There are seven golf courses in the Blue Mountain watershed: Batteaux Creek, Blue Mountain, Cranberry, Duntroon Highlands, Georgian Bay, Monterra, and Oslerbrook. There are four public and three private golf courses. Key Data 2019 Total pesticide use (kg) decreased by 1% versus 2018 to 1,968 kg/yr. This maintains the 10% increase versus 2017;
Full Answer
Are golf courses sprayed with pesticides?
The Pesticide Specialist explained that pesticides are used on golf courses and other recreational areas to maintain the health and appearance of the turf. James learned that most golf courses have highly trained golf course superintendents who manage the course, including turf management and pest control strategies.
What kind of pesticides do golf courses use?
The most heavily treated areas of courses are greens and tees, mainly treated with fungicides. The principal reasons for use are to control fusarium, leatherjackets, earthworm casts and daisies. The principal pesticide types used overall are herbicides, with MCPA the most frequently used active ingredient.
Do they use Roundup on golf courses?
Roundup is one of the most widely used herbicides in the world, and, in my ex- perience, is applied on most U.S. golf courses. So, when people raise concerns about glypho- sate's carcinogenicity — its potential to cause cancer — golf course superintendents are a particularly interested party.
Is it toxic to live on a golf course?
Toxic Fairways People living near a golf course may be affected by sprays and dusts blown from the golf course onto their property and into their homes. Finally, pesticides applied to the turf may run off into surface waters or leach down to groundwater, which can then expose people to contaminated drinking water.
What is the green stuff they spray on golf courses?
Chlorpyrifos. Chlorpyrifos is an organophosphate insecticide used extensively in the agricultural industry, as well as on golf courses, green houses, and as mosquito adulticide.
Do golf courses spray for mosquitoes?
There are a number of insecticides that are very effective against adult mosquitoes and are labelled for use on golf courses. Pyrethroids, such as products containing bifenthrin, deltamethrin or lambda-cyhalothrin, are especially effective at controlling mosquitoes while also providing good residual activity.
Are golf course ponds toxic?
Farms and golf courses use a variety of chemicals and pesticides that can kill fish and other aquatic animals if sprayed near or in water. Sometimes the chemicals -- even those properly applied -- can be flushed into a canal or pond as run-off during a torrential rainstorm.
How often do golf courses spray?
To the casual observer, spraying greens every one or two weeks may appear to be overkill. However, short spray intervals allow superintendents to observe putting green performance throughout the season and apply products only at the appropriate time to maximize their efficacy.
How do golf courses keep grass green?
Golf courses use aerators to create small holes in their fairways, so water, air and nutrients can reach down to the grass roots. This helps the grass grow deeper roots and it also creates an opening to help it break through to the topsoil.
Do golf courses use urea?
Urea is also the most inexpensive nitrogen source the turf manager can use. *Salt Index based on equal amount of Nitrogen supplied. Every golf course superintendent knows their course and its grasses better than anyone else.
Do they use paraquat on golf courses?
As an effective weed killer, paraquat has historically been used by golf courses in groundskeeping. Today, however, paraquat use is banned on golf courses by the EPA. The powerful herbicide is classified as a “Restricted Use” chemical and applicators must be licensed.
What are the disadvantages of living on a golf course?
The most obvious drawback to living on a golf course is the constant activity behind your home if you live directly on a fairway or green. There are busy parts of every neighborhood, but few involve golf carts and a steady stream of people as early as 5 a.m. on every possible day the weather allows it.
Do they use paraquat on golf courses?
As an effective weed killer, paraquat has historically been used by golf courses in groundskeeping. Today, however, paraquat use is banned on golf courses by the EPA. The powerful herbicide is classified as a “Restricted Use” chemical and applicators must be licensed.
How often do golf courses spray?
To the casual observer, spraying greens every one or two weeks may appear to be overkill. However, short spray intervals allow superintendents to observe putting green performance throughout the season and apply products only at the appropriate time to maximize their efficacy.
Is chlorpyrifos banned?
Now, after a decades-long legal fight and under a court-ordered deadline, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has finally issued a final rule banning all food uses of chlorpyrifos.
Are golf courses safe for dogs?
A commonly-used pesticide, 2,4-D, has been causally associated with malignancies in dogs. This poison is saturating local golf courses, athletic fields, landscaped yards, and even your dog park.
Local Findings
There are seven golf courses in the Blue Mountain watershed: Batteaux Creek, Blue Mountain, Cranberry, Duntroon Highlands, Georgian Bay, Monterra, and Oslerbrook. There are four public and three private golf courses.
Major Regulatory Changes in Ontario (Dec 2019)
Health Canada carefully regulates pesticide use in Canada through a program of pre-market scientific assessment, enforcement, education, and information dissemination. This is accomplished via the Pest Management Regulatory Agency (PMRA) under the Pest Control Products Act (PCPA) and Regulations.
Challenges with Regulation, Reporting, and Testing
The Watershed Trust is concerned about the potential of pesticide impact to area streams that flow from the Blue Mountains Watershed into Georgian Bay. Although our area golf courses follow all regulatory requirements – ie.
You can help
You can help the Trust in its efforts by becoming a member or by making a tax-deductible donation. If you are a golfer, talk to your Golf Course Superintendent about their pesticide use – encourage them to take up more sustainable and best practice turf management practices.
Local Findings
Key Data 2019
- Total pesticide use (kg) decreased by 1% versus 2018 to 1,968 kg/yr. This maintains the 10% increase versus 2017;
- Fungicides are consistently the largest type of pesticide used – 89% by kg applied;
- The top five pesticides (by active ingredient (“a.i.”)) represent about 85% of all usage; and
- Private golf courses apply 78% of all pesticide by weight (kg)
Major Regulatory Changes in Ontario
- Health Canada carefully regulates pesticide use in Canada through a program of pre-market scientific assessment, enforcement, education, and information dissemination. This is accomplished via the Pest Management Regulatory Agency (PMRA) under the Pest Control Products Act (PCPA) and Regulations. Until the PMRA approves a pesticide, it cannot be sold, imported, or used in Canada. The federal programs remain uncha…
Challenges with Regulation, Reporting, and Testing
- The Watershed Trust is concerned about the potential of pesticide impact to area streams that flow from the Blue Mountains Watershed into Georgian Bay. Although our area golf courses follow all regulatory requirements – ie. they report what they use and how much in a calendar year – the timeliness of the information makes it virtually impossible to...
The Watershed Trust’s Role
- Since 2008, the Watershed Trust has been regularly conducting sampling of water runoff from area golf courses and documenting our findings. We have contacted Environment Canada as well as the Ontario Ministry of the Environment, Conservation, and Parks to voice our concerns and to present our key recommendations. We continue to communicate with federal and provincial authorities with the intention of improving the legislative fr…
You Can Help
- You can help the Trust in its efforts by becoming a member or by making a tax-deductible donation. If you are a golfer, talk to your Golf Course Superintendent about their pesticide use encourage them to take up more sustainable and best practice turf management practices. The golf course must provide, upon request, the prior year’s Integrated Pest Management (IPM) mandated Annual Report – Class 9 Pesticide Use.