City of Madison golfers could soon be going for the organic green.
"If they can, you know, maintain the nice fairways and the good greens without you using the chemicals and stuff, I think that would be a great, great thing for the environment," says Madison golfer Jason W. Romaker.
Progressive Dane's Environmental Task Force is focused on reducing pesticide use in Dane County.
A spokesperson for the organization says the city of Madison's Annual Pesticide Use Report indicates 90–percent of all the city's pesticides are applied by the parks department, and further, that 90–percent of the parks department's pesticides were applied at city golf courses.
He says Progressive Dane would like the department to develop an organic option at its Glenway Golf Course.
"Each phase of turf management depends on influx of herbicides and pesticides. Our job is to learn how best to do it, so that the golf courses are well–maintained, and at the same time, chemicals are reduced in Madison," says Gary Giorgi of Progressive Dane.
Giorgi says the chemicals applied to Glenway's grass affect Lake Wingra's watershed, along with the water and air quality of Glenway–area residents.
