Ecologically Friendly Golf Courses
By: Mike Salvio, CGCS
We decided to follow up on last month’s article about golf and the environment with some additional information discussing the misconceptions people often have about golf courses and pesticides. While many people may think that too many pesticides are being used on golf courses, the truth is that golf courses provide great benefits to their local communities and ecosystems that often get overlooked.
Golf courses are community green spaces that not only provide recreational opportunities, but also provide and enhance wildlife habitats. Many golf courses are leaving dead trees, building bird boxes and habitat for birds, implement ‘no-mow’ natural areas that act as habitat for wildlife, and create buffer areas to further enhance runoff filtration from surrounding communities. Golf courses also act as ‘air conditioners’, providing vast amounts of oxygen. Healthy turfgrass is an excellent filter that traps and sifts out pollutants. Many golf courses are recycling water and are perfect sites to dispose of reclaimed effluent or wastewater created by neighboring communities and businesses. For example, here at the GlenRiddle Golf Club, we irrigate a portion of the golf course with effluent water from the residential community. Using this water is reducing our demand of ground water by roughly 50%. Numerous other ecologically friendly and best management practices are being used by almost all golf courses, resulting in LESS pesticide usage, LESS pesticide exposure, and ENHANCING the local environment.
Modern pesticides and fertilizers are a highly regulated business and must be used to maintain healthy golf course turf. These products have been thoroughly tested and are considered safe when used according to their labeled directions. A pesticide product used today typically has undergone countless studies at an average R&D cost of $50 million before it is registered by the Environmental Protection Agency.
Many of the products used today on our golf courses are derived from mushrooms and other natural plants. Unlike the old DDT days, today’s synthetic pyrethoid insecticides and chemicals are made from derivatives of chrysanthemums and have extremely low toxicity levels. Many of the current use rates are extremely low, with some products being applied as low as 4 ounces per acre.
Golf course superintendents are environmental stewards and are leading the way when it comes to protecting the environment. Every golf course employs at least one state licensed pesticide applicator who is trained in environmentally sound pesticide use. Most of today’s superintendents have college degrees, substantial continuing education requirements, and can earn certification by the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America (GCSAA). The GCSAA has made environmental education a major focus in all of its educational programs.
However, much of the environmental criticism of golf courses seems to be linked to local opposition to community growth. The next time you tee up, remember golf courses are providing and maintaining an ecosystem in a conscientious way. Play Golf Delmarva, and take time to enjoy not only the game, but also the surroundings.
If you have further questions or desire additional information visit, the Environmental Institute for Golf (www.eifg.org), the GCSAA Web site (www.gcsaa.org), the USGA Web site (www.usga.org), or the Eastern Shore Association of Golf Course Superintendents (www.esagcs.org) .
