Calling in champion.

PLEASANT VALLEY COUNTRY CLUB in Little Rock didn't plan on converting its bentgrass greens in 2009, but Mother Nature intervened. In October, the membership will be playing on 18 greens of CHAMPION ULTRA DWARF BERMUDAGRASS, which many top courses throughout the South are choosing for their putting surfaces.

The list of courses now with Champion in this region runs from MAUMELLE COUNTRY CLUB, which converted its bentgrass to Bermuda last summer, to TPC AT SOUTHWIND in Cordova, Tenn., which plays host annually to the PGA's St. Jude Classic.

"Champion is a heartier grass for when we have the most play," PVCC golf pro CHRIS MAYES said. "Bent is a weaker grass for when we have the most play."

Pleasant Valley's bentgrass gave out in early July to a fungus, pythium root rot, a problem that is common with bentgrass greens and requires extensive maintenance. But why Pleasant Valley suffered while other local courses with bentgrass did not is difficult to determine, Mayes said.

The chief theory is that May's excessive rain followed by three major tournaments on the greens in an overly hot June may have caused the fungus to take over. "We kept pushing, pushing and pushing. We probably could have used a break," Mayes said. "That's OK, and we're going through it. This was a big, big negative turned in to a positive turned into a great opportunity."

Pleasant Valley started using temporary greens on holes 1 through 18 beginning Aug. 4. Eight weeks is recommended for allowing the greens to fully mature; PVCC is giving it nine. Holes 19-27 will be replaced when the first 18 opens in October.

Bentgrass simply has too tough a time in these climes. Mayes described roughly June 15 to Sept. 15 as the "hoping to survive" time for courses in the South with bentgrass. Used to be, even Penncross bent was thought to be able to survive from a growth line at about Little Rock northward, though it struggled and required electric fans for circulation at some area courses. BEN CRENSHAW's design company came up with Crenshaw bentgrass, which could withstand warmer climes, allowing for bent at such courses at HARBOR OAKS in Pine Bluff. Still, the upkeep, including the cost of water, is enormous in the mid-summer.