Answers to the Golf Course Environmental Questionare

Answers to the Golf Course Environmental Questions

The Birds Continue to Reside on the Golf Courses

Landon C. Miller, Horticulture Department

Preliminary results from a survey of all 336 golf courses in SC during the spring of 1993 to which 91 superintendents replied indicate:

None of the golf courses apply pesticides through the irrigation system.
25% of the courses re-collect irrigation run-off water for reuse on the turf.
66% allow water from the courses to drain into a pond or lake.
68% have annual flower bed and 76% have flowering trees to beautify the course.
73% have wildlife amenities like bird houses and 19% have bird feeders.
64% have undisturbed woodlands or meadows in which wildlife can safely reside.
91% have bass and 88% have bream game fish in their waters.
86% have waterfowl (ducks, geese, swans) on their course property.
95% have woodpeckers on their course property.
Selected other birds include: herons, storks, and Ibises 53%; hawks, eagles, and kites 74%; owls 70%, quail 78%, doves and pigeons 84%, wrens 68%; thrushes and robins 80%; bluebirds 88%; and sparrows 80%.
Only 21% had any particular wildlife problems.
19% have jogging trails and 26% have hiking or walking trails.
28% had a soil conservation program in 1992, 39% had a water conservation program, and 24% had a wildlife conservation program.
Material safety data sheets (MSDS) are maintained by 81% of the courses.
Pesticide labels are maintained by 92% of the courses.
37% put a sign in the pro shop and 31% put a sign on the course when pesticides are being or have been recently applied.
82% are interested in non-chemical control of insects, 79% are interested in non-chemical control of weeds, and 79% are interested in non-chemical control of diseases.
24% of the superintendents had 16 to 20 years of experience on a golf course.
25% of the superintendents had either a high school diploma or equivalent, 35% had an associate degree, 30% had a bachelor degree, and 2% had a master degree.
96% play golf and 62% go fishing for hobbies.
81% read sports and 48% read nature for enjoyment.
79% always correctly identify a pest before selecting a pesticide.
74% indicated safety to applicators and golfers highly influence their use of pesticides.
87% give thorough instructions to employees making pesticide applications.
78% most often read the pesticide label as a source of information about pest problems and/or pesticide use.
76% consider pesticide instructions as highly influential on selection and use of pesticides.
79% consider "fish, bird, or other animal kill from a pesticide used on the golf courses" of "high concern".
Most of the pesticide applications are made by either the golf course superintendent, assistant superintendent, or the spray technician, who are all the most highly trained.
Most of the certified pesticide applicators licenses are held by the golf course superintendent (80%) or assistant superintendent (40%).

The above numbers give us some indication of why golf course superintendents are interested in protecting the environment in which they work and play every day. They are interested in protecting that environment, not in seeing it decline to the detriment of the game nor the environment in which they make an enjoyable living and help raise their families as well as supervise lots of employees with families. All golf course superintendents enjoy working in the outside environment. That along with the game is why they choose the profession. They enjoy the harmony with nature. Furthermore, they try to protect that harmony.

More Answers to the Golf Course Environmental Questions

Golf Course Superintendents are Environmentally Sensitive

Landon C. Miller, Horticulture Department

27% of the 336 golf course in SC responded to a survey on pesticide use and environmental practices in the spring of 1993.
76% of the golf courses responding had 18 holes and 9% had 9 holes.
60% said a pond as the source of irrigation water for the golf course.
9% use wastewater treatment effluent for irrigation on the course.
42% allow water from the course to drain into a river or stream.
62% have perennial flower beds and 66% have flowering shrub beds t beau {@ ÖÄ |>Ý
42% have víêds stocked for recreational fishing and 14% have plants preferred by wildlife for food or cover.
63% have catfish and 36% have crappie fish in their waters.
66% have hummingbirds, 25% have ospreys, 32% have wild turkeys, 43% have swallows, 47% have cardinals and grosbeaks, and 37% have finches.
78% have no particular wildlife problems.
99% have golf course complexes designed to accommodate biking, 2% have horseback riding, and 2% have gardening.
17% had a maintenance budget of less than $50,000, 19% had maintenance budget between $ 300,000 and $ 399,000, and 9% had a budget between $ 500,000 and $599,999.
20% spent less than $3,000 for pesticides in 1992, 9% spent between $3,000 and $5,999, and 18% spent $6,000 to $11,999.
46% had a stream or pond bank stabilization program in 1992 and 57% had a litter control program.
8% of the courses had no preventive or curative insect control program in 1992, 7% of the courses had no disease control program, 7% of the courses had no weed control program, and 60% of the courses had no nematode control program.
53% of the superintendents or assistants most often apply pesticides on the golf course.
80% of the golf course superintendents and 40% of the assistants are licensed certified pesticide applicators for the golf course.
85% of the courses maintain emergency phone numbers and 70% maintain poison control phone numbers for easy access somewhere on the golf course property.
12% notify players at the pro shop and 3% notify homeowners and others adjacent to the golf course when pesticides are to be applied on the course.
48% of the golf courses have a policy on the application of restricted-use pesticides.
39% have chemical hazardous materials safety training to the golf course maintenance staff in 1992 and 32% have pesticide applicator certification training.
67% used fertility control and 76% used irrigation scheduling as non-chemical control for pest problems in 1992.
57% are interested in more information about non-chemical control of nematodes.
54% of the courses had aquatic plant problems needing control measures. 31% used biological control (e.g. grass carp) and 15% used mechanical control (e.g. dredging) to correct the aquatic plant situations.
18% of the superintendents had 13 to 15 years of experience and 11% had 21 to 24 years of experience on a golf course.
34% of the superintendents participated in at least one state or regional educational turf conference, 24% attended at least one national educational turf conference, 24% attended at least on turf field day, and 19% attended at least one local educational meeting for superintendents during 1992.
25% of the superintendents belong to a hunting or fishing organization and 32% belong to an athletics or sports organization.
45% of the superintendents go swimming, 43% go boating, and 31% go hunting as recreation activities.
41% read travel, 46% read gardening, and 40% read hunting/fishing for enjoyment.
52% ask the University Extension Service for help when solving an unknown pest problem and 27% ask for help from another superintendent.
53% of the superintendents always, and 40% frequently, get a recommendation from an individual knowledgeable about a specific pesticide before using it.
69% indicated safety to the environment highly influences their use of pesticides.
79% check calibration of equipment when preparing to use a pesticide.
80% consider "security of pesticide storage at the golf course" of "high concern".
79% of the superintendents consider "use of protective clothing for yourself and employees when applying pesticides" of "high concern". At least one superintendent made a nice summary of the subject by writing "We are no afraid of pesticide use but are extremely respectful of its effect on humans, animals and the environment if improperly used."