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) .

Golf and the Environment

Joe Perry CGCS

Eagle’s Landing Golf Course

April 7, 2009

A lot has been said about the relationship of golf courses, their management and the environment, almost to the point of sensory overload. Oftentimes it can be hard to distinguish what might just be marketing hyperbole and what are in fact the true impacts of golf course management to the environment. Who are we to believe? Do we, as golfers really care? How does this affect my golf game? These are good questions. As a golf course superintendent with over 25 years of experience in all facets of the industry, I would like to ask you, for the good of the game, to think about those questions some time soon. Try to become more aware and educated about your surroundings while on the course. I think in time, you will develop a new appreciation of the golf course and it’s stewardship by those who manage it.

Audubon International, a leading advocate of environmental stewardship for the golf course industry states, “when properly sited, designed, constructed, and managed, golf courses can be an environmental asset to a community.  By their very nature, golf courses can provide significant open space and opportunities to provide needed wildlife habitat in increasingly urbanized communities across North America.  With nearly 80% of all of the 15,000-plus golf courses in the United States located in urban or suburban areas, opportunities abound for golf courses to provide ecosystem services such as storm water retention, runoff filtration, urban wildlife habitat, wildlife corridors, heat island effect reduction, etc.” They went on to include “like most other businesses, golf courses must also work to address the environmental challenges of water use, water quality, habitat and biodiversity loss, chemical use, waste, energy use, etc” It is hard to argue particularly in the urban setting, golf courses, as a land use, are better than most if not all other uses.

Here at Eagles Landing Golf Course in West Ocean City, Maryland a Certified Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary, we have a very diverse ecosystem. I truly believe the golf course has improved the land particularly in the areas of plant and animal habitat, stormwater management, biodiversity and economic impact to the area over the previous uses of poultry production and farming. Eagle’s Landing has been recognized several times for its environmental stewardship by the Golf Course Superintendent’s Association of America (GCSAA), Audubon International, USGA and other industry leaders. We have even partnered with county and state agencies to create guidelines for the development of environmentally sound golf course construction and maintenance practices.  As golf course management professionals, superintendents seek out resources in the industry to help us in this effort. Audubon International “works with golf courses to help them provide habitat for a variety of wildlife species and preserve our rich natural heritage by protecting existing habitats and landscaping primarily with native plants.  Collaborative projects between members and local resource agencies or wildlife organizations are encouraged.  The result is tens of thousands of acres of natural habitats and hundreds of species of birds, mammals, fish, amphibians, reptiles, and other wildlife conserved on golf courses across North America and, increasingly, around the world.” 

A lot more can be learned by visiting the GCSAA’s Environmental Institute for Golf at www.eifg.org, Audubon International on the web at www.golfandenvironment.org, the GCSAA at www.gcsaa.org and coming soon your own Eastern Shore Association of Golf Course Superintendents at www.esagcs.org. Drop us a line or visit your friendly golf course superintendent at your local links next time out, to learn more about golf and the environment.

The ESAGCS August pig roast and crab picnic was once again a big hit with our biggest turnout ever. Nearly one hundred members and guests enjoyed the food and drinks at Hog Neck Golf Course this year. The support for our silent auction to benefit The Children’s House By the Sea and the University of Maryland Turfgrass Research Department was also good (could have been better) and we hope to have our best year ever supporting those worthy causes. Stay tuned for a press release soon. The golf course was in great shape with brand new Bermudagrass fairways just lovin’ the hot sunshine. Everything else was in great shape as well. Congratulations go out to Owen Sutherland and his staff. Also special thanks to Donnie Sherwood for cooking the pig and lining up the crabs, Mike Kaminskas Golf Professional, and Bob Clements Professional drink cart operator! Also special thinks go out to all who supported the event, those who gave and to those who purchased. Without you the event cannot be a success

Home Course Advantage Helps Spear Cruise to Victory

A little home cooking helped the team of host superintendent, Kyle Spear and Guy McDonald (The Beach Club) cruise to victory at the season opening ESAGCS meeting at The Easton Club, in Easton, Maryland. Spear and McDonald bested the team of Jim McHenry and Dan Schlegel by one shot. The opening day weather was a little chilly and blustery but a  great time was had by all as everyone was anxious to get out and play after the snowy conditions we all experienced last winter. Thanks again to Kyle Spear and his crew for getting the course ready for us and to Danny Greaves, Head Professional for organizing the golf and scoring.

April’s tour date moves to the Newport Bay Golf Course at Ocean City Golf Club to kick off the Eastern Swing. Tom List will be the host superintendent and Buddy Sass the host professional. As always, we look forward to our visit at Tom’s course.

As mentioned at our last meeting, the May meeting is the deadline for official USGA Handicaps to be submitted for verification and filed with the ESAGCS. Failure to comply will result in forfeiture of any net prizes won.

A list of all the winners from March’s meeting is below. Enjoy watching the Masters this month and remember to always……

Respect the Game!

Todd Cowing

ESAGCS Golf Chairman

2010 March Florida Scramble   The Easton Club, Easton, Maryland

1st Place: Spear, McDonald - 59

2nd Place: McHenry, Schlegel - 60

3rd Place: Dypsky, Fufaro - 61

4th Place: Hutchinson, List - 62

5th Place: Anderes, Brandt – 62

CLOSEST TO PINS:

#7-Jim Prucnal, 13' 7"

#11-Tom Wojcik, 14' 10"

#13-Ed Gasper, 7' 9"

#16-Jason Neal, 22"

LONG DRIVE: Nick Brandt

Congratulations to All!

Please visit the Articles of Interest for the session MAGI summary. The main bill that passed that has impact on our Industry is SB 93. This bill will allow the Department of Agriculture to start charging a $30.00 annual fee for all registered (non-certified) applicators. The money will be dedicated to the Department and allow them to purchase and maintain the software required to monitor registered applicators in the State. In addition, the new law has some fees for re-taking certification tests. You can click on the link below to get all of the details. The law takes effect on October 1st, but my guess is that the Department may not assess the fee until July 1, 2011. I'm not sure of that. The Department will advise us.

This was a difficult bill for us to fight because most of the surrounding states have similar fees. In addition, the Department has lost significant funding during the recession and we felt like, in the big picture, the Department has been very fair with our Industry and has stepped up to support us when they could - when legislation that could have negatively affected us came up.

Dennis Howard, Ed Crow and their staff will let us know more information when it becomes official.

If you have any questions about this or any other legislative or regulatory issue, please don't hesitate to e-mail or call me.

Thank you for your support

Pro-Lawn-Plus, Inc.

1406 Shoemaker Rd.

Baltimore, MD  21209-2009

(410) 825-8873

cell (410) 299-7979

web www.prolawnplus.com

e-mail mark@prolawnplus.com