Naples, Fla. - Turf Ecosystems expanded the availability of its Platinum TE turfgrass with the licensing of two new prestigious domestic U.S. growers: Green Acres Turf Farm of Furman, S.C. and Pike Creek Turf Farm of Adel, Ga. Originally available in limited supply during October 2007, this newly patented seashore paspalum turfgrass (U. S. Patent PP19224, September 16, 2008) offers superior appearance, playability and maintenance benefits for golf courses, sports venues, and other grassed areas.
Platinum TE features a dark green color and fine texture, along with wear and traffic resistance. Designed to help address important environmental challenges, Platinum TE thrives in drought conditions, while still being shade tolerant and disease resistant.
“Our farm is located near the coast where water quality, quantity and salt water intrusion are problems,” says Gary Youmans, co-owner of Green Acres Turf Farm with his brother Alex Youmans. “Platinum TE will offer this market a paspalum turfgrass worthy of championship play with the number one overall rating for turfgrass traits. The outstanding color and positive agronomic traits of Platinum TE, as well as the ability to use it from tee to green, made the choice to grow Platinum TE a logical decision.”
Pike Creek Turf chose Platinum TE for similar reasons.
“We wanted to improve our ability to respond to market demands in tee-to-green varieties,” says Jimmy Allen, owner of Pike Creek Turf. “Our customers benefit from reduced contamination issues with grasses that require only one variety on the entire course. Plus, Platinum TE provides an attractive deep green color.”
Located in the low country of South Carolina, Green Acres Turf Farm plans to grow approximately 40 acres of Platinum TE, then increase the acreage as needed to meet demand. With more than 1,600 acres of turfgrass produced on its farm, the company provides a variety of premium turfgrasses to customers throughout South Carolina and parts of Georgia and North Carolina.
“Now our customers will benefit from having access to a local source of Platinum TE to go along with our other outstanding turf varieties,” Youmans says. “We’ll be able to offer fresh local deliveries in large or small quantities of sod and sprigs in a timely manner, which makes the decision for our customers to select Platinum TE an easy one.”
Pike Creek Turf is located in Adel, Georgia, and has more than 2,400 acres of turf in production. The company plans to initially grow 25 acres of Platinum TE. The addition of Platinum TE is in keeping with Pike Creek’s commitment to deliver a wide variety of high quality turf products to golf course architects, developers, superintendents and contractors throughout the Southeastern United States.
“We are thrilled to have Pike Creek and Green Acres on board as new premium licensees of Platinum TE,” said Turf Ecosystems Vice President Ron R. Duncan, PhD. “The addition of these two new elite turfgrass producers makes Platinum TE even more accessible to U.S. golf courses and sports venues that are looking for true excellence in performance and maintenance benefits.”
Through scientific research, Turf Ecosystems develops new turfgrass cultivars and offers comprehensive and science-based management programs for site-specific environmental challenges and grass performance expectations. Under the experienced direction of its vice president, Ron R. Duncan, PhD, the Florida-based company offers a full range of turfgrass and irrigation water quality management services, including new cultivar development; site assessment; treatment and long-term environmental sustainability strategies for recreational turfgrass; management of seashore paspalum installations; and general consulting for turfgrass and irrigation issues.
Turf Ecosystems' focus on global environmental stewardship has led to the effective ecosystem management of alternative irrigation sources for recreational turfgrass, including recycled or reclaimed water, stormwater, brackish water and blended water containing variable salinity levels.
A former professor of Crop and Soil Sciences at the University of Georgia, Duncan is developing revolutionary turfgrass cultivars at Turf Ecosystems, including Platinum TE. This paspalum turfgrass offers golf courses and other sports venues unparalleled playability and cosmetic appearance.
For more information about Turf Ecosystems and Platinum TE, visit www.turfecosystems.com, call 830-431-0204 or send an e-mail to rduncan@turfecosystems.com.