Long Term Evaluation of Reduced Chemical Pesticide Management of Golf Course Putting Turf

Global concerns for environmental quality have resulted in a proliferation of fertilizer and pesticide regulations that restrict golf course management programs. The objective of this project was to investigate the long-term effects of conventional and alternative cultural and pest management programs, designed to reduce reliance on chemical pesticides, on the quality and performance of golf putting surfaces. A seven-year study was conducted on the putting surfaces at the Bethpage State Park Green Course, Farmingdale, NY, USA comparing conventional pest management (CPM), integrated pest management (IPM) and biologically-based pest management (BBPM) under conventional cultural (CC) and alternative cultural (AC) management. A pesticide risk indicator model, the Environmental Impact Quotient (EIQ) was used to assess environmental risk. CPM provided the highest quality turf independent of cultural management, however IPM programs resulted in acceptable turfgrass quality throughout the study. AC systems required significantly greater labor resources and over time IPM program became the least labor-intensive pest management system. The environmental impact as measured by a pesticide risk indicator model of the pesticides used in the IPM and BBPM programs was reduced between 50 and 95 percent compared to CPM programs. Golfer satisfaction surveys indicated the putting surfaces provided acceptable visual quality and adequate ball roll. This study represents the first long-term management system based project conducted in the golf turf industry and suggests that a properly implemented IPM program under conventional culture can meet golfer demand, reduce labor resources, provide acceptable quality and significantly reduce environmental risk as measured by a pesticide risk indicator model.