Golf courses try to limit pesticide use
Re: “Why would you save a golf course?” ( West Island Gazette, March 3)
Victor Schukov wrote about the plight of the urban weekend landscaper all the while ridiculing an honest and well- attended generations- old sports activity appropriate for the whole family: golf.
The game of golf contributed an estimated $ 2.5 billion toward Quebec’s GDP and employs up to 52,000 direct and indirect workers across every region of the province, all the while contributing some $ 640 million in federal and provincial sales taxes.
Golf club operators are also mostly small and medium- sized family businesses that are genuinely concerned by their region’s economic and tourism development as they operate their business in the very competitive outdoor entertainment sector.
Golf courses are also pristine pieces of land cared for by certified and trained experts, the golf superintendents. Pesticide is used on most golf courses, albeit in very small amounts with the product and in the quantities required to solve grass- related health issues.
While fungus, insects and weeds are a threat to optimal golfing conditions, golf supers and the industry are committed to integrated pest management using techniques to monitor the environment and pests that can cause problems, alleviate the environmental causes through proper cultural practices and use very limited quantities of pesticide products only and when and where required.
Pesticides are products that are highly regulated by the Canadian government’s Pest Management Regulatory Agency and their high cost makes their overuse fairly prohibitive.
Provincial regulators also determine conditions of use and monitor closely the evolution of pesticide use in Quebec, as with the pesticide management code and the triennial pesticide reduction plans.
Not only does the Quebec golf industry use less than 1 per cent of all pesticides used in the province, the 2009- 2011 Quebec golf courses pesticide reduction plan study demonstrated that the golf industry takes its responsibilities seriously.
Almost all golf supers hold college- level certifications and all are certified by Quebec authorities to use the proper protection equipment and safely apply and prevent any misuse of pesticides. Under these universal conditions, golf courses across the country continue to be safe for playing and for leisure. Bernard Vaillancourt ( Spokesperson, Table de concertation de la grande industrie québécoise du golf ), Longueuil