Evaluation of Golf Putting Green Management Systems with Reduced Chemical Pesticide Inputs

Abstract

This project provides information from the fourth year of a study assessing the feasibility and performance of golf course turf managed with an IPM approach utilizing population-based pest management to a system that utilizes biologically-based controls and reduced risk chemistry. The work was initiated on the Green Course at the Bethpage State Park, Long Island, New York in 2001. The Green Course is on of five public courses at the Park and accommodates approximately 50,000 rounds of golf annually. The greens are push-up native soil greens that have been heavily sand top-dressed for the last six years, and is typical of a high-use public course in a northern metropolitan community. A more detailed discussion of methodology and results from 2001 through 2003 can be found at http://usgatero.msu.edu/.