Wisconsin Golf Industry Best Management Practices Wisconsin Golf Course Superintendents Association Best Management Practices Guide 1 Introduction BEST MANAGEMENT PRACTICES MANAGEMENT BEST 2 Wisconsin Golf Industry isconsin, located in the heart of the Midwest, Sustainability is integrated throughout our BMPs in order is known for its agriculture, education, sense W to help guide golf courses of community, sports and vast outdoors. Golf plays a in balancing performance special role within the State, as the industry generates and economic impact with $2.4 billion in total economic output, produces 38,431 environmental stewardship and jobs, and contributes $772 million in wage income. community. Our golf courses (Economic Impact by State. 2008. WE ARE GOLF.) have adopted recommendations Wisconsin is home to approximately 500 golf facilities and BMPs encouraged by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources ranging from municipal to top-ranked courses, including and the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture Whistling Straits, Erin Hills, Milwaukee Country Club, Office of Sustainability and Clean Energy for Sand Valley, and Blackwolf Run. The state draws major greening businesses statewide. Cities, regions, and championships including the Ryder Cup, US Open, PGA communities have varying levels of sustainability Championship, and many other professional events. The planning; courses are encouraged to collaborate Wisconsin Golf Course Superintendents Association within their communities for continuous environmental improvement to make a positive (WGCSA) and Northern Great Lakes (NGL) chapter of impact today and in the future. the GCSA are comprised of dedicated agronomists, golf maintenance professionals, industry partners, and educators who are responsible for the maintenance and sustainability of these golf courses throughout the state. WATER The NGL represents members in the Northwoods area of MANAGEMENT: Wisconsin, Minnesota, and Michigan. Surface Water ManagementIRRIGATION POLLINATOR Water Quality The WGCSA, founded in 1930, and the NGL are PROTECTION Monitoring & Management IRRIGATION dedicated to a quality golfing experience and & WILDLIFE HABITAT committed to preserving natural resources through using science-based practices. We also share strong midwestern values and a commitment PLANNING, DESIGN, MOWING & CONSTRUCTION & ROOT ZONE to our families and communities. is critical for LANDSCAPE MANAGEMENT sustainable operations and environmental stewardship. We developed this guide of best management practices (BMPs) to serve as operating standards for superintendents to COMMUNITY NUTRIENT strive toward and an educational resource for ENGAGEMENT MANAGEMENT all stakeholders. This guide was developed in collaboration with Radius Sports Group, BMPs a sustainability consulting firm, and has been reviewed by leaders in golf course management, ENERGY INTEGRATED PEST construction, regulatory, and academic fields. CONSERVATION MANAGEMENT The document details 12 sections ranging from RESPONSIBLE community engagement to irrigation to integrated LABOR & PESTICIDE STAFFING pest management and water quality protection, to MANAGEMENT name a few. Each section contains BMPs and regulatory MAINTENANCE OPERATIONS considerations, as well as local resources for additional information. On behalf of the Wisconsin Golf Industry BMP steering committee, our WGCSA and NGL members, and allied partners, we hope that this BMP guide conveys the dedication and care that each Wisconsin superintendent has for the environment, our communities, and the game of golf. Best Management Practices Guide 3 THROUGH CARING FOR THOUSANDS OF ACRES OF GREENSPACE, WE CONTINUOUSLY SEEK WAYS TO CONTRIBUTE TO OUR COMMUNITIES. THIS RANGES FROM DEVELOPING POLLINATOR AND WILDLIFE HABITATS TO WATER CONSERVATION AND WATER QUALITY INITIATIVES FOR THE BENEFIT OF OUR LOCAL ECOSYSTEMS. 4 Wisconsin Golf Industry Overview: Wisconsin’s Climate, Soils, and Ecology Wisconsin is an ecologically diverse area with golf courses situated amongst rolling hills, across the plains, adjacent to rivers, next to farmlands, in urban settings, and on the coastlines. Two Great Lakes border the state to the North and East, blending beaches, bluffs, and plains in a way that is rarely found in the otherwise homogenous landscape of the Midwest. The Kettle Moraine State Forest, the Niagra Escarpment, and bluffs situated along the Mississippi and Lake Superior provide wildlife habitats, recreational areas, and breathtaking natural beauty. Wisconsin’s diverse geography makes golfing a unique experience, no matter where the golf course is located in the state. Wisconsin Golf Course Locations The state encompasses two Köppen Climate zones; most of the state is considered to be Warm Summer Humid Continental, but the Southern and Eastern edges are Hot Summer Humid Continental, as the mean temperature of its warmest month is higher than 71.6°F (22°C). Wisconsin experiences four distinct seasons and constant precipitation throughout the year. The most popular time of the year to enjoy golfing in the state is from late spring to early fall, when the weather is warmest. Wisconsin’s most common biomes, or regions that consist of certain plant and animal species that thrive under the same environmental conditions, include coniferous forests, deciduous forests, and temperate grasslands. Wisconsin is different from the rest of the Midwest due to its relatively uneven topography, splitting the state into five distinct regions. Source: https://www.golfwisconsin.com/maps/golfmap.cfm Best Management Practices Guide 5 Ecological Landscapes of Wisconsin The southwestern two-thirds of the state compromise the Western Uplands, characterized by rugged terrain, deep river trenches, and sharp elevation changes. The Eastern Ridges and Lowlands span from Green Bay to Wisconsin’s southern border on the eastern edge of the state. The lowland located between two elevated ridges is relatively flat and fertile. Most of Wisconsin’s population lives in this region, and a majority of its golf courses are located here due to the ideal environment. The Central Plain is flat and sandy and separates northern and southern Wisconsin. Almost the entirety of northern Wisconsin makes up the Northern Highland, which was once part of a mountain range that has now been smoothed through erosion and glaciation into a flat plain at a high altitude. Finally, the northern tip of Wisconsin comprises the Lake Superior Lowland, known for its gently sloping plain that has dropped due to faulting in the region. In the northern part of Wisconsin, forested loamy soils dominate, with some pockets of silty or sandy soil. However, sandy and loamy red soils lie over dolomite in the Northern tip of the state. On Wisconsin’s eastern edge, soil is red clay and loam, but in its southeast region, soils are primarily silty. Most soils in western and central Wisconsin are also silty, but central Wisconsin consists of more prairies than the forested western region. When choosing where to place a golf course, understanding Wisconsin’s unique topography and soils are essential for its success. 6 Wisconsin Golf Industry Wisconsin Soil Regions Best Management Practices Guide 7 Acknowledgments National Best Management Practices Planning Guide & Template developed by the GCSAA and USGA in partnership with the PGA TOUR. Funded through the EIFG. Golf Course Superintendents Association of America GCSAA is the professional association for the men and women who manage and maintain the game’s most valuable resource — the golf course. Today, GCSAA and its members are recognized by the golf industry as one of the key contributors in elevating the game and business to its current state. Since 1926, GCSAA has been the top professional association for the men and women who manage golf courses in the United States and worldwide. From its headquarters in Lawrence, Kansas, the association provides education, information and representation to more than 18,000 members in more than 78 countries. GCSAA’s mission is to serve its members, advance their profession and enhance the enjoyment, growth and vitality of the game of golf. Environmental Institute for Golf The Environmental Institute for Golf (EIFG) fosters sustainability by providing funding for research grants, education programs, scholarships and awareness of golf’s environmental efforts. Founded in 1955 as the GCSAA Scholarship & Research Fund for the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America, the EIFG serves as the association’s philanthropic organization. The EIFG relies on the support of many individuals and organizations to fund programs to advance stewardship on golf courses in the areas of research, scholarships, education, and advocacy. The results from these activities, conducted by GCSAA, are used to position golf courses as properly managed landscapes that contribute to the greater good of their communities. Supporters of the EIFG know they are fostering programs and initiatives that will benefit the game and its environment for years to come. United States Golf Association The United States Golf Association (USGA) provides governance for the game of golf, conducts the U.S. Open, U.S. Women’s Open and U.S. Senior Open as well as 10 national amateur championships, two state team championships and international matches, and celebrates the history of the game of golf. The USGA establishes equipment standards, administers the Rules of Golf and Rules of Amateur Status, maintains the USGA Handicap System and Course Rating System,