Hancock Turfgrass Research Center

A Pioneering Turfgrass Program 

For more than 70 years, Michigan State University’s turfgrass management program has delivered cutting-edge research, providing practical solutions for turfgrass professionals and end-users alike. From golf, soccer, football, baseball, to racetracks and green spaces across the worldthe turfgrass research team at Michigan State has played an integral role in advancing natural grass playing surfaces at every level of sport and perhaps even in your own backyard. Our turfgrass program is rich in history and tradition, with research contributions supporting two FIFA World Cups, the Athens and Beijing Olympic Games, and the renovations of major PGA tournament venues, including Oakland Hills CC, Medinah Country Club, and Philadelphia Country Club. 

The Hancock Turfgrass Research Center (HTRC), which broke ground in 1979, is a premier turfgrass research facility encompassing 56 acres of cool-season turfgrass species managed as high- and low-input home, sports, and golf course systems. The center boasts a fully equipped on-site laboratory, the latest in 21st century turf management technologies, and a state-of-the-art computerized Toro® and RainBird® irrigation systems that services approximately 90% of the grounds. To drive innovation and accommodate emerging projects, approximately 3-acres of research space are renovated annually. The HTRC also serves as a living laboratory enabling practical learning as part of the historic teaching program. 

The HTRC is centrally located on campus and serves as a hub for collaboration across Michigan's green industry. It hosts numerous groups and events throughout the year, including meetings of the Michigan Turfgrass Foundation governing board, AgBio Research, the Michigan Golf Course Superintendents Association, and the Michigan Sports Field Managers Association. The facility is also an ideal venue for industry education; in 2024 alone, it supported field days and training events for the Golf Association of Michigan, the Michigan Sod Growers Association, the Golf Course Superintendent Association of America, and the Annual Michigan State University-Michigan Turfgrass Foundation Turfgrass Field Day.

Hancock Turfgrass Research Center 4444 Farm Lane Lansing, MI 48910