He invented a groundbreaking grass. But his golf impact didn’t end there

If there’s one thing more exciting than watching grass grow, it’s applying what you learn from those observations to grow better turf.

Rodney Lingle has enjoyed both pursuits.

Lingle, 74, the former longtime superintendent at Memphis (Tenn.) Country Club, spent decades studying bermudagrass, identifying strengths and weaknesses of different strains and pinpointing their mutations while tinkering with cultivars of his own. His exhaustive work inspired an industry-wide movement focused on fine-tuning playing conditions for countless golfers and golf courses around the country, and ultimately led Lingle to a groundbreaking achievement: his development of Mach 1, a high-performance and resilient ultradwarf bermuda that he brought to full-scale testing in 2015 and which has since taken root on greens ranging from such noted Southeast properties as Streamsong, Atlanta Athletic Club and Pinehurst Resort to courses in Arizona, Hawaii and beyond.

Lingle patented Mach 1, which is not his only legally protected invention. In 2008, he began prototyping an innovative greens-mowing brush system, which he later licensed to Toro. The product, which Lingle designed to help grass blades stand up straighter, remains popular on the market today as the Greens Perfection Brush.

For all his influence on turf maintenance, Lingle made an even greater impact as a mentor, helping guide and nurture the careers of countless superintendents. Turning his vast volumes of knowledge into an open book, Lingle shared his expertise with colleagues at turf management workshops at Memphis CC, where he also hosted hundreds of superintendents, introducing them to his novel turf-care techniques. 

In recognition of those lasting contributions to the trade, Lingle has now received the agronomic equivalent of an Oscar. On Wednesday, he was given the 2025 USGA Green Section Award, which has been presented annually since 1961 and honors distinguished service to golf through an individual’s work with turf.

“Everyone in golf needs to know the name of Rod Lingle — and follow his example,” Mike Whan, CEO of the USGA, said in a written statement that accompanied the award announcement. “Rod has shaped careers, changed the way we think about golf course maintenance, and has never been satisfied with the status quo. But there isn’t a greater legacy you can leave than to be counted as a revered teacher and friend.”

Like many superintendents, Lingle got into golf agronomy through his love of golf. A Mississippi native, he played competitively in high school, and recreationally while studying at the University of Mississippi. At the outset of his college education, Lingle was a liberal arts major. But while contemplating his future career options, he caught wind of a turf-science program at Mississippi State: a pragmatic avenue into a life in golf.

Never mind the fearsome rivalry between the schools — “They were like oil and water,” Lingle says — the opportunity was too good to resist. Lingle transferred to the enemy campus. He never looked back.

After landing his first job in the field at Hattiesburg Country Club, in 1974, Lingle signed on as a superintendent Memphis CC, a role he held for 37 years before moving on to Escondido Golf and Lake Club, in Texas. 

Since retiring two years ago, Lingle has gotten back to playing golf, a hobby that fell largely by the wayside while he tended to golf courses. Last year, at 73, he shot his age on several occasions. He has also remained active as a turf-care consultant, keeping his hand in a career that always felt more like a calling than a duty.

“I’ve always enjoyed being outdoors and staying productive,” Lingle says. “I loved it so much, it never really even seemed like work.”