Beyond the Farm: IPM at the Golf Course
By Julie Stachecki Johanningsmeier, Pesticide Education Program

(Published in the IPM Report newsletter, Winter 1997)

No two farms are alike. The soils, topography, crop yields, management and inputs vary from site to site. The same holds true for golf courses. As with farming systems, golf courses are striving to manage their land, the crop (turfgrass) and other natural resources around the site, in a sustainable way. There are several new tools, innovative programs, and new approaches to old practices that are shaping the way golf course operations manage turf.

Resistance management and biological control

In national and statewide surveys, golf course superintendents have ranked diseases as the number one pest of golf course turf. Dollar spot (Sclerotinia homoeocarpa) is almost inevitably an annual disease problem. Traditional uses and repeat applications of fungicides used to control dollar spot have resulted in a resistant dollar spot strain at some locations. Dr. Joe Vargas of MSU’s Botany and Plant Pathology Department has researched alternative ways of using fungicides, thereby reducing the chance for resistance at other courses. In addition, he is pursuing use of a common soil-borne bacterium, known as Tx-1 as an alternative biological control of dollar spot.

Although at this point, disease control by this organism is inconsistent, the turf industry has invested in the concept. A California-based group designed new, practical technology to deliver this living control agent to the turf. The system allows the superintendent to grow the bacterial control agent on site. Approximately 25 golf courses in Michigan are using this new technology and evaluating the bacterium’s efficacy on a site by site basis. Dollar spot control has been variable among the Michigan golf courses using this bacterial control and application technology. These risk-takers should be hailed for their efforts in approaching a disease problem with new applications and in a multi-faceted way.

Biological controls, both pathogenic and insect-related, have been the research focus of Dr. Dave Smitley and Nikki Rothwell, Department of Entomology, in their Ataenius spretulus (small, black beetle) work. These beetle pests are specific to golf course turf. The researchers are looking for clues to why the beetle’s activity is more prevalent in certain habitats than others. Much of their effort has been focused on the natural controls that are impacting this pest in a turfgrass stand. Their findings may help superintendents fine-tune the grass height in fairways for optimum benefits from biological controls.

Scouting —foundation of IPM programs

Other pests cause significant injury to golf course turfgrass besides diseases and insects: weeds, nematodes, and even the golfers damage turf. In any IPM program, monitoring for and identifying pest problems is fundamental. The golf turf industry is moving away from calendar-based treatments and is incorporating scouting practices of varying degrees into their turf management routines.

Time constraints and training are the biggest challenges a golf course manager has for implementing a structured, routine scouting program. To save time, some courses hire consultants for establishing and executing structured scouting programs. Consulting companies can provide a seasonal course profile with weekly scouting reports, and can evaluate cultural and chemical treatments. For instance, Forest Lake and Knollwood Country Clubs in Oakland County, collaborate with Site Specific, Inc.—a company providing IPM training and scouting services for golf courses. The company’s scouting services include monitoring adult cutworm levels with pheromone traps, and generating weed and grub population maps for use in decision making, spot-treating and for record keeping.

Precision turf management – new approach for IPM

While site specific management has advanced dramatically and continues to be adopted in the agricultural arena, precision turf management (PTM) is a new approach that evaluates and prescription-treats the natural variability of turfgrass sites. As in agricultural applications, PTM is comprised of four main components. Global Positioning Satellites (GPS) use satellites to determine accurate locations. Global Information Systems (GIS) provide computer software to organize data into mapping formats. Sensors are used to detect variability in turf. For example, some sensors detect plant variability based on the type or intensity of specific wavelengths of light that are reflected from the canopy.

Lastly, Variable Rate Technology (VRT) applies pesticides or fertilizer at specific rates and locations based on the needs of the plant or site. The combination of GPS, GIS, sensors and VRT will allow turfgrass managers to maintain their turf according to site specific needs, thereby reducing excessive and potentially unnecessary application of pesticides and nutrients. Dr. Jim Baird, Beau McSparin, and Geoff Rinehart, Department of Crop and Soil Sciences, are exploring the applications of these technologies in turfgrass settings. They are working on a research project with the Toro Company to better understand the factors needed to make these systems work for turfgrass management.

Natural resource management

IPM attempts to maintain a balance of species in an ecosystem. When natural resources are kept at a healthy optimum, IPM is enhanced. For golf courses, the creation and disposal of organic waste is significant. Recent state law changes prohibit disposal of yard waste into landfills. This change eliminated the primary disposal option for grass clippings and fallen leaves. Dr. Paul Rieke and associates in the Department of Crop and Soil Sciences, have been evaluating an alternative for handling tree leaves. Their solution: leave them where they lie, but only after mulching and chopping them. Using a standard mulching mower, leaves are chopped into small pieces and left to sift into the turf canopy.

The leaf-mulching research plots were rated for turf color, density, percent organic matter, and weed and disease infestation. Results indicate that there are no detrimental effects from mowing leaves into the turf canopy. Mulching the leaves also solves the problem of tree leaf disposal.

In addition to leaves, another type of waste material has found a home in the turf canopy —recycled, crumbled rubber from vehicle tires. The use of "crumb rubber" as a turfgrass topdressing material has proven useful as more than just an alternative disposal option. It also reduces turf wear damage, improves color, and reduces compaction. MSU researcher and turfgrass professor, Dr. Trey Rogers, III, is the principal investigator of crumb rubber and turfgrass applications.

Collaborative program - Michigan Turfgrass Environmental Stewardship Program

Several innovative programs are a result of cooperative efforts among multiple agencies. Greg Lyman, turfgrass environmental education specialist in the Department of Crop and Soil Sciences, is coordinating the new Michigan Turfgrass Environmental Stewardship Program. The program seeks to advance the environmental stewardship of Michigan’s golf industry by increasing awareness and understanding of environmental resources, the potential impacts of golf turf management, and to elevate the level of pollution prevention. It brings together the golf industry, regulatory agencies, MSU, and environmental citizen groups to recognize and promote environmental stewardship achievements.

The new program will include a variety of educational, self-assessment, and partnership activities with two distinct parts—pollution prevention and environmental enhancement. Initially, the pollution prevention area is directed toward evaluating practices and avoiding potential point sources of pollution.

The environmental enhancement aspect of the program focuses on the "green space" value of golf courses and enhancing wildlife habitat, surface water areas, and native vegetation. Accomplishing these goals presents an exciting opportunity to partner with advocacy groups like the Michigan United Conservation Clubs, Audubon Society, Pheasants Forever, Trout Unlimited, Tip of the Mitt Watershed Council, the Forest Stewardship Program and several land conservancy groups.

The golf course turfgrass industry is aware of the natural resources that allow their industry to thrive. Using IPM and other aspects of resource management, leaders in the industry continue to seek new ways to protect natural resources and deliver a quality product for the game of golf and its participants.

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