In 1997 the project will carry on all of the above research projects. Some description as to what aspects will be addressed are mentioned above and will not be duplicated here. The main focus of the project has now centered on production. We will be investigating methods of vegetative propagation in collaboration with a Pennsylvania bentgrass sod grower and will continue to identify and select strains that have potential for traditional seed production. In addition, we may expect to begin a new focus on the production of synthetic (or artificial) seed depending on the results this winter at the University of Guelph.

An additional project in 1997 will be the construction of a much larger experimental research green. We anticipate the completed construction of a 15,000 sq ft green by the end of spring '97. Although the project does not have enough of its own plant materials to cover such a large green, we plan to initially establish this green with cores collected from Oakmont CC this spring. This new research green facility will allow the project an opportunity to perform management research on close-cut Poa annua greens; in addition, to providing plot space for the eventual expansion of the selection trials in the future as this project grows and matures.