Cypress Lakes Golf & Country Club: A Hunter Valley Icon
Nestled in the heart of Pokolbin’s wine country, Cypress Lakes Golf & Country Club stands as one of Australia’s premier golf destinations. This 18-hole championship course, ranked among the nation's Top 100, offers a dynamic layout featuring Bent grass and Poa annua greens, and predominantly Couch grass fairways, that challenges and rewards players of all levels. Under the stewardship of superintendent Josh Willard, who has several years of leadership experience after previously serving as 2IC, the course continues to evolve in both quality and reputation.
Cypress Lakes has played host to marquee events such as the TPS Hunter Valley, part of the ISPS HANDA PGA Tour of Australasia, drawing professional talent and spectators alike to its scenic fairways framed by the Broken Back Mountain range. With its blend of technical design, natural beauty, and resort-style amenities, Cypress Lakes is more than a golf course; it is a destination.
In 2022, Cypress Lakes was selected as a research and development trial site for Pylex Herbicide, a cutting-edge solution from BASF designed to selectively control warm-season grasses and broadleaf weeds in cool-season turf. Pylex operates as a Group 27 herbicide, disrupting photosynthesis in target weeds through HPPD enzyme inhibition. This mode of action results in rapid bleaching and dieback of invasive species such as Couch grass, Kikuyu and buffalo grass, while preserving the integrity of Bent grass greens.
Prior to the trial commencement in 2022, Couch grass had become a significant issue on several greens, with infestation levels exceeding 40% and compromising both playability and turf aesthetics. Following the successful trials and launch of Pylex in 2023, superintendent Willard confirms Pylex was adopted as a core component of the club’s annual treatment strategy, and it has been used consistently ever since. The simplicity of Pylex’s application process made it a seamless integration into their existing turf management program.
3rd Green (Pylex Herbicide - whole green treatment)
16th Green (Pylex Herbicide - perimeter green treatment)
More recently, while Couch grass has been the primary target, Pylex has also demonstrated outstanding control of Kikuyu and Summer Grass, which had emerged in isolated patches. “After the first application, the results spoke for themselves,” Willard noted.
Furthermore, Willard also mentioned “The removal of invasive grasses had minimal impact on playing conditions, even following significant Couch removal. This affirmed both the effectiveness and turf safety of Pylex.” Cypress Lakes continues to restore its greens to cool-season turf dominance using Pylex Herbicide each season, without resorting to disruptive mechanical methods.
Cypress Lakes Golf Club's green surfaces spring 2025
Superintendents like Willard have embraced Pylex as a core component of their autumn and spring turf programs, reporting consistently impressive results. Its unmatched selectivity has revolutionised greens management, allowing for precise control of invasive encroaching grasses without compromising desirable turf species. By streamlining application and reducing the need for intensive labour, Pylex has optimised both time and resources, making it a game-changing addition to modern turf care strategies.
Find out more about Pylex in our STEWARDSHIP HUB and speak to your local distributors to source the solutions or contact our BASF Turf & Ornamental solutions team directly here to learn about our pipeline of innovation.