Greens Department

Superintendent's Corner.

Golf Course Report - March 2010

The past year saw the introduction of new legislation that has eliminated pesticide use for
cosmetic purposes. While golf courses have been given an exemption, we have also been
impacted. Certain areas of the course such as around the clubhouse are now off limits as far as
cosmetic treatments go. We are allowed to treat playing surfaces such as greens and tees. Prior to
the legislation and even now golf courses are seen by many in the public as harmful to the
environment and human health.

Thornhill Golf and Country Club has taken forward thinking and pro-active steps in the past 2
years to start to find ways to make pesticide reductions and to show we are doing the right thing.
In late 2008 we started working with a company called Global Organic. Global Organic has many
of the top scientists, leading researchers and other experts around North America in the different
fields of turf grass management, as well as chemical toxicology. They provide support, advice and
consulting on ways for us to make scientifically reliable chemical reductions with monthly visits to
the course and 24 hour service if needed. They are working with us to find solutions to some of
the main issues we deal with such as diseases and insects.

The partnership, so far has been very positive and during the 2009 season we were able to make
positive reductions in a number of areas. Weed control saw a 75% reduction in chemical use. This
was achieved by using alternative products and spraying methods that saw us spot spray more.

We were fortunate that two of Global Organic's entomologists (both of whom lead their field, and
have consulted to several courses hosting Major Championships in the United States) spent time
this past summer visiting Thornhill and showing senior staff the latest scientific procedures to
optimize scouting for insect grubs and to map the course to show were the populations were
largest. On their suggestion we tried for the first time a biological control called nematodes to kill
grubs as a trial. While grub populations were not as high as in past years, we succeeded in
making only one chemical treatment on greens for grubs in 2009 - with no difference in golf
course playing quality. This was a 90% reduction compared with 2008! While this was an
excellent result, well beyond our shared expectations, Global Organic has advised us that
beginning this scientific transition to increasingly organic practices (without any change in golf
course quality) is a gradual process and that this is only one year and insect pressures go up and
down. But I feel we can sustain overall reductions in time.

Disease control is where we use the most amount of pesticides. Maintaining turf at the heights we
cut at puts the turf under extreme pressure especially in the summer period. Global Organic
members are providing us with information and research on cultural and possibly new biological
control alternatives for some of the main diseases we see such as Dollar Spot and Anthracnose.
They have also given us input on fungicide selection and which products have measurably less of
an effect on the environment and human health. While overall Global Organic has helped us make
savings on our chemical budget in this first year, I feel their ongoing scientific advisory services
will also allow us during the 2010 season to see additional reductions in the area of fungicides.

Working with Global Organic over the past year has been very educational. It has given me access
to a number of North America's top scientists, leading researchers and Superintendents. When I
have a question or concern I know I'm talking to someone with proven expertise in that field.
Global Organic also understands that at no time should the quality of playing conditions be
jeopardised and that ultimately I do what I feel is right.

I will look forward to updating on our continued success and progress after the 2010 season.

Greg McFarlane
Golf Superintendent