Categories: News

Golf Courses Taking Measures to Reduce Run-off

A day on the links just wouldn’t be as enjoyable without a lush green on which to putt, but at many courses, the green wouldn’t be so green without fertilizer containing phosphorus.

Most people haven’t thought about phosphorus since high school chemistry class, but the chemical is found in everything from dish detergent to fertilizer.

A bill limiting its use is now on the desk of Gov. Bob McDonnell.

Phosphorus is being blamed for dead zones in the Chesapeake Bay, so the bill would make it illegal for people to use fertilizer with phosphorus for lawn care, including golf courses.

Surprisingly, many golf course superintendents supported the bill because they’ve already limited phosphorus use for environmental reasons.

“The association that we are in is very environmentally sound in what we do and have been for years. We just don’t normally get the credit for it, and we don’t search for the credit for it either,” explains the superintendent at Ingleside Golf Club, Edwin Eagle.

The bill would also require golf courses to limit chemical run-off.

Eagle says, though courses often get a bad reputation for pollution, many were already working to protect the bay before the General Assembly passed the bill.

“At Ingleside, we are trying to create what I call ‘buffer areas’ where we let the grass grow higher, and that helps with run-off,” adds Eagle.

He already uses phosphorus sparingly and only in liquid form, but he says he could live without it.

Eagles explains that the ground in the Valley is naturally phosphorus rich, so even if courses are unable to add the chemical, they can provide the grass with other nutrients to help it absorb the phosphorus already present. It will just mean relying a bit more on the magic and art of green maintenance.

“We’re pretty inventive in how we can make things with adding little bit of nothing to a little bit of anything,” quips Eagle.

If signed into law, the phosphorus ban would take effect in 2013, but it would not apply to gardeners, nurseries or new lawns.

Source: www.whsv.com

AddThis Website Tools
Golf Course Trades

Recent Posts

King’s North at Myrtle Beach National to Begin Stage 2 of Ambitious Renovation ProjectKing’s North at Myrtle Beach National to Begin Stage 2 of Ambitious Renovation Project

King’s North at Myrtle Beach National to Begin Stage 2 of Ambitious Renovation Project

King’s North at Myrtle Beach National closed its back nine on May 26, 2025, as…

3 days ago
John Deere renews commitment to hometown John Deere Classic through 2030John Deere renews commitment to hometown John Deere Classic through 2030

John Deere renews commitment to hometown John Deere Classic through 2030

– The PGA TOUR, Deere & Company (NYSE: DE) and the Quad Cities Golf Classic…

4 days ago
Steel Green Manufacturing Adds Razor Tracking on Its Turf Equipment For GPS Fleet CoordinationSteel Green Manufacturing Adds Razor Tracking on Its Turf Equipment For GPS Fleet Coordination

Steel Green Manufacturing Adds Razor Tracking on Its Turf Equipment For GPS Fleet Coordination

Steel Green Manufacturing has added Razor Tracking GPS Fleet Coordination to all its new 2025…

5 days ago

Jeremy’s Creek Golf Course Joins Maxim Golf Portfolio, Boosting Midwest Club Network

Jeremy’s Creek Golf Course, located in Lamar, Missouri, is the latest Club to join Maxim…

7 days ago

Pebble Beach Golf Links to pursue first-in-nation Clean Water Act permit

Pebble Beach Company, California Coastkeeper Alliance, The Otter Project, and Monterey Waterkeeper announce a historic…

1 week ago

The Top 5 Things to Know if You’re New to Golf Course Pond Management

If you’re a golf course manager or superintendent suddenly responsible for maintaining course ponds, you…

1 week ago