Best Management Practices for Maryland Golf Courses

Figure 7. Drainage project on #18 fairway at Cedar Point Golf Course. Water is carried back and empties into an irrigation pond providing up to 1 million gallons of recovered rainwater each year. Photo credit: David Burkhart. .............................................................................................. 14 Figure 8. Use of native grasses in the rough can help to reduce water use and augment the site’s aesthetic appeal. Photo credit: Tom Turner. ................................................................................. 14 Figure 9. Pump station at Cattail Creek Country Club. Photo credit: Chris Harriman................. 18 Figure 10. Pump station at Baltimore Country Club. Photo credit: Mark Jones. ........................ 19 Figure 11. Irrigation heads can be brought on-line for a few seconds and observed for proper operation. Photo credit: Mark Jones. ............................................................................................ 21 Figure 12. On-site weather stations access weather information and ET rates to determine site- specific water needs. Photo credit: Mark Jones. ........................................................................... 24 Figure 13. Sensors such as the water sensor (left) and soil temperature sensor (right) can aid in irrigation decision making. Photo credit: Joseph Roberts. ........................................................... 25 Figure 14. Irrigation system monitoring. Photo credit: Mark Jones. ............................................ 26 Figure 15. Many BMPs to manage stormwater prolong the water detention process as long as practical, as in this detention pond at Baltimore Country Club. Photo credit: Mark Jones.......... 27 Figure 16. Stream buffers act as natural biofilters that protect surface water quality, such as the vegetated buffers at Poolesville Golf Course. Photo credit: Jon Lobenstine................................ 30 Figure 17. Maintaining riparian buffers around waterbodies protects water quality. Photo credit: Chris Harriman.............................................................................................................................. 33 Figure 18. Artificial aeration helps to maintain DO levels, like this solar powered sub-surface aeration system in use at the Army Navy Country Club. Photo credit: Sandra Burton................ 34 Figure 19. Collecting a water quality sample at Baltimore Country Club. Photo credit: Mark Jones.............................................................................................................................................. 36 Figure 20. Soil testing should be used to manage nutrients more efficiently and in an environmentally sound method. Photo credit: Joseph Roberts. .................................................... 40 Figure 21. Phosphorus deficiency in putting green. Photo credit: Thomas Turner. ..................... 43 Figure 22. Summer patch of Kentucky bluegrass cultivar differences in an NTEP trial. Photo credit: Thomas Turner................................................................................................................... 45 Figure 23. Mowing directions should be altered whenever possible to prevent excessive lateral growth and maintain HOC. Photo credit: Chris Harriman. .......................................................... 55 Figure 24. Reel mowers should be used whenever possible for maintaining low HOC. Photo credit: Joseph Roberts. .................................................................................................................. 56 Figure 25. When clippings are not returned, they should be collected and disposed of properly, such as by composting or dispersing clippings evenly in natural areas. Photo credit: Joseph Roberts. ......................................................................................................................................... 57 Figure 26. Aeration manages soil compaction and aids in improvement of soil drainage by removing small cores or plugs from the soil profile. Photo credit: Chris Harriman. ................... 60

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