The History of ‘Tif’ton Turf ‘Tif’ grasses, have become synonymous with sporting surfaces across the world. Grasses like Tifway, Tifdwarf, Tifton 419, TifEagle and more recently the highly awarded TifTuf. These grasses were all bred at the University of Georgia, Tifton in the USA, driving the moniker ‘Tif’. The University of Georgia has one of, if not the most highly successful turf breeding programs in the world. Turf research at the facility began in 1946 with the introduction of an annual grant provided by the United States Golf Association (USGA). The goal of
18 / THE HISTORY OF ‘TIF’TON TURF
the grant was to develop a better Bermuda (couch) grass to replace the sand greens and seeded Bermuda grass greens. In 1947 trials began using plugs taken from the best greens from several golf courses in the Southern area. These plugs were planted along with by-products of the existing pasture grass breeding program In addition, a seeded plot of common Bermuda grass was included. After 3 years of testing with golf green management, the common Bermuda grass that was planted from seed was the poorest performer in the test. The best grass was a hybrid created from a dense dwarf type and
a disease resistant selection originating in the pasture breeding program. This grass was released in 1952 and was known as Tiflawn. Unfortunately, it was later found to be too coarse for golf greens. Development didn’t stop there though, with a wave of new superior grasses developed over the following years - such as Tiffine with a finer softer leaf, a better puttinggreen grass named Tifgreen, leading into the introduction of Tifway in 1960. Tifway had superior green colour, frost tolerance, a denser profile and was more resistant to pests and diseases. Tifdwarf, a sterile triploid, was released in
