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Privacy Policy

Privacy Policy This site is owned and operated by Virginia Chapter Golf Course Superintendents Association of America (VGCSA). Your privacy on the Internet is of the utmost importance to us. VGCSA will not share information about individual users with any third party, except to comply with applicable law or valid legal process or to protect the personal safety of our users or the public. Because you voluntarily share certain types of information with us, we feel you should fully understand our policy and the terms and conditions surrounding the capture and use of that information. This privacy statement discloses what […]

Front Page

  Overview Virginia’s golf course superintendents are dedicated to protecting the state’s natural resources. As a demonstration of this commitment, superintendents have partnered with Virginia Tech scientists to develop and document best management practices (BMPs) for golf course management. BMPs help golf course superintendents protect our state’s surface and groundwater resources, provide habitat for wildlife, reduce pesticide usage, and conserve energy. We have developed these research-based, voluntary guidelines specifically for our state. By documenting and implementing these practices across the state, we hope to showcase our role as environmental stewards and inform stakeholders about our commitment to this role. – […]

7 Integrated Pest Management

7 Integrated Pest Management When turfgrasses face stresses such as the heat and drought found in Virginia’s transition zone climate, pests can become a problem. Pesticides alone will not control pests; a more effective approach is to develop an IPM program to reduce pest damage and reliance on pesticides. The EPA defines IPM as “an effective and environmentally sensitive approach to pest management that relies on a combination of common-sense practices.” The primary objective of an IPM program is to reduce the total pesticide load on the golf course by using a combination of tactics to control or manage pests. […]

2 Irrigation

2 Irrigation The irrigation system on a golf course is critical for the maintenance of high-quality playing conditions. Throughout Virginia, various types of irrigation systems are used, ranging from basic quick connect and hose applications to advanced multi-row sprinkler systems. Advanced systems conserve water, making use of the latest in computerized central control, state-of-the-art pumping systems, sprinklers with highly efficient nozzles, soil sensors, radio communication, and weather data collection devices. Because every golf course is different, the requirements, design, and specifications of irrigation systems differ. Therefore, irrigation recommendations should be adapted to fit the needs of a particular system and […]

3 Water Management

3 Water Management Whether natural or manmade, surface water in the form of lakes, ponds, and streams has long been associated with golf courses. Natural lakes and ponds are usually connected to existing water sources, such as wetland areas. Irrigation impoundments (lakes, ponds, and constructed wetlands) can be incorporated into the design of a course and used both to manage stormwater and to function as a source for irrigation. Overall, water management incorporates not only the information contained in this chapter, but many of the issues discussed throughout this document, including: Design considerations such as the use of vegetated buffers. […]

1 Planning, Design, and Construction

1 Planning, Design, and Construction Building a new golf course or renovating an existing golf course requires careful consideration of the health of the golf course ecosystem during planning, design, and construction. Designers can draw inspiration and develop a balanced, functional design through intense study of the onsite and neighboring ecological features, habitat documentation, terrain analysis, circulation patterns (such as air, water, wildlife, and traffic), and a variety of other constraints and attributes. The thoughtful use of BMPs during planning, design, and construction should result in an environmentally sustainable golf course that operates efficiently and profitably. Because each golf course […]

5 Nutrient Management

5 Nutrient Management Proper nutrient management plays a key role in the reduction of environmental risk and also increases course profitability. Among other benefits, applied nutrients increase the available pool of nutrients and allow turfgrass to recover from damage, improve its resistance to stress, and increase its playability. However, an increase in available nutrients also raises the potential risk of environmental impact. Nutrients may move beyond the turfgrass via leaching or runoff, which may directly impact water quality. Other organisms also respond to increases in nutrients and, in some cases, these organisms may deleteriously alter the ecosystem. The goal of […]