Key Environmental Messages

The USGA is striving to ensure the responsible use of
pesticides and fertilizers.
  • University research shows that when used properly, most pesticides used on golf courses have a negligible effect on the environment.
  • Research shows that under most conditions, the small amounts of pesticides and fertilizers that move through the soil are found at levels well below the health and safety standards established by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
  • New grasses, like buffalograss, have been developed that require less use of pesticides, fertilizers, and water.
  • Nonchemical alternatives to some pesticides have been developed through the USGA's Research Program. These include using beneficial organisms to control undesirable insects.
  • USGA staff help golf course personnel identify ways to reduce pesticide use.
  • The USGA has funded more than 30 research projects to better understand the effects of pesticides on our water and wildlife.



The USGA is dedicated to preserving the environment and ensuring that golf is safe and enjoyable for everyone.
  • More than 2,100 golf courses have registered in the USGA-sponsored Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary Program. Courses can be certified in six categories:

    1. Environmental Planning;
    2. Wildlife and Habitat Managemen
    3. Water Conservation;
    4. Water Quality Management;
    5. Integrated Pest Management;
    6. Member/Public Involvement.

  • USGA-sponsored research is producing new grasses that require less water, pesticides and fertilizer. These grasses can be used on golf courses, sports fields, and home lawns.
  • Sixteen, highly qualified USGA staff work one-one-one with thousands of golf course superintendents. They help superintendents adopt environmentally sound maintenance practices, like identifying non-chemical ways to control pests and using better irrigation practices.
  • Turfgrasses offer many benefits including reducing erosion; restoring areas damaged by mining or landfills; improving air quality and moderating temperatures.
  • More people are enjoying golf today than ever before - 25 million men, women, and youth.
  • Roughly 8 of 10 rounds of golf are played on public courses.
  • The USGA publishes books, periodicals, and other publications that educate the golf community about ways to protect and enhance the environment.



Golf courses use less water now, thanks to USGA research.
  • Some golf courses use half the water they did 10 years ago. Improved grasses, like buffalograss and bermudagrass, save water.
  • USGA staff help superintendents conserve water by making better decisions about when to water and how to use technology that improves irrigation precision.
  • More wastewater is used for irrigation on golf courses today than ever before.
  • The USGA's book, Wastewater Reuse for Golf Course Irrigation, helps superintendents learn about using recycled water.



Golf courses provide great habitat for wildlife.
  • The Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary Program, works with superintendents to better manage out-of-play areas for the benefit of wildlife.
  • Golf courses provide food, water, and nesting areas for wildlife on and around the golf course.
  • Educational articles published in the Green Section Record magazine guide golf course personnel in developing better wildlife habitats on the golf course.
  • The Landscape Restoration Handbook helps golf courses naturalize landscapes on their properties.
  • The Wildlife LinksŪ Program sponsors research to gain a better understanding of how golf courses interact with wildlife.



For more information, contact the USGA Green Section:
The United States Golf Association Golf House
P.O. Box 708
Far Hills, NJ 07931-0708
(908) 234-2300