While on his vacation this week, US President Barack Obama played a round of golf at the Vineyard Golf Club in Edgartown, MA. The Vineyard Golf Club is believed to be the only 100% organic golf course in the United States. Despite using only natural means of turf maintenance, the club manages to maintain elite status and attract pro golfers and celebrities alike.
Many in the golfing industry believe that synthetic pesticides are required to ensure pristine greens, but the Vineyard Golf Club is demonstrating how healthy greens can be maintained using alternative methods. They use comprehensive turf management practices including planting more disease resistant grass, using boiling water for weed control, and using microscopic worms to kill turf destroying grubs.Golf clubs around North America are beginning to adopt more natural turf management practices and reduce the amount of chemicals they are spraying on their greens. You would be surprised to know that, yard for yard, many spray less chemicals than your neighbor! We can do our part by encouraging our local golf course owners to consider phasing-in more organic turf management practices. Talk to a manager at the courses where you golf to learn more about their turf management policies.
