A-4 Creeping Bentgrass

A-4 creeping bentgrass is specifically cultivated for use on high-end golf course putting greens. Developed at Pennsylvania State University in the 1990s, it provides an exceptionally fine texture and dense mat for smooth ball roll.

While A-4 offers excellent performance on putting greens, it can be susceptible to heat stress and disease in humid, transitional climates during the summer. It requires careful management, including precise syringing and fungicide applications, to survive intense heat waves.

To maintain the putting green speeds that golfers expect, A-4 creeping bentgrass is typically mown to an incredibly low height of around 0.125 inches or lower. This low mowing height is possible due to its dense, upright growth habit.

While they share the same lineage from Pennsylvania State University's breeding program in the 1990s, "Penn A-4" specifically refers to the certified cultivar released by Dr. Duane Funk. They share the fine texture and high-density characteristics required for elite putting greens.