About Us

Mach 1 Ultradwarf Bermudagrass was developed by Rod Lingle, CGCS, a golf course superintendent for more than 40 years, and originator of The Lingle System of ultradwarf bermudagrass management. Lingle, widely recognized for his expertise, has been honored by the Tennessee Turfgrass Association and is a frequent lecturer on ultradwarf issues for the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America, among others.

In 1998, Lingle discovered Mach 1 on a segregated patch of grass in the Mid-South, United States. The grass caught his attention because of its fine texture, dwarf growth habit, and deep green color. He collected one single sprig comprising a short lateral stem with multiple nodes, that was then planted in a one-gallon pot with sterilized soil and transferred to his research facility in Olive Branch, Mississippi, to begin expansion. All expansion was performed from the growth of this original sprig. It was then further cut into individual sprigs and planted in 2 gallon pots on cement slabs and later in a greenhouse. This was then propagated into a 1500 sq. ft. growth area and managed under golf course conditions at very close mowing to confirm the purity of the grass. Lingle studied the grass for a decade before taking it to full-scale testing from 2008 to 2015.

In 2018, Lingle enlisted the expertise of Hank Kerfoot and his team at Modern Turf, a highly respected sod farm and sprigging service based in Rembert, South Carolina, that specializes in certified, high-quality turfgrasses for the golf and sports turf industries. Lingle transferred some of his original breeder’s stock to Modern Turf’s greenhouse where it was expanded into plug trays and ultimately planted into fumigated fields for sprig production. While Modern Turf focuses on domestic production and sales of Mach 1, longtime business associate John Holmes and the team at Atlas Turf International distribute the grass for international golf course projects worldwide.