Integrated Pest Management
Integrated Pest Management (IPM) is a system that allows golf courses to solve pest problems in the lowest risk fashion. Through practices like scouting, identifying pests, and using data, superintendents can become more efficient with pesticide use, leading ultimately to control of key pests with fewer pesticide applications. Most golf courses maintain a suite of complementary tactics, marrying proactive scouting and mechanical controls with judicious chemical interventions.
The varied nature of pest management in New York requires an array of knowledge and IPM practices to control pests of all kinds and produce high quality playing conditions. Pest scouting is a crucial aspect of IPM and New York golf courses adopt all scouting-related practices at high rates (88%). A strong percentage of courses (56%) evaluate pesticide product efficacy through check plots or data collection, which is indicative of critical evaluation of pest control strategies.
Top IPM efforts also include chemical rotation (98%) to reduce resistance and spot treatments (81%) to minimize use.
In top‐tier practices (rotation, scouting, spot treatments), each region contributed roughly 12–14 implementations.
Even smaller districts (Central NY, Southern Tier) show strong participation, with 8–10 adopters in core areas.
Development of formal written IPM plans are currently 32% which may suggest practices come before planning, supporting the need for a more concise, clear document to serve as a communication tool for stakeholders.
Of the top 5 most difficult to control pests in New York:
Two were diseases: dollar spot and anthracnose
Two were insects: annual bluegrass weevil and earthworms
One was a weed: crabgrass
Environmental Impact Quotient: A Science-Based Tool to Guide Smarter Decisions
Pesticide risk indicators, like the Environmental Impact Quotient (EIQ), provide numerical risk estimates of a pesticide application to the environment, applicators, and/or golfers, and can aid in selection of lower risk products. Cornell extension professionals and organizations like the New York State Turfgrass Association (NYSTA) provide continuing education on pesticide risk indicators for the New York golf industry.
Data-driven Pest Management
A key finding shows that 80% of New York golf courses regularly consult pest forecasting models that consider prevailing weather patterns to predict pest emergence. This is a significant improvement from a 2021 nationwide survey by the GCSAA, where 60% of superintendents used such models.
The Cornell Turfgrass ForeCast website allows New York golf courses to access pest-forecasting models for free, offering a template for other states to similarly offer digital support tools that foster BMP adoption.
Decision-Support Tools
An emerging trend in golf course management is using data-driven decision-support tools (DSTs). These tools synthesize complex information into practical insights. At New York golf courses:
8 of the 15 DSTs surveyed were used at rates above 50%, showing strong adoption
43% incorporate pesticide risk indicators - advanced models typically used by researchers - demonstrating commitment to assessing risks beyond product labels
At least two courses in every geographic region have adopted DSTs, this widespread adoption emphasizes the sensitivity of New York golf courses to pesticide use
DSTs with the highest use rates involve environmental and weather monitoring either directly (weather data, growing degree days, soil temperatures) or through models that predict pest pressure (insects, weeds, diseases)
New York golf courses continue to expand BMP adoption, with growing use of IPM underscoring steady improvement and showing that responsible stewardship enhances the golfing experience.
What is Assessed
Golf facility IPM BMP data comes from the 2024 New York golf facility survey conducted by Radius Sports Group.
How it is Measured
Analysis was completed in collaboration with Cornell University and benchmarked against national and state golf industry studies.
