Golf courses are under the environmental spotlight in many parts of the world. Do chemicals used on golf ranges affect the environment? Yes chemicals certainly do have a vast affect on the environment. There are currently more then “60,000 golf courses in the world” (Web 1).
Given an average of 50 hectares per 18-hole course, this represents a total in excess of 200,000 hectares of golfing land. In one sense this is a large area, offering potentially enormous opportunities for environmental management and nature conservation. Through these separate golfing outlets the message of environmental responsibility and stewardship can be extended to millions of golfers. Yet in comparison with other land uses, such as agriculture, golf is a minuscule activity.
Agents, which kill plant materials on golf courses, are termed “herbicides” (Graves, 2003). They may affect a broad spectrum of plants or be quite specific for an individual problem weed. Today’s market is largely dominated by organic herbicides, which are pest-specific and less likely to persist for extended periods.
Another group of herbicides includes the phenoxy compounds. Phenoxy herbicides have breakdown products more toxic than the original molecule, degrading to produce phenol compounds. This group includes 2,4-D compounds used to kill broad-leaf weeds. Used widely on lawns and golf courses, there are concerns over the development of cancer as a result of chronic over-exposure. The most toxic chemically related compound is dioxin a chlorophenol, a suspect in increased incidences of cancer. These chloro-phenol types of compounds are also used as fungicides wood preservatives.
Golf courses have traditionally been thought of as environmentally sound landscapes, preserving green spaces that otherwise could have been developed and providing a recreational opportunity for nearby residents. In recent years, however as the public has become increasingly alarmed and concerned with chemical use and groundwater quality, the......
