News Release from: Portland Parks & Recreation
PORTLAND PARKS & RECREATION ENVIRONMENTAL EFFORTS ENHANCE CITY GOLF COURSE
Posted: September 24th, 2012 10:51 AM
Photo/sound file: http://www.flashalertnewswire.net/images/news/2012-09/1399/57921/Heron_Lakes_Golf_37.JPG (A namesake bird (great blue heron) at PP&R’s Heron Lakes Golf Course. Photo courtesy: Portland Parks & Recreation, Portland, OR)
Greenway Program Reduces Pesticide Use, Improves Playing Conditions
(Portland, OR) -
Portland Public Golf (PPG), part of Portland Parks & Recreation, continues to reduce the amount of chemicals used on City courses.
The Greenway Program, developed by Greenway Golf, is an ongoing initiative to further PPG's environmentally responsible course maintenance and upkeep. The City has instituted the Greenway Program for the past eight years.
The newest phase of the program takes place this week at Heron Lakes Golf Course, where workers will seed the turf with bentgrass, since this time of year is perfect for its germination.
Work is scheduled to begin Monday, September 24 on Heron Lakes' Great Blue Course.
"We're seeing real, positive effects; better playing surfaces, reduced costs and lower chemical inputs into the environment," says Portland Public Golf Manager John Zoller of the Greenway Program.
Previously, PP&R has increased the amount of bentgrass on Heron Lakes Golf Course's Greenback course. Zoller says this has resulted in lower use of pesticides, down to an average of three fungicide applications per year. Each fungicide application can run from $600-$1800, or between $10-$15,000 annually.
In fact, in 2012, course workers have not needed to apply ANY pesticides on the Greenback course greens, in large part because of the natural attributes of bentgrass. Some savings are offset by more labor and materials expenses, but the result is a higher-quality course with fewer pesticides.
The advantage in having bentgrass on Portland Public Golf's greens is that it is very drought tolerant, disease resistant and lends itself to very low cutting heights. "Ideally," says Zoller, "we'd like to have our turf citywide be 100% bentgrass."
Course work this week will also involve a common procedure known as core aerification. This process will help the golf greens to drain more effectively, by removing plant debris and helping water to seep into the ground rather than pool and accumulate. Most golf courses worldwide aerate their turf at least once a year, or more.
Zoller says that the long-term benefits of Portland Parks & Recreation and Portland Public Golf's Greenway program will be great for players, the environment, and taxpayers.
"From both an environmental and a golf perspective, there are no negative effects associated with this program," raves Zoller. "It is minimalist in its practice. The only impact the golfer sees is improved playing conditions over time. Unfortunately, bentgrass has no proven effect on preventing hooks, slices, or missed putts!"
The Advantages of Bentgrass
Except for portions of the Deep South, most U.S. golf course greens were originally seeded in bentgrass. Often, bentgrass is quickly overtaken and forced out by native grass species, which tend to be weaker under stress than the bentgrasses. Heron Lakes was originally seeded in bentgrass but was quickly overtaken by a native species called poa annua. The Greenway program works by making conditions more conducive to growing bentgrass. It does this by using iron to lower the soil ph, and by limiting physical stress by using smooth rollers on the mowers. These steps allow bentgrass to be more competitive then the poa annua, and thus dominate the area.
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