Golf courses in NM (health, home, organic)

[LRUA]

You're right about those chemicals WLUTZ, one of my mother's friends had a house that backed onto a golf course and she died and exposure of all those chemicals they use to keep it nice may have been the cause, most people are not affected but some people have a weaker immune system

[WLUTZ]

LRUA, I wouldn't doubt it. That's one of the reasons I bring these things up.

[mortimer]

WLUTZ says:

> ... one has to consider other things except money.

One thing you could do is treat a golf course like any other industrial site and require containment of all water that either flows off the greens and fairways or drains into the soil. That's a money consideration.

If they had to line the whole thing and account for all the water like any industrial site would, you would both limit the impact of the golf course and limit the amount of them that get built.

Evaporation of irrigation water is a problem when using potable water (wastage), but is likely to actually help generate rain.

[Devin Bent]

Originally Posted by mortimer

One thing you could do is treat a golf course like any other industrial site and require containment of all water that either flows off the greens and fairways or drains into the soil. That's a money consideration.

If they had to line the whole thing and account for all the water like any industrial site would, you would both limit the impact of the golf course and limit the amount of them that get built.

Quite correct. You can also -- at least in theory -- require "green" practices to replace fertilizers and pesticides. They were doing this for the new golf course at Stowe Mountain Resort in Vermont when I left. I don't know how it has worked out.

[azgreenskeeper]

Wow!

I was going to post some links, but I'm not sure where to start! You guys need to do some reading before you throw out the same old tired generalities about golf courses. I'll reread this thread and try to find some pertinent info for you guys.

[Pipeweld]

I worked at a golf course in West Texas a few summers while going to school. That was many years ago, but we never used pesticides, and very little fertilizer on greens only. The expense has alot to do with that I think. Water came from the sanitation plant as with most courses. With regular watering and mowing you really don't need all that stuff. Personally I have not used fertilizer in 10 years. And yes the yard looks just as good as when I did. (mowed Sunday and today) I do treat the fire ants with a few table spoons of Amdro an their mounds this time of year, and then their gone until next year.(most of the time)

[sjbasin]

Not to brag of course, but Pinon Hills in Farmington is by far the finest golf course in New Mexico, public or private.

Welcome to the world renowned Pinon Hills Golf Course. Opened in 1989, Pinon Hills was immediatley recognized as "one of the best new desert golf courses" by Golf World magazine. In 2002, Pinon Hills was rated by Golf Digest as the #1 municipal golf course in the nation...

Pinon Hills Golf Course Farmington New Mexico

[6/3]

Originally Posted by sjbasin

Not to brag of course, but Pinon Hills in Farmington is by far the finest golf course in New Mexico, public or private.

Thats a good one sjbasin....as it's always been rated at the top up there in many golf magazines.

But i love Alto Lakes up in Ruidoso .
Alto Lakes Golf & Country Club

[WLUTZ]

Pipeweld, What about herbicides (sp?)?

It's almost impossible to keep a lawn perfect without them.

[azgreenskeeper]

Originally Posted by WLUTZ

Pipeweld, What about herbicides (sp?)?

It's almost impossible to keep a lawn perfect without them.

Actually, the best defense against weeds is a healthy turf... a lawn (like a golf fairway) that is watered deep yet infrequently, mowed properly and fertilized only as needed will not allow weeds to compete. It's all part of what is called IPM (Integrated Pest Management). With IPM, using herbicides is not the first option in controlling weeds.