A disease diagnostic lab is critical to the success of an / PM monitoring program.

Monitoring for ImprovedGolf Course Pest Management Results

by JAMES E. SKORULSKIAgronomist, Northeastern Region, USGA Green Section

PEST MANAGEMENT has be-come a major public policy issuetoday, affecting both large and

small golf facilities throughout allregions of the country. This issue isdebated passionately in certain states,but no golf course superintendent any-where is free from public and golferscrutiny when pesticide use and pestmanagement practices are discussed.

Attitudes among superintendentsconcerning pesticide use and pestmanagement issues have changed inrecent years. It is not unusual to findsuperintendents scheduling pesticideapplications in the pre-dawn hours toavoid conflicts with concerned golfersand neighbors. Notification laws havebeen instituted in several states, and itis likely that states will continue to enact

more restnctIOns regarding pesticideavailability and application. Courseofficials are even insisting that pesticideapplications be made on specified dayswhen the golf course is closed.

Are these policies the result of anirrational wave of public hysteria andextreme environmental activism, or is itlong overdue, genuine concern basedupon greater knowledge of pesticide

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issues? The answer, as it usually does,probably lies somewhere between theseextremes. However, the intent of thisarticle is not to examine this debate.Instead, it is to provide informationabout a sound program that willimprove pest management results andpossibly reduce pesticide applications.

It should be emphasized that aneffective pest management programmust begin with the turf's agronomicquality. A weakened or stressed turf ismore vulnerable to disease, insect pests,and weed encroachment. The basicrequirements for turfgrass have notchanged. Adequate light, moisture, andeffective drainage are three basicrequirements for healthy turf.

Quickly consider which greens onyour golf course require the greatestattention regarding pest management.More than likely they are perenniallyweak greens located among maturetrees, or they suffer from poor surfaceor internal drainage. Simply removingor pruning trees or modifying drainagecan dramatically improve the growingenvironment on these greens and reduceor eliminate many pest problems. Themajority of Turf Advisory Service re-ports from USGA agronomists includerecommendations concerning treepruning and removal, yet these recom-mendations are often the most difficultto sell to course officials.

Improper water management, insuf-ficient fertility, and excessively lowmowing heights further stress the turf,leaving it more vulnerable to variouspests and diseases. Several recentarticles in the GREEN SECTIONRECORDhave discussed the importance ofbalancing the turf's fertility require-

.ments and mowing limitations againstpractices aimed at providing cham-pionship playing conditions. This con-cept is especially import.ant as playIncreases on many courses.

Water management also has beenaddressed in countless articles. Never-theless, excessive irrigation continues asone of the greatest errors observed inthe field.

Turf species selection is anotherfactor that dictates pest managementstrategies. Introducing a species in anarea outside its adapted range oftenresults in stress that makes the turfmore susceptible to pests. The use ofcreeping bentgrass in Florida is a goodexample of a grass species poorlyadapted to the state's intense summerheat and humidity. From a pest controlstandpoint, architects and managersare advised to use grass species that

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are best adapted to specific regionalconditions.

What other options exist to improvepest management results on the golfcourse? Trade and scientific journalsdiscuss progress with biological andalternative control techniques. Plantbreeders continue to work on improvedturf cultivars, and new applicationequipment has been developed toimprove our capabilities with a reducedenvironmental impact. Even with theseadvances, though, many feel it is toodifficult to develop a field program thatincorporates new technologies. Resultsfrom research and breeding programshold promise but have yet to provideconsistent field results that can be easilyworked into existing programs. Thesenew technologies are considered bysome to be too costly or labor intensivefor practical implementation. Finally,we have to ask ourselves to what extentwe are willing to try new technologiesand adopt new programs. It is difficultfor many to change established prac-tices that have been ingrained fromformal education, practical training,and field experience.

The truth is, there are indeed low-riskprograms and technologies that thesuperintendent can use for more effec-tive pest management. The majority ofthese techniques are straightforward,common-sense practices that can beinitiated even with a limited budget andstaff. Let's take a closer look at onespecific program that can be imple-mented to improve the results of yourpest management program. In fact, it iscurrently in use at quite a few golfcourses in the Rochester, New York, area.

The program is based on monitoring.Monitoring itself is not a new concept,of course, but let's look at a more struc-tured monitoring program specificallydesigned for golf courses. The for-malized programs are still in theirdevelopmental stages, but they alreadyhave improved pest management resultsand have reduced or eliminated somepesticide applications at many partici-pating golf courses.

What Does a Structured MonitoringProgram Consist of!

Essentially, a structured monitoringprogram uses designated scouts to col-lect a wide range of field data on the golfcourse. The information is documentedand provided to the golf course super-intendent in a formalized report thatcan be used as a basis for objective pestmanagement decisions. The data

include infectious and non-infectioussymptoms observed on the golf course.Regular monitoring provides an excel-lent record of pest populations and theirresulting damage, which can be used forfuture planning and program develop-ment. Regular monitoring also providesfollow-up information on the success ofa particular control measure against apest.

The monitoring can be completed bya course employee who has formalizedtraining in field diagnosis of weeds,diseases, and insects. He or she mayhave other duties to perform as anemployee of the club, but the primaryresponsibility should be the monitoringprogram. The superintendent mustavoid the temptation of assigning otherwork tasks that might disrupt regularmonitoring practices.

A professional scout, who often isemployed by several courses in a locale,also may be used to complete themonitoring program. Because they seeseveral courses each week, professionalscouts can spot trends in an area, andcan use the information from onecourse's problems to assist the others. Ascout is typically a graduate with adegree in agronomy or horticulture withemphasis in pest management. Studentsoften serve summer internships asscouts, and then return following gradu-ation as full-time scouts. The degree ofeducation, field experience, and formaldiagnostic training of a scout will in-fluence the effectiveness and cost of themonitoring program. It was determinedin the Rochester program that scoutinggreens, tees, and fairways weekly wouldcost each participating course approxi-mately $3,000 per year .

How is a Monitoring ProgramConducted?

An intensive program includesmonitoring the greens, tees, fairways,roughs, and ornamental plantings andtrees. Monitoring frequency varies foreach portion of the golf coursedepending on the available time andoperating budget. The greens and teesusually require the greatest attentionand are initially monitored daily orevery other day. Fairways and roughareas may be monitored less frequentlyif labor or time is a concern. Monitoringtime can be reduced significantly oncethe indicator areas, or hot spots, forparticular pest problems are found onthe golf course. The superintendent canhelp provide guidance as to where suchlocations are for particular pests, and

A typical scouting report used in thefield contains pertinent information such as monitoring date, weather conditions,soil temperatures, and general comments on the turf's overall condition.

monitoring efforts can be concentratedin these areas when conditions favorthose pests. Monitoring in the earlymorning hours is preferred, as diseasesymptoms and signs are most con-spicuous prior to mowing. Scoutingearly each day also minimizes inter-ference with play.

Monitoring greens and tees iscompleted simply by walking a circularpattern around each green to observeinsect activity, weeds, disease, and non-infectious symptoms. The overallquality of the greens, tees, and fairwayscan be rated, and symptoms should be

documented on a formalized scoutingsheet. Pest activity may be quantified bycounting actual insects, disease lesions,or weeds, or by estimating a percentageof affected or damaged turf.

Fairways often are scouted from agolf cart or utility vehicle. Closerexaminations are completed if symp-toms are observed. Scouting programsfor certain pests can require a more in-depth procedure. For instance, evaluat-ing late summer white grub populationsrequires a more specialized procedurewhich is completed separately fromdaily monitoring activities.

How Much Time Does a StructuredMonitoring Program Require?

The time required to scout the entiregolf course will vary depending on thetime of season, pest activity, and degreeof scouting. Initial scouting of greens,tees, and fairways has requiredapproximately 3 to 3 \;1 hours forformalized programs in Rochester, NewYork. The time requirement often canbe reduced as the program becomesmore refined. Obviously, the more timeallotted to monitoring, the moresuccessful the program. However,

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How is the Field Information Packaged?

The field data are carefully tabulatedon prepared field sheets that are pro-vided immediately to the superinten-dent following the monitoring session.The information then can be logged intoa computer to develop a permanentdata base. Data sheets should containas much pertinent information aspossible. The monitoring date, weatherconditions, soil temperatures, andgeneral comments on the turf's overallcondition can be listed along with theprecise location and description ofspecific pests or symptoms encoun-tered. Mapping pest activity, symptoms,or weed populations can be a valuablereference for the future. The data sheetscan contain preformed diagrams ofeach hole, or the scout can sketch arough drawing indicating the specificproblem areas.

What Tools Are Required for aMonitoring Program?

The scout's tools are basically simple.A good set of eyes and an open mindare definite requirements. The scoutalso should be armed with a standardlOX hand lens, soil probe, cup cutter,pocket knife, tweezers, scalpel, collec-tion vials, and field identificationbooks. A 1-2 gallon diluted detergentsolution also might be required forsampling thatch inhabiting and variousweevil insects. Other permanent moni-toring tools that would be helpfulinclude a weather station, pheromonetraps, and pitfall traps. These arepermanent monitoring tools that mightbe stationed at each golf course.

The number of pesticide applications willchange after initiating an IPM program.Sometimes the number will increase, butpesticides that are applied will be used at

the most effective application period.

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managers and superintendents in theRochester area feel that monitoringfrequency could be limited to two orthree visits per week without sacrificingthe program's success. Several golfcourses involved in the program aremonitored even less frequently.

Nationally, monitoring frequencywould be directly dependent on theweather conditions. Regions of thecountry with greater disease or pestpressure would probably requiregreater monitoring frequencies duringperiods of peak disease or insectactivity.

What Are Some of theActual Monitoring Techniques?

Specific monitoring practices varydepending on particular pests. Gen-erally, diseas'e symptoms and weeds aremonitored visually. Insect monitoringmay require excavation with a knife,cup cutter, or sod shovel, probing, trap-ping, or drenching. The scout should befully knowledgeable with all monitoringtechniques available for those peststhat may be encountered. An excellentsource of information for insect moni-toring is TurJgrassInsects oj the UnitedStates and Canada by Dr. HaruoTashiro. It is available through CornellUniversity Press. Universities and ex-tension agencies are excellent sourcesfor information concerning diagnosis,biologies, and monitoring techniquesfor the specific pests in your region.

How Are Disease SymptomsAccurately Diagnosed?

The scout should be completelyfamiliar with most disease symptoms inthe field. There are many excellentbooks that provide in-depth descrip-tions of disease symptoms and epi-demiology as well as descriptive colorplates. The Compendium oj TurJgrassDiseases, written by Richard Smileyand published by the American Phyto-pathological Society, is an excellentsource of descriptive information andcolor plates (this publication currentlyis being completely revised). Slide setsof various diseases are available fromuniversities and the American Phyto-pathological Society. Agri-DiagnosticsReveal Kits also are good tools for fielddiagnosis of specific diseases.

What About Diseases thatCannot Be Identified in the Field?

Many diseases cannot be diagnosedin the field. Microscopic examination isusually required for accurate prelimi-nary diagnosis. Scouts should receivetraining in microscopic identification ofdisease pathogens, and they should beprovided with a microscope or haveaccess to a microscope and the labora-tory supplies required for preliminaryexaminations. Additional laboratorydiagnosis also will be required for somediseases.

Successful disease managementdepends on rapid, 'accurate field andlaboratory analysis. It is imperative thata strong communication link be estab-lished between golf course personnel,scout, and diagnostic lab to assuretimely diagnosis for effective control

decisions. The success of a monitoringprogram often hinges on the superin-tendent's confidence in the scout andthe laboratory's diagnostic capabilities.

What Benefits Result fromStructured Monitoring?

Instituting a monitoring programimproves pest management on the golfcourse. A monitoring program may notalways reduce chemical applications inall situations, but it will assure morejudicious use. of pesticides. Trainedpersonnel or professional scouts withaccess to a diagnostic lab are more aptto diagnose pest symptoms correctly,thereby reducing or eliminating im-proper or unnecessary pesticide appli-cations. This system could result in asubstantial monetary savings and pos-sibly reduce the quantity of pesticidesapplied to the golf course.

A significant economic savings inlabor and materials also has beenrealized during the initial years ofmonitoring programs completed ongolf courses in New York State. Thesavings are calculated on pesticideapplications based on structured moni-toring versus applications completed ona preventative schedule. The initialsavings have helped defray labor anddiagnostic costs involved with themonitoring program. James Willmott,a principal investigator in the Rochestermonitoring program, feels that scoutingcould be economically justifiable toclubs if pesticide applications werereduced by 40-50%. The reductionswere a reality in the first years of theprogram, though this may not always bethe case. Monitoring could, in fact,increase pesticide applications in someinstances as more pests or pest symp-toms are discovered from the greatermonitoring intensity.

A structured monitoring programserves as the foundation for an Inte-grated Pest Management (IPM) pro-gram. Various IPM tactics can be usedin control strategies should monitoringdata indicate a need for action. Severalyears of compiled data will suggest pestthreshold numbers specific to yourconditions, which will further improvefuture control decisions.

Often, a monitoring program focusesattention on the areas of the golf coursethat perennially suffer specific pestproblems. Management efforts or con-trols often can be concentrated in theindicator areas, thus avoiding broadpreventative pesticide applications.Monitoring data can be used to limitpesticide applications only to those

areas where pests are currently active.Detailed records and mapping alsoillustrate problem areas which mayrequire cultural management changesor design modifications. Justificationfor such projects can be made easierwith actual data that highlight theproblem.

Obviously, structured monitoring isnot the final answer to our pest manage-ment needs. Research is required todevelop better forecasting models thatcan be used along with monitoring formore effective pest management.Research to obtain greater knowledgeof pest biologies and life cycles, and pestresponse to various cultural practicesalso is required. Looking ahead, struc-tured monitoring programs will beginto provide scientists with some helpfuldata concerning these needs.

Developing greater pest resistance inturf cultivars is another approach thatneeds more work. Plant breeders arecurrently working with naturally occur-ring endophytes in grasses and areattempting to expand this beneficialfungus into bentgrass, Kentucky blue-grass, and other turf species. Breedingwork also continues to search forcultivars with greater disease resistance.For example, the USGA currentlysponsors breeding work at Texas A&MUniversity that is searching forRhizoctonia brown patch and pythiumdisease resistance in bentgrass andZOYSlagrass.

Finally, developments in alternativepest management techniques andbiological controls promise to improveour capabilities. The production ofhost-specific pesticides and improvedapplication equipment also offerpromise for pest management programsin the future.

Combining these technologies with astructured monitoring program willform the basis for strong IPM pro-grams. Pest management results willimprove with no loss in turf quality orreasonable playing conditions.

Try initiating a monitoring programon your golf course and attempt toincorporate IPM control strategies withit. Perhaps you will surprise yourself oryour course officials with a majorreduction in the pesticide budget. Youalso might be surprised at the turf'sability to tolerate disease and insectpests. Finally, instituting a monitoringand IPM program will improve yourimage as a professional and demon-strate your genuine concern for theenvironment. After all, how many golfcourse superintendents don't considerthemselves environmentalists?

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