Utah State University Announces Collaboration with U.S. Golf Association

Turfgrass management for golf courses is big business. Improving salinity tolerance of cool-season turfgrass is the aim of a three-year collaborative study with Utah State University sponsored by the U.S. Golf Association (USGA). This is the latest in a series of sponsored research projects with the USGA since 1998.

“This agreement between the U.S. Golf Association and Utah State University is one of several sponsored projects that have come through the Commercial Enterprises office in recent months,” said Robert T. Behunin, vice president for commercialization and regional development. “We are very excited to develop this collaborative effort with the USGA.”

Paul Johnson, an associate professor in Plants, Soils and Climate at USU, principal investigator, is collaborating with Shaun Bushman, a research geneticist at USDA-ARS Forage and Range Research Lab on this sponsored research project.

USU Commercial Enterprises will work with the USGA, Johnson, Bushman and research staff to protect intellectual property that results from this study. Commercialization efforts, where appropriate, are also an option.

“This sponsored research project fits well within the land-grant research mission of Utah State University by supporting USU’s goals for commercialization to benefit the university and the state of Utah,” said Behunin. 

The goal of the sponsored project is two-fold: to enable a better understanding of the genetic and physiological control of salinity tolerance in Kentucky bluegrass and perennial ryegrass, and to explore and improve turf quality in alkaligrass, a species with good salinity tolerance but poor turfgrass quality.

Johnson specializes in turfgrass genetics and management. His current research focuses on turfgrass management, including organic systems and the development of stress tolerant and sustainable turfgrasses. Bushman’s specialties are genomic research of perennial grasses.

The USGA conducts the U.S. Open, U.S. Women’s Open and U.S. Senior Open, as well as 10 national amateur championships, two state team championships and international matches. Together with The R&A, the USGA governs the game worldwide, jointly administering the Rules of Golf, Rules of Amateur Status, Equipment Standards and World Amateur Golf Rankings. The USGA’s working jurisdiction comprises the United States, its territories and Mexico. The USGA is a global leader in the development and support of sustainable golf course management practices. Since 1920, the USGA has supported more than $40 million for turfgrass research at land grant universities in the United States. It serves as a primary steward for the game’s history and funds an ongoing “For the Good of the Game” charitable giving program. Additionally, the USGA’s Course Rating and Handicap systems are used on six continents in more than 50 countries. For more information about the USGA, visit its website.

Utah State University Commercial Enterprises works closely with academic and industry partners to develop new technologies by “spinning in” business innovation opportunities. Commercial Enterprises is committed to protecting USU’s intellectual property and developing relevant, practical technologies with industry. The unification of the commercial efforts at Utah State University and emphasis on research and commercialization outreach expands USU’s land-grant profile and mission for the economic good of the state. With USU regional campuses or extension offices in 28 of Utah’s 29 counties, Commercial Enterprises collaborates with industry networks and governments to leverage university resources to expand opportunities for USU and its partners that will lead to economic sustainability, new capital and job creation, increased tax and royalty revenue and a value-added industrial base. For more information, see the  Commercial Enterprises website. 

Contact and Writer: Jacoba Poppleton, 435-797-9608, Jacoba.poppleton@usu.edu