I agree the manicured(read expensive) lawns look better than my weed lawn. For about 4 months a year if the weather cooperates. The golf course lawn shows heat and water stress first. They stay brown well into the spring and one light frost browns them up for the winter. I'm relaxed and ok with a green fairly good looking yard for most of the year over a four-month showplace. Different strokes for different folks.
This is my yard in June. It's not as bright green now but it is basically the same even with the lack of any rain in Sept.