ABSTRACT
Fungicides are integral in the maintenance of intensively managed turfgrasses and are a key component of integrated pest management (IPM) programs. One of the largest markets for fungicides in the United States is in the turfgrass industry. Fungicides are used most extensively by golf course superintendents. The game of golf is played on grass, and golf greens are the most important and intensively managed part of the golf course. As demand has mounted to provide excellent playing conditions from tee to green and oftentimes rough areas as well, the use of fungicides on golf courses has increased. Competitive pressures and pride among professional turfgrass managers to provide for superior quality also is a factor. Because disease can impair or diminish the quality of golf turfs, fungicides are used extensively in some regions of the United States to maintain high standards for both aesthetic and functional (i.e., playability) quality. In some regions of the United States, the cost of fungicides used on golf courses exceeds those of all other pesticides combined.
