Golf and Pesticides

For pesticide activists wanting to begin a dialogue about golf course management, the best place to start is with an educated membership at the club in question. There are resources and references available to make a case for a transition to an organic approach- and the facts around the health and environmental effects of pesticides used on many golf courses, many of which are linked to neurological damage, reproductive problems and cancer, are also readily available.

Progress being Made

The good news is there is a change underway and organic golf course management is a reality. Here in Massachusetts, the new Vineyard Golf Course on Martha's Vineyard is one example. Long Island, New York has several organically-designed and maintained golf courses.

Resources:

Neighborhood Network/Organic Golf
Massapequa, New York
www.longislandnn.org/golf

New York Attorney General's Office has a report called
Toxic Fairways: Risking Groundwater Contamination from Pesticides on Long Island Golf Courses.
Available at www.oag.state.ny.us/environment/golf95.html