Best Management Practices for Maryland Golf Courses

Figure 2. Native vegetation serves as an effective riparian buffer for wetlands. Photo credit: Joseph Roberts.

Figure 3. Riparian buffer at Cedar Point Golf Course located at the confluence of the Patuxent River and Chesapeake Bay. Photo credit: David Burkhart.

Drainage

Adequate drainage is necessary for healthy turfgrass. A high-quality BMP plan for drainage addresses the containment of runoff, adequate buffer zones, and filtration techniques in the design and construction process to achieve acceptable water quality. Drainage of golf course features is only as good as the system’s integrity. Damaged, improperly installed, or poorly maintained drainage systems will negatively impact play and increases risks to water quality.

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