Best Management Practices for Maryland Golf Courses

Best Management Practices

• When constructing drainage systems, pay close attention to engineering details such as subsoil preparation, slopes, backfilling, and the placement of gravel. • Surface water runoff and internal golf course drains should not drain directly into an open waterbody, but should discharge through pretreatment zones and/or vegetative buffers to help remove nutrients and sediments. • The drainage system should be routinely inspected to ensure proper function.

Figure 4. Drainage installation during the construction of a new tee. Photo credit: Thomas Turner.

Habitat Considerations

Golf courses occupy large acreages, generally in urban areas, providing critical links between urban and rural/natural environments. In addition, golf courses can provide native areas and wildflower areas for native or managed species of pollinators in out-of-play area. Maintaining wildlife and pollinator habitat (as described in the "Pollinator Protection" chapter) on golf courses better protects biological diversity, which is especially important in the urban environment.

Best Management Practices

• Identify the different types of habitat specific to the site. • Identify the habitat requirements (food, water, cover, space) for identified wildlife species. • Identify species on the site that are considered threatened or endangered by the federal or state government , including species the state deems “of special concern.” • Preserve critical habitat.

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