and Mastroleo visited his old course to consult on the yearly over-seeding, and was impressed with the continued performance of the grass.
In the mid 1990s, Norman introduced the turf to the United States after realizing its potential on Australian golf courses. It quickly became the standard by which other sports turfs are judged due to its dark green color, exceptional density and unrivaled ability to recover quickly from damage.
As a result, while it is still an exceptional choice for golf course fairways and tees, it is unmatched as a turf for high-traffic sports stadiums and athletic venues.
Established in 1995, Greg Norman Turf Company licenses proprietary turfgrasses for golf courses, athletic fields and home lawns. GNTC owns the exclusive rights for GN-1 hybrid bermudagrass, which has been its main product.
In addition to GN-1, Pacific Sod also carries Tifway 419 hybrid Bermuda, both of which are ideal for golf courses, athletic fields and home lawns because they are more resistant to cool season dormancy, and highly tolerant to heat, drought and high traffic.
| 
