Industry news

Jupiter, Fla. - Rounds of golf increased 5.3 percent nationwide during the first quarter 2004, according to the National Golf Foundation and Golf 20/20. Traditionally, the first quarter accounts for about 15 percent of total annual rounds.

Regionally, the Northeast and Mid Atlantic achieved strong gains during the first quarter, partly because of having more play days—10 more days on average in the Northeast and four more in the Mid Atlantic. The Mountain region, which had the sharpest percentage decrease (-5.0 percent) for the quarter, also had fewer play days—an average of 10 fewer days open in the region.

Beyond a consideration of weather, there’s evidence rounds increased because rounds per play day increased 11 percent during the quarter. An increase of rounds per play day indicates an increase of new golfers, an increase of rounds by existing golfers, or both.

"We’re seeing gains in activity not just due to weather but also due to a fundamental growth in demand—the increase in rounds per play days," says Joe Beditz, president and c.e.o. of the NGF. "We have three-quarters of the year left, but it’s nice not to have to dig out of a first-quarter hole."

The report is available at www.ngf.org and www.golf2020.com. Data is based on a survey of more than 1,100 golf facilities conducted by the NGF during the first quarter of this year. Data is weighted statistically to be representative of all U.S. golf facilities by region, type (private/public), number of holes and price point.

Mendham, N.J. - Specialty Products Consultants completed a research study of the professional turf and ornamental pesticide market in the United States. More than 1,000 golf course superintendents, lawn care operators and ornamental plant producers were surveyed.

As part of overall turf management in the United States, 1.1 million acres of turf are being managed by golf course superintendents. Those surveyed said they made an average of more than 14 fungicide applications to tees and greens during 2003.

Almost $700 million was spent this past year on fungicides, herbicides, insecticides and plant growth regulators in the markets analyzed. Syngenta Professional Products and Bayer Environmental Science are the top two suppliers to the professional turf and ornamental market, according to the study. With the fungicides Heritage (azoxystrobin) and Daconil (chlorothalonil), Syngenta has more than 40 percent share of the U.S. turf and ornamental fungicide market. In the insecticide sector, Bayer’s Merit (imidacloprid) is the top seller by a margin of more than 2.5 to one. Dow AgroSciences is the third largest supplier, selling Dimension (dithiopyr) and other pre-emergent herbicides.

Four of five golf course superintendents were aware of new technologies such as transgenic turfgrass (e.g., Roundup Ready Creeping Bentgrass). In regions with cool season turfgrass, about half of the superintendents said they were somewhat likely to highly likely to convert their course to this type of turfgrass. Based on the adoption rate assessed in this survey and the acreage superintendents said they would convert, it’s estimated the potential value of Roundup Ready Creeping Bentgrass could exceed $1.5 billion. The use of this transgenic turfgrass seed is pending approval by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

The study also examined awareness, usage, and satisfaction of pesticides applied in residential and commercial lawn care, on golf courses, and in ornamental nurseries and floriculture production. For a copy of the report, call (973) 543-5195.

Beltsville, Md. - Details and updates about the National Turfgrass Research Initiative can be found at www.turf initiative.org or www.turfresearch.org. The $32.4-million initiative is an effort among the USDA, Agricultural Research Service and the turfgrass industry. The document contains the justification for, goals and components of a national turfgrass research strategy. The initiative is to educate legislators, administrators and others of the value of the turfgrass industry and the critical needs it faces.

Six research areas have been identified and incorporated into the Turfgrass Initiative: 1) improvement of water management strategies and practices, 2) collection, enhancement and preservation of turfgrass germplasm, 3) improvement of pest management practices, 4) understanding and improvement of turfgrass’ role in the environment, 5) enhancement of soil and soil management practices and 6) development of integrated turf management systems.

University Park, Pa. - The 45th Golf Course Turfgrass Management Program class at The Pennsylvania State University graduated March 6, 2004. Twenty-four students received their certificates at a ceremony held at the Nittany Lion Inn. Dr. Bruce McPheron, associate dean of research and graduate education and director of the Pennsylvania Agricultural Experiment Station, addressed the graduates during the commencement ceremonies. Mark Kuhns, director of grounds at Baltusrol Golf Club in Springfield, N.J., was the keynote speaker.