Interest, Incentives, and Education Towards Organic Golf Course Management: A Study of Utah Golf Course Superintendents

Abstract

Extensive discussions of sustainability and environmental impact of golf course management have raised interest in how management can be changed to minimize impact. Management using natural organic methods is possible; however, they often do not provide the expected quality, especially during high disease pressure. In the arid West, disease pressure is much lower than humid regions, making organic management more possible. However, many factors influence turf management decisions made by golf course superintendents. We surveyed superintendents in Utah to explore management decisions and interest in organic programs, followed by online education offered on organic management. A survey in the following year explored how their practices changed in response to the education and other factors. In most cases, the superintendents themselves were the primary causes of change at their golf courses. While superintendents expressed some interest in organic practices, incentives to make those changes appeared limited. Interest in environmental issues increased, but for more than half of the respondents, no changes in management occurred. Already, Utah superintendents rely heavily on cultural practices but changes in management towards organic practices will likely require more effective products and management techniques together with interest by others at the golf course facilities.

Pre‐snow and post‐snow applications of ethephon in winter enhance the suppression of annual bluegrass seedheads

“…An interesting observation was that the combined treatment of pre-snow ethephon mixed with Instrata and followed by post-snow ethephon mixed with Banner Maxx II suppressed more seedheads than the treatment with pre-snow ethephon + Interface + Mirage followed by post-snow ethephon + Mirage at MC. It is common to apply demethylation inhibitor (DMI) fungicides after snow melt in this region to protect the turf from pink snow mold (Microdochium nivale), and DMI's are known to have PGR effects (Mitkowski & Chaves, 2013). Propiconazole may provide an additive effect for reducing more seedheads than tebuconazole in winter and should be studied further.…”

“…There is not a “one‐size fits all” program for implementing winter ethephon applications on golf courses in northern climates because of regional AB adaptations and climatic differences. This research was carried out in a region that has a distinct transition from winter to spring where it is common to apply fungicides before expected snow cover (Johnson et al., 2012). Therefore, the “pre‐snow” timing was an ideal time to apply ethephon, and can be added with fungicides that are known to be compatible, because this is when the final maintenance practices of the season are being performed before the expected snow.…”

Evaluating insecticide application timings against billbugs (Sphenophorus spp.) using a degree‐day model and calendar‐based approach in the Intermountain West

“…are turfgrass pests throughout North America, whose larvae damage and kill turf by feeding in the stems, roots, and crown of the plant (Dupuy & Ramirez, 2016). About 10 species are known to damage turfgrasses (Vittum et al., 1999), and in the Intermountain West (IMW) region of the United States, bluegrass ( S. parvulus Gyllenhal), hunting ( S. venatus vestitus Chittenden), and Rocky Mountain billbugs ( S. cicatristriatus Fahraeus) make up the species complex that damages the predominantly cool‐season turfgrasses (Dupuy et al., 2017) and are the top insect pest encountered by golf course superintendents (Johnson et al., 2012). Current billbug management strategies include treating turf preventively before adults oviposit, making late‐preventive/early‐curative applications after adults have deposited eggs but before turf damage is evident, or waiting until larvae exit stems and can be found in the soil (often when turf damage becomes evident), then applying late‐curative (or rescue) treatments (Richmond, 2022).…”

Controlling Snow Molds with CIVITAS TURF DEFENSE in Utah

“…These cold‐weather diseases are challenging to manage because they involve multiple snow mold fungi (Chang et al, 2006) and affect a range of turf species (Smiley et al, 2005). Snow mold is the major disease encountered by Utah superintendents (Johnson et al, 2012). Gray ( Typhula incarnata Fr.)…”