Turf Treatments at Banstead Downs Golf Club

LIMITING THE REGULATED USE OF PESTICIDES
AT BANSTEAD DOWNS WHENEVER POSSIBLE

Maintaining a large area of high-quality turf for sport is a difficult task.  The maintenance of greens, tees and fairways for golf is particularly challenging. This is because of the large areas involved, the subtle changes required in playing surfaces and the essential fine grasses, maintained at only a few millimetres of blade length.

Turf quality can only be achieved with the use of pesticides. At Banstead Downs Golf Club, a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), we limit the use of these treatments (fungicides, herbicides and insecticides) as much as possible. Only the teeing grounds, the fairways and the putting greens are treated. The areas of ‘rough’ grass on either side of each fairway are not treated.

All work is conducted within the guidelines, rules and regulations stipulated by the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (DEFRA).  Not all treatments used on the golf course are controlled by DEFRA and not all require that signage be displayed on and around the golf course whilst treatments (usually but not exclusively spraying) are in progress. Once a spray has dried on the leaf of the plant or it has been washed into the soil it is deemed to be of no risk to humans or the environment.

It is also important to note that all golf club staff tasked with applying these treatments are fully qualified and possess DEFRA approved certification.

The measures listed below further mitigate the use of pesticides:
• Keep a balanced fertiliser program
• Schedule all applications to minimise contact with players and public
• Calibrate and maintain equipment
• The use of 'anti-drift' nozzles to reduce drift
• Low pressure spraying to reduce drift
• Varied application rates
• Post irrigation when required
• Water management on all surfaces
• Integrated Pest Management (IPM) program and monitoring
• Low risk product selection
• Water and soil testing
• Constant weather & seasonal monitoring

A detailed programme of treatments is listed below, although this is subject to change due to the prevailing weather and wind conditions.

All registered pesticides have a unique Ministerially Approved Pesticide Product (MAPP) number. A MAPP number is only given to pesticides that must be registered for use in the UK and have passed all safety checks for the stated usage. Because we use various suppliers a specific MAPP number cannot be published in this programme. If you require a MAPP number for any of the products being applied at Banstead Downs Golf Club please do not hesitate to contact greens@bansteaddowns.co.uk for the relevant information. Further information is also available on the Health & Safety Executive website at https://www.hse.gov.uk/pesticides.

BDGC Treatments Programme

January / February
Area Treated: All Putting Surfaces
Pesticide Type: Fungicide
Product Example: Ascernity UK Fungicide
Supplier: Syngenta Turf & Landscape
Purpose: Control fungal diseases on turf
Treatment Method: Spraying
Signage on Display: Yes

March
Area Treated: All Putting Surfaces
Pesticide Type: Fungicide / Fertiliser / Growth Regulator
Product Example: Primo Maxx II - Growth Regulator
Supplier: Syngenta Turf & Landscape
Purpose: Control growth to reduce mowing frequency
Treatment Method: Spraying
Signage on Display: Yes

April
Area Treated: All Putting Surfaces
Pesticide Type: Fungicide / Fertiliser / Growth Regulator
Product Example: Primo Maxx II - Growth Regulator
Supplier: Syngenta Turf & Landscape
Purpose: Control growth to reduce mowing frequency
Treatment Method: Spraying
Signage on Display: Yes

May
Area Treated: Fairways / Tees / Putting Surfaces
Pesticide Type: Selective Herbicide / Wetting Agent
Product Example: Praxys Selective / H2Pro AquaSmart
Supplier: ICL UK
Purpose: Control weeds / Retain moisture (less watering)
Treatment Method: Spraying
Signage on Display: For herbicide only

June
Area Treated: Fairways / Tees / Paths / Car Park
Pesticide Type: Selective Herbicide / Total Herbicide
Product Example: Gallup Biograde Amenity
Supplier: Rigby Taylor
Purpose: Eradicate weeds on hard surfaces
Treatment Method: Spraying
Signage on Display: Yes

July
Area Treated: All Putting Surfaces
Pesticide Type: Fungicide / Fertiliser / Growth Regulator
Product Example: Primo Maxx II - Growth Regulator
Supplier: Syngenta Turf & Landscape
Purpose: Control growth to reduce mowing frequency
Treatment Method: Spraying
Signage on Display: Yes

August
Area Treated: All Putting Surfaces / Tees
Pesticide Type: Fungicide
Product Example: Instrata Elite
Supplier: Syngenta Turf & Landscape
Purpose: Control stress related diseases on fine turf
Treatment Method: Spraying
Signage on Display: Yes

September
Area Treated: Putting Surfaces / Tees
Pesticide Type: None - Growth Regulator
Product Example: Primo Maxx II - Growth Regulator
Supplier: Syngenta Turf & Landscape
Purpose: Control growth to reduce mowing frequency
Treatment Method: Spraying
Signage on Display: No

October
Area Treated: All Putting Surfaces
Pesticide Type: Fungicide
Product Example: Eland Strobilurin Turf Fungicide
Supplier: Rigby Taylor
Purpose: Control fungal diseases on turf
Treatment Method: Spraying
Signage on Display: Yes

November
Area Treated: Putting Surfaces / Tees
Pesticide Type: Insecticide
Product Example: Acelepryn
Supplier: Syngenta Turf & Landscape
Purpose: Control of Chafer Grubs and Leatherjackets
Treatment Method: Spraying
Signage on Display: Yes

December
Area Treated: All Putting Surfaces
Pesticide Type: Fungicide
Product Example: Eland Strobilurin Turf Fungicide
Supplier: Rigby Taylor
Purpose: Control fungal diseases on turf
Treatment Method: Spraying
Signage on Display: Yes