Excellence describes the bentgrass varieties developed and released through the Pennsylvania State University Agricultural Experiment Station. Careful breeding and seed production are evident in the continuing success of creeping bentgrass, the 40-plus year standard for putting greens. Many years of research and evaluation were required to produce seed that would yield uniform, disease resistant greens to perform predictably around the world. In the absence of variety protection laws for consumer protection at that time, Penncross was the first public grass variety to be limited to the first generation of seed production. The official Penn State University release stated: "Penncross creeping bentgrass is the first generation seed only, produced by random crossing of three vegetatively propagated bent strains...

Following abuses in the late 1960's through sales of various types of bentgrass seed as 'uncertified' Penncross, and lack of enforcement by Federal Seed Control officials, Penncross was made a proprietary (private) variety. Through a formal agreement, since 1971, Penn State University only authorizes the Penncross Bentgrass Growers Association of Oregon to receive breeder stolen planting stock for production of commercial seed. Furthermore, the association may use the variety name, Penncross, on certified seed only. The preceding steps were taken to assure consumers of certified varietal integrity. So-called 'Penncross' seed produced by unauthorized growers or other methods is fraudulent.

Penneagle and PennLinks, developed in the Penn State program by Dr. Joe Duich, are covered under the Plant Variety Protection Act, and have certification requirements much higher than other bentgrass varieties. The immediate acceptance of Penneagle and PennLinks by turf professionals strongly reflects the outstanding reputation of the Penn State breeding program and the continuing effort towards quality control. Penncross, Penneagle, PennLinks, Penn A-1,Penn A-2, Penn A-4, Penn G-1, Penn G-2, Penn G-6, and Seaside II bentgrass cultivars may only be sold as certified seed.

Newer, improved experimental varieties are being evaluated at Penn State's Joseph Valentine Turfgrass Research Center and by golf course superintendents in various climatological areas. When these new cultivars are released, they will be sold only as named, certified varieties, and will raise the standard of putting green grasses to a new level.