Page 14 - GreenMaster Fall 2023

uFEATUREuCARL SCHIMENTI AND FRANK S. ROSSI, PH.D. CORNELL TURFGRASS SCIENCE PROGRAM
2020 Reduced Management
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The Reduced Risk Golf Course Management project has led to pesticide risk reduction on NY State Park golf courses (NYSPGCs) for over a decade. In fact, 2020 had the lowest risk associated with pest management programs on NYSPGC since peak levels in 2014. In short, these reductions are due to eliminating high-risk pesticide use on large areas of turf, and consistent use of data-driven IPM with monitoring and modelling. These landmark reductions in pesticide risk are present in the same year that courses experienced similar records in utilization (play) by golfers.
The NYSPGC system have been leaders in environmentally responsible pesticide use for years, and it is with great pleasure that we are able to document their efforts in scientific publications to further conversations surrounding environmentally responsible golf course management. Recently, Cornell Scientists published a scholarly article in partnership with colleagues at the University of Wisconsin-Madison to quantify pesticide risk with data collected from NYSPGCs.
Figure 1: Average Annual area-adjusted EIQ for NYSPGCs.
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In addition to groundbreaking work in pesticide use reduction, progressive nutrient management has led to measurable reductions in fertilizer use on NYSPGCs. Fertilizer use on NY State Park courses has dropped significantly since record keeping began in 2014. On the playing surfaces requiring greatest fertilizer amounts – greens and fairways – total nitrogen and phosphorous use statewide has dropped by 7,900 pounds (20%) and 2,460 pounds (70%) respectively.
The Cornell Turfgrass Science program has been a national leader in developing golf course maintenance practices that mitigate climate
change. Specifically, reducing fossil fuel emissions by creating areas that require less frequent mowing. NYSPGCs have created naturalized habitat and reduced mowing of 293 acres by 90%, since 2000. Conservative estimates show this has led to an average annual CO2 emission reduction of 5.8 tons.
Refinement of environmentally responsible land management practices will continue but if given the appropriate resources, these efforts could be magnified. Investments in key equipment such as GPS chemical sprayers and electric mowers would further reduce pesticide risk and carbon emissions, while establishing