Best Management Practices - Florida Department of ...

Best Management Practices

Enhancement of Environmental Quality

for the

Florida Golf Courses

on

F L O R I D A D E PA R T M E N T O F E N V I R O N M E N TA L P R O T E C T I O N

JANUARY 2007

I am pleased to present the new edition

of Best Management Practices for the

Enhancement of Environmental Quality on

Florida Golf Courses. This manual reflects the

collaborative efforts of the Florida Department

of Environmental Protection, the Florida Golf

Course Superintendents Association, the

University of Florida and many private sector

partners to develop nonregulatory guidelines

for minimizing pollution and conserving

Florida¡¯s precious water resources.

Water conservation is one of our most crucial

environmental issues. By adopting and applying the practices recommended in this guide,

industry as well as individuals will help protect our natural resources, minimize the need

for future regulations, and continue Florida¡¯s

commitment to sound environmental stewardship.

MICHAEL W. SOLE, SECRETARY

Florida Department of Environmental Protection

These Best Management Practices were born from

the desire of Florida golf course superintendents

to demonstrate that environmental stewardship is

a responsibility that is taken seriously. The Florida

Golf Course Superintendents Association wishes

to acknowledge the time, effort, and expertise of

the staff of FDEP and other regulatory agencies,

the University of Florida¨CIFAS faculty, and other

members of the private and public sector who

partnered with us to help develop these voluntary

guidelines for enhancing the environment on

Florida¡¯s golf courses.

There is a reason that wildlife gravitates to golf

courses even in urban settings, where they serve as

greenbelts. Golf courses present opportunities for

many diverse wildlife habitats. By following the

practices in this manual, the golf course industry

will be able to demonstrate the positive contributions that golf courses make to communities

across the state of Florida.

CRAIG WEYANDT, PRESIDENT

Florida Golf Course Superintendents Association

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BEST MANAGEMENT PRACTICES for the Enhancement of Environmental Quality on FLORIDA GOLF COURSES

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

Thanks are due to the members and Board of Directors of the Florida Golf Course Superintendents

Association; to Tim Hiers, Old Collier Golf Club; and to Ron Dodson and his staff at Audubon

International, for their services and cooperation over more than a decade in bringing environmental stewardship to golf in Florida. Their continued assistance and counsel have been instrumental

in bringing this manual, and its 1995 predecessor, to life.

Thanks are also due to the following for their efforts in making this manual a reality: Michael

Thomas, FDEP, editor and BMP committee chair; subcommittee chairs Ken Ezell, Clifton, Ezell, &

Clifton; David Court, FGCSA; Jerry Sartain, UF¨CIFAS; Bryan Unruh, UF¨CIFAS; Eileen Buss,

UF¨CIFAS; and Kathy Meaux, Sarasota County; as well as members/contributors Alison Ramoy,

SWFWMD; Amy Meese, Sarasota Co.; Angela Chelette, NWFWMD; Bonnie Finneran, Palm Beach

Co.; Brad Nestor, PGA; Bryan Unruh, UF¨CIFAS; Charles Pattison, 1000 Friends of Florida; Diana

Grawitch, Florida Association of Counties; Dr. William Sutton, M.D.; Eileen A. Buss, UF¨CIFAS;

Eric Reiter, Duda; Francis Flores, NWFWMD; Gary Moyer, The Villages; Geoffrey Coggan,

FGCSA; George H. Snyder, UF¨CIFAS; Greg Lyman, GCSAA; Greg Golgowski, Harmony; Howard

Jack, Audubon International; Jane Foos (deceased), FDACS; Jan Beljan, Fazio Design; Jeff Caster,

ASLA; Jerry Sartain, UF¨CIFAS; Jim Spratt, FNGLA; Joel Jackson, FGCSA; Joellen Zeh, Audubon

International; John Cisar, UF¨CIFAS; John Foy, USGA; John Wildmon, LCCC; Katherine Pordeli,

SJRWMD; Kathy Meaux, Sarasota Co.; Kim Fikoski, Bonita Bay Group; Laurie Trenholm, UF¨CIFAS;

Linda Jamison, Sierra Club; Lois Sorensen, SWFWMD; Michal Eldan, MAA Task Force; Matt

Taylor, FCGSA; Mark Finn, Palm Beach Co.; Mike Fiddelke; Mike Kenna, USGA; Nancy

Richardson, Audubon International; Peg McPherson, SFWMD; Rebecca O¡¯Hara, Florida League of

Cities; Richard Deadman, FDCA; Ron Cohen, SWFWMD; Skip Wright, FIS; Terril Nell, UF¨CIFAS;

Todd Lowe, USGA; Tjerk van Veen, SFWMD.

Special thanks are due to our final editor, Linda Lord, FDEP; to Lori Ann Pollgreen, Geographic

Design; and especially to John and Jeannine Henebry, for permission to use her beautiful photo of

the 16th hole at Old Collier Golf Club on our cover. There is no finer example of the use of both

turf and natural buffers to protect lakes and enhance wildlife.

This publication was funded in part by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection with a

Section 319 Nonpoint Source Management Program Grant from the U.S. Environmental Protection

Agency.

DISCLAIMER

The mention of a specific product or company is for information purposes only and does not constitute an endorsement of that product or company.

Cover Photo by John and Jeannine Henebry. Copyright 2003.

All rights reserved. Reprinted by permission.

Department of Environmental Protection ¨C JANUARY 2007

iii

FOREWORD

This publication provides the superintendent or golf course operator with sound management strategies to maintain the golf

course in a positive manner with respect to environmental protection, water quality protection, and conservation. It is also

intended to provide elected officials, regulators, developers, and others with an overview of golf course management practices and how they relate to environmental issues.

This is a living document. As science and technology progress, golf industry representatives will work in conjunction with

the University of Florida, staff from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) and Florida Department of

Community Affairs (FDCA), and other interested parties to determine the extent to which this document will be amended.

A comprehensive program of best management practices (BMPs) should include a combination of components that are

properly selected, designed, operated, and maintained. BMP options should be screened for feasibility based on the following factors:

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Physical and technical limitations,

Operational and management limitations,

Pollutant reduction/water conservation effects,

Profitability/cost considerations,

Other benefits or disadvantages, and

Public acceptance.

In the event that these BMPs are adopted by rule, as provided by Subsection 403.067(7)(c)1, Florida Statutes (F.S.), certain

protection from liabilities may be established through the voluntary implementation of BMPs that have been verified by

FDEP to be effective in protecting water quality.

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BEST MANAGEMENT PRACTICES for the Enhancement of Environmental Quality on FLORIDA GOLF COURSES

Table of Contents

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS............................................III

FOREWORD ............................................................IV

TABLE OF CONTENTS ................................................V

LIST OF ACRONYMS AND ABBREVIATIONS ............VII

INTRODUCTION ........................................................1

CHAPTER 1: ENVIRONMENTAL CONCEPTS ................4

Air Quality ........................................................................4

Soil and Water Quality......................................................4

Nutrients ....................................................................4

Pesticides ....................................................................4

Wastes ........................................................................5

Wildlife Habitat ................................................................5

Water Conservation ..........................................................5

CHAPTER 2: ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING ..........7

Quality Assurance/Quality Control ..................................7

Predevelopment Monitoring ............................................7

Monitoring During Construction......................................8

Postconstruction Operational Monitoring ........................8

CHAPTER 3: DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION ..............9

Environmental Considerations ........................................9

Site Selection and Design ................................................10

Wetlands....................................................................10

Drainage ....................................................................11

Stormwater, Stormwater Ponds, Lakes,

and Water Hazards....................................................11

Play Areas..................................................................14

Nonplay Areas ..........................................................17

Maintenance Facilities ..............................................20

CHAPTER 4: IRRIGATION..........................................25

Water Sources..................................................................25

Brackish Water ..........................................................25

Reclaimed Water ......................................................26

System Design ................................................................27

Irrigation for Play Areas............................................27

Irrigation for Nonplay Areas and

Landscape Plantings..................................................29

Irrigation System Installation..........................................30

System Operation ............................................................31

Water Restrictions ....................................................31

Irrigation Scheduling ................................................31

Operating Older Systems ..........................................33

System Maintenance........................................................34

Calibrating an Irrigation System ..............................34

Preventive Maintenance ............................................35

Corrective Maintenance ............................................36

System Renovation....................................................36

CHAPTER 5: NUTRITION AND FERTILIZATION ..........38

Overview ........................................................................38

General......................................................................38

Site Analysis ..............................................................39

Fertilizer ..........................................................................39

Terms ........................................................................39

Fertilizer Analysis ....................................................39

Nitrogen ....................................................................40

Phosphorus ..............................................................44

Potassium ..................................................................45

Secondary Plant Nutrients ........................................45

Micronutrients ..........................................................46

Starting a Fertilizer Program ..........................................47

Soil Acidity and Liming ............................................47

Fertilization Program for Golf Greens ......................48

Tees............................................................................49

Fairways and Roughs ................................................49

Grow-In ....................................................................50

Soil Sampling ............................................................50

Tissue Testing............................................................51

Fertilizer Loading............................................................53

Fertilizer Application ......................................................53

Calibration ................................................................53

Granular Application ................................................53

Foliar Feeding ..........................................................53

Precision Application ................................................54

Fertigation ................................................................54

CHAPTER 6: CULTURAL PRACTICES

FOR GOLF TURF ......................................................55

Mowing ..........................................................................55

Mowing Height ........................................................55

Mowing Frequency ..................................................56

Mowing Equipment ..................................................57

Mowing Patterns ......................................................58

Grass Clippings ........................................................58

Turfgrass Cultivation Practices ......................................59

Aerification................................................................59

Vertical Mowing ........................................................63

Topdressing ..............................................................63

Rolling ......................................................................65

Overseeding ....................................................................65

Seed Bed Preparation and Fall Transition ................65

Grass Selection for Overseeding ..............................66

Postplanting Maintenance ........................................66

Shade and Tree Management ..........................................67

CHAPTER 7: LAKE AND AQUATIC PLANT

MANAGEMENT ......................................................68

Lake Management ..........................................................68

Dissolved Oxygen ....................................................69

Sedimentation ..........................................................69

Aquatic Plant Control ....................................................70

Roles of Plant Life in Urban Ponds ..........................70

Management of Plant Life ........................................71

Department of Environmental Protection ¨C JANUARY 2007

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