The Greening of Golf

When I spoke to Al Gore on the course last week, he mentioned the fact that he wished the golf industry would “green up.” Here’s how the conversation went:

AG: “I wish the golf industry would green up.”
RH: “You mean use more fertilizer? Water more? Really green up the greens?” I couldn’t resist.
AG: “No, you buffoon, I mean I wish that golf courses would recycle water, prevent runoff, use natural fertilizers, find natural pesticides, provide wildlife habitats, and a more environmentally-responsible attitude.”
RH: “Oh, well at least golf courses eat up a lot of carbon dioxide, right? You know, global warming and all of that.”
AG: “See that gas-powered golf cart you’re driving? It’s probably emitting more CO2 than that tree over there can offset. And those broken plastic tees on the ground – they’ll be around for ages.”
RH: “Really? Then why do you play golf?”
AG: “I’ve got a great short game.”

And that ended the conversation. He disappeared (in his electric cart) into the trees like a wood nymph.
Reflecting on his words, a giant (compact fluorescent) light bulb appeared over my head and I switched it on. That’s when I realized it was only a dream, and the probability that a late-night chili dog prompted this dreamy encounter. But the thought stuck with me. What is the golf industry doing to “green up” its image? After all, the business does rely on nature.

Golf courses struggle with a perception problem. Environmentalists continually batter the industry, relying on the same arguments that dream-state Al Gore presented, and their points may be valid. But courses today understand the problems, and work hard to work with nature, not against it, to the disbelief of some people and organizations like the Global Anti-Golf Movement (www.antigolf.org) which declares in its manifesto, “We reject the myth of ‘pesticide-free,’ ‘environmentally-friendly’ or ‘sensitive’ golf courses.” What are golf courses doing to boost their image and reduce their carbon footprint?

Water Wars

Turf and Plants

When a homeowner in a local drought can’t turn on the hose, and they see the new golf course down the road drenching their greens, emotions can run high. Courses realize this problem, and have developed strategies to keep both golfers and the non-golfing community happy. Or at least they try to.
One way superintendents deal with the water problem is by choosing new-fangled turf, which, in some cases, can reduce water usage up to 50 percent. Many universities work to develop new seeds to produce golf-friendly grass that will aid in reducing water consumption. Private companies get in on the act, too. SeaDwarf, a type of grass produced by Environmental Turf Co., has a bright green color, can be mowed from one-tenth of an inch to 4 inches, and can be irrigated with seawater. Great for courses like Galveston Country Club, but not so great in Kansas City.

Here in KC, choosing the right grasses and plants for the rough and non-playable areas makes a difference. Paul Davids CGCS, course superintendent at Sycamore Ridge continually tries to increase the amount of unmowed acreage. “It saves fuel and labor, as well as water. And it prevents erosion,” he said. Natural wildgrasses and drought-tolerant plants (cactus, anyone?), and even rock and sand, help conserve water while creating a challenge for those of us not fortunate enough to hit the fairway. Vegas, by converting courses to the target-style play, can save a billion gallons of water per year. Just think of the golf balls you’ll save in the Southwest by those resting on rock instead of the two-inch rough of years of yor, when water ran like, well, water.

Around here, many courses use natural prairie grasses, fescues, and wildflowers to hide your errant hits and mark the out-of-bounds areas. These “wild” areas take less maintenance and water to keep healthy, and they add to the natural setting of our region.

Irrigation

We used to think that watering at night or early morning prevents evaporation, but these simple methods have gone the way of metal spikes. New irrigation practices help water management. Many courses base irrigation run times on evapotranspiration (ET), which, according to the GCSAA can be summed up as: “Water leaves turf by evaporation from the soil or by transpiration – the process by which the plant cools itself and removes waste products from the plant tissue. The entire operation is called evapotranspiration.” By figuring out the amount of water lost through ET, golf courses can simply replace the lost amount – and no more – conserving water.

These technological advances make a difference. According to Davids, “Computer monitoring systems have really changed the way we water,” he said. “With these systems, you can find out that two tenths of an inch of water has evaporated. Then you can go out and apply two tenths of an inch back to the fairway that day.”

Not only that, but with improved pumping stations, flow monitors, directional sprinkler heads, and other irrigation tools, courses can pinpoint water as needed. Some systems you can even control with cell phones. “We can easily irrigate one area differently than the one right next to it,” Davids said. Sycamore ridge – like many modern courses – even has their own weather monitoring station to help gauge water usage.

H20 Sources

Water becomes an issue when it’s needed to green-up acres of fairways and greens. Most of the time, courses here in KC get their water from natural sources like ponds and lakes. Many people think that golf courses consume uncountable gallons of drinking water, but that’s not true. Jeff Bollig at the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America (GCSAA) said, “One half of 1% of water consumed annually, or 15% of drinking water supplies go to golf course irrigation.” And in our region, Bollig says we’re fortunate not to have to worry about water issues compared to the rest of the country.

The greening of golf has prompted many superintendents to use greywater, effluent wastewater, to irrigate their hearty turf. Where does this magical water come from? Your local sewage plant, of course. Not only does this technique save potable water, but it prevents greywater – which is filled with nutrients – to be poured into rivers and streams. Greywater can’t be used on crops, and you certainly wouldn’t want to drink the stuff, but your favorite fairway can suck it up like Coca Cola. The USGA tells us that more than 1000 courses throughout the country use greywater, and in some areas, it’s mandatory. Overland Park Golf Course uses it, and significantly cuts their potable water usage, which should make the taxpayers happy. This technique does save water, but it’s still not good enough for some folks.

Pesticides

Pesticides prevent, repel, or kill pests, everything from broad-leafed weeds to ants, from fungi to mice. Pesticides include insecticides, fungicides, herbicide, and other substances used to control unwanted visitors. Superintendents – educated and trained in pest management – use these to keep your golf course playable. A much better choice than hiring Carl Spackler and his arsenal of Caddyshack tools to tackle your gopher problem, or weeding a golf course by hand.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) decides which chemicals golf courses can use based on human safety. Although exposure to pesticides may harm people, according to the EPA, “in many cases the amount of pesticide people are likely to be exposed to is too small to pose a risk.”

So are we really safe out there? The GCSAA says yes. “There is no scientific evidence that golfers face any chronic health risks from the pesticides used to maintain courses. Once a liquid product is applied and the turfgrass is dry or the product has been watered in, there is very little chance of exposure to golfers or others who enter the area. It is worth noting that a small percentage of people may be allergic to a particular product, just as some people are allergic to household cleaners, soaps or perfumes. Golfers with possible chemical allergies are always encouraged to contact superintendents to find out what products might be in use.”

At Sycamore Ridge, Davids cuts back on spraying until he sees a problem. In the old days, courses would spray to prevent problems. But today is different. “We don’t treat it until we see the issue,” he said. And this spraying isn’t heavy spraying, either. “Today we’re spraying ounces per acre, and it takes care of the problem for weeks at a time,” he said. Modern science certainly helps control the problem.

Groundwater Leaching

Besides potential harm to golfers and to those working on the courses, people tend to get upset when pesticides leach into groundwater used for human consumption. We probably consume more pesticides than we like to think, but gulping down a glass of ice-cold Roundup just doesn’t sound refreshing.

Not many of us really know what happens to pesticides after they destroy their intended target. Do they clump together and form a giant chemical obelisk? Do they drill through the ground like tiny moles heading for the water table? Or do they dissipate? When applied correctly, according to the GCSAA, the pesticides do not tend to get into groundwater or run off with surface water. Tests have been run to understand the prevalence of contamination, and after determining things like solubility in water, adsorption, root density, photodegradation and a number of other factors, the water looks clean. “Tests have shown that water coming off of the course is cleaner than the water going in,” Bollig said. The dense turf, with giant root systems, breaks down chemicals and acts like a giant filter.

So it’s up to course superintendents to keep things clean. Today they promote a “green” attitude, and with proper turf management, help remove the potential harm caused by chemicals. Superintendents normally have degrees in agronomy or horticulture (or something similar), so they understand the delicate balance of maintaining a healthy golf course. They want to work with their environment. Besides that, pesticides are expensive, and if they can control areas without them, by all means, they will. “Research proves that a properly maintained golf course is compatible with the environment,” Bollig said.

The PGA Championship, The Masters, The U.S. Open . . .

Part of the environmental perception problem is golfers see perfect courses like Pebble Beach and think, “Wow, that’s what my home course should look like.” And while it’s great to play “perfect” courses, a little compromise goes a long way in helping green up the game. It takes gallons of water, herbicides, and hundreds of volunteers working for weeks before the big event to get the course in PGA-television shape.
Really, it’s the local golfer who dictates the appearance of the course. It comes down to “playability vs. color,” as Bollig said. If a course has a patch of brown grass on the fairway, try to ignore it, or think happy thoughts like you are helping to green up the game.

Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary Program

Audubon International, a not-for-profit organization, partners with the USGA to promote conservation and ecological maintenance. Golf courses work to complete certification in six areas, including environmental planning, wildlife and habitat management, outreach and education, chemical use reduction and safety, water conservation, and water quality management. The organization, which is not affiliated with the National Audubon Society, has certified more than 2,200 courses in the world. In our local area, these courses are Certified Audubon Cooperative Sanctuaries:

• Adams Pointe Golf Club, Blue Springs
• Blue Hills Country Club, Kansas City
• Loch Lloyd Country Club, Belton
• Nicklaus Golf Club at Lionsgate, Overland Park
• Quivira Lake Golf & Country Club, Quivira Lake
• Shadow Glen the Golf Club, Olathe

St. Andrews and Overland Park golf courses have just begun the certification process, too, and have completed the planning stage. Bluebirds are nesting at both courses, and the swans have returned to the ponds at St. Andrews.

The Audubon International golf program helps improve the perception that some environmentalists place on golf courses, and golfers. With programs like these, and with the help of golf course superintendents doing their part to green the game, we can be assured that golf fits in with our environment instead of harming it. And in the end, we all win.

Next time you see Al Gore on the course, say hello and ask him for some tips on how to “green up the game,” – and how to hit your lob wedge.
—Roger Hunt

2008 Spring Checklist

Spring has officially arrived – despite the efforts of Punxsutawney Phil and his winter groundhog curse – and that means it’s time to get back to nature and hit the green grass of the tee box. Before you rush out to your favorite launching ground, cover the basics and tune up for 2008. Here’s a checklist to get you started.

• Watch Caddyshack. If it’s still a little cool out to play, watch your favorite movies to get in the mood. Caddyshack is a mainstay, but also relax with The Legend of Bagger Vance, Tin Cup, Dead Solid Perfect (a made for HBO movie with Randy Quaid), Bobby Jones – Stroke of Genius, and the 1951 classic, Follow the Sun. Practice your putts while watching.
  
  
• Clean your clubs. Take a long, hard look at your sticks, and decide if they give you love. If so, spend some time with them. Swing them. You can even sleep with your 3-iron if you want to. They’re your clubs, for goodness sake. If you do choose to stay with them for another season, give them a good cleaning with some soapy water and a scrub brush. Get all the dirt out of the grooves and dry them completely. With clean clubs, you will hit the ball cleaner, too.
  
  
• Grips. What about your worn-out grips? Changing these will have you feeling you’ve got yourself a new set of clubs. Unlike the pros who change out their grips every month, average golfers should change grips at the beginning of every season. Your best bet is to have a professional replace your grips for you, but if you have a utility knife, a vise, some grip solvent, some double-sided grip tape, and a load of patience, you can do it yourself. If you want to go this route, check the internet for directions.
  What grips are best for you? With so many options available, you will need to head to your favorite pro shop or golf store and see what works best for your game. Winn Grips, Lamkin, and Golf Pride – the leaders in the grip industry – offer a multitude of colors, designs and feels to match your style.
  
  If you want to get a little more personalized, have a look at the C-Thru Grips and get the Chiefs, Royals, college teams or even Chili Peppers on your clubs.
  
  GripMaster offers shock-resistant leather grips, and putter grips in exotic alligator, rattler and emu skin. They also make hand-stitched, one-piece grips with a ProTack system. As they say, “The Wetter the Weather, the Better the Grip.”
  Oversized and other new tech-based and training grips round out your choices, but whatever the case, new grips will give you new attitude on the course.
  
  
• New clubs? The other option involves taking your clubs for a drive – to the KCGA offices – and donating them to The First Tee of Greater Kansas City. Let some aspiring junior golfer develop their talents with your donation. And it’s tax deductible, too. Or you can give them to your brother-in-law, sell them, or decorate your basement with them.
  Next, its time you were fitted for new clubs. Club fitting is an art/science, so you’ll need to track down a professional Clubmaker or your PGA professional. Don’t think it’s worth the money? “A recent Study indicated over 80 percent of golfers play with golf clubs that don’t fit them, and many golfers get frustrated and quit the game because it’s too difficult,” Bob Boring, a nationally recognized Clubmaker and owner of Tour Quality Golf, said.
  
  Club fitting involves over twenty variables, starting first with clubhead design. Give yourself the best chance to succeed by choosing heads that fit your skill set. If you are a mid-to-high handicap golfer, pick a head that will make it easier to hit the ball and get it airborne. Next, you need to consider loft, lie, shaft length, flex, grip size and type for starters. A Clubmaker will measure your height, the distance of your wrist to the floor, your swing speed, age, and skill level, to determine some of these variables.
  
  “A good piece of advice,” Boring said, “would be working with a Clubmaker and PGA professional simultaneously to insure positive results and save you money.”
  
  You’ll now need a new set of clubs to get started. Since you’re investing in some new irons, check out this month’s review on page seven. Then take a trip to your local golf store and hit your favorites until your back feels a little tight. Then hit them some more and discover which set will work with your swing. Don’t forget to hit the wedges as well as your long irons. Talk to the golf pros and see what they suggest. Then hit all of the drivers, since that’s what we really like to test, right?
  
  
• Clean out your golf bag. That energy bar you bought last October might not be too stale to eat, but are you willing to chance it when you’re on the 7th hole having the round of your life? Get rid of it. Along with those five freebie divot tools you never use, your worn out spikes at the bottom of your bag, your dirty socks and your old spare glove you keep for an emergency.
  It’s a new year, so start clean and sharp. Gather your favorite tees and add them to your bag. Mark a dozen balls with your “signature” mark. Make your mark mean something. Grab a Sharpie and make a dot for each member of your family, and when you need to make a tough shot, maybe the mark will remind you of them and help you relax. Or mark it with a smiley face, one that you won’t mind mashing off the tee.
  
  Andy Hineman marks his golf balls with his son’s initials, KAH. “It means something to me when I see the mark. I like to set his initials up when I’m putting. It means more than just a dot or something.”
  However you choose to mark your golf balls, do it while you’re at home. It’s one less thing to think about before you step onto the course.
  
  
• Shoes. You probably already cleaned your golf shoes last fall, but if not, now’s the time. Make sure they are nice and waterproof, and looking sharp. Once that’s done, replace your spikes with a new set. Spikes deliver traction and grip while you set up and during your swing, so you want to make sure yours bite the ground and keep you steady. David Resch, the golf pro at Shadow Glen Golf Club, recommends changing your spikes every 40 to 50 rounds, and more frequently if you walk on concrete a lot, so start the season right and change yours today.
  
  
• 3 Golf balls. Typical high-compression golf balls contract off the clubface to provide distance, but in the colder days of spring, denser air and colder, less-pliable balls combine for shorter shots. Playing a low-compression ball – one that has more feel, but traditionally presented as a “ladies” ball (since a low-compression ball will generally give someone with a slower swing speed more distance) – will actually play nice in a cool April morning. A low-compression ball, like the Nike KARMA, Precept Laddie or Precept Lady iQ 180, will compress easier than the standard ball, which helps fight through the cold.
  
  If you keep your golf balls in the basement, out in the garage, or in your trunk, they will harden and perform worse than if you kept them at room temperature. Keeping them warm actually helps provide greater distance, so once you get out on the course, keep a few in warm pockets while you play.
  
  
• Take a lesson. If you never have, call up your favorite golf course and talk to the pro about a few sessions. Lessons help beginners get better faster, and they help create good form and technique from the beginning, establishing a solid golf game. As for average-to-good players, why not invest a little more in lessons? Undoubtedly, you will learn something that helps your game.
  
  “Most people haven’t touched their clubs since October or November, so taking a lesson in the spring is the best thing you can do for your game. It’s much simpler starting off the year with good fundamentals and proper techniques, instead of waiting until all the bad habits creep back in to your swing,” said Mike Zadalis, PGA Director of Golf at Tiffany Greens Golf Club.
  You can take individual or group lessons, and they usually range from 30 minutes to an hour per session, depending on what you want. Your lessons will probably run from four to six weeks, so invest early in the season, and reap the rewards later in the year.
  
  
• Get out and play. Now comes the final check on the list – teeing it up. Grab your golf arsenal and head to a new golf course. You can always come back to your favorite fairways next round, but try something new, and it might inspire your whole season. The Kansas City area has around 50 public courses to test your skills, and then there’s another 30 private courses you may have a chance to play. With your 2008 tune-up completed, no doubt you’ll be playing some of the best golf of your life. And if not, well, you’re still out on the golf course. And nothing is better than that.
  
—Roger Hunt

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