A problem among homeowners today is wasting water in scheduling irrigation. As the demand for potable water and competition for freshwater resources continue to increase, over-watering creates public negative criticism to where turf is often viewed as a water-wasting component of a residential landscape. Homeowners usually irrigate on a calendar-based schedule (daily, every other day, etc…), however this often results in applying more water than necessary since the schedule is usually set at a frequency that is only appropriate for weather conditions associated with maximum water usage. This method of irrigating is inefficient because it does not take into account variable weather conditions (temperature, solar radiation, wind, and humidity) which affect turf water usage. One strategy to improve irrigation efficiency is irrigating according to local, site-specific evapotranspiration (ET) data. Deficit irrigation scheduling is where less water is applied than the water that is lost by the turfgrass according to potential ET (ETp). This method of irrigation scheduling could potentially result in a reduction of turf quality depending on the deficit, or ETp replacement level. Cool-season turfgrasses are highly desirable for home-lawn use in the transition zone and throughout temperate climates because of their ability to remain green throughout the year; additionally new cultivars of Poa pratensis (L.) [KBG] and Festuca arundinacea (Schreb.) [TF] have been identified as having superior drought tolerance compared to older cultivars within the same species. Previous research has evaluated physiological components of cool-season turfgrasses subjected deficit-irrigation but it remains unknown the intraspecific physiological differences of KBG and TF in the field under deficit irrigation using newer drought tolerant cultivars. The objectives of this study were to inter- and intra-specifically evaluate turfgrass quality between drought-tolerant cultivars of TF and KBG to non-drought-tolerant cultivars subjected to deficit irrigation levels in the field, and to examine the impact of potential drought stress may have in regards to photosynthetic activity among the cultivars under the different irrigation regimes.