Turtle

There is a weir structure on the #17 pond at Leslie Park. This allows us to slightly change the level of the pond depending on the time of year. The discharge pipe comes out near the walking bridge that goes from #17 green to #18 tee. This pipe is 24 inches in diameter. While looking around 17 green the other day, I noticed that the discharge pipe was making more noise than usual. I checked the weir and, to my surprise, found a large snapping turtle (Chelydra serpentina) stuck between the boards and the reinforcement bar. Because the turtle was basically submerged, I feared it was dead and wondered how to remove it from the weir. Grabbing the bar used to change the board level, I began to lever the turtle out of it's position. I was very surprised when the fierce jaws suddenly grabbed the tool forcefully.

I was able to get the creature unstuck and he made his way to the outlet.

Once again, the outlet pipe is 24 inches around. Hours later, he had made his way back into the pond.

Native grasses

The deer have been really active for the past couple of weeks. These three were some of the nine different deer I saw on this day.

This is a picture of Indiangrass (Sorghastrum nutans) a native prairie grass in Michigan. This picture is behind #17 green. You can see the weather station in the background.

This is another native grass called Big Bluestem (Andropogon gerardii) It is also known as  "Turkeyfoot" due to the resemblance of the seedhead to a three-toed turkeys foot.

Here is a better picture of the seed-head.

More Indiangrass. (Near #14 tee)

A mixed stand of Big Bluestem and Indiangrass.

A picture from farther away of the stand of native grasses near #14 tee. 

These plant were seeded here after burning this section of rough in the spring. It is part of our efforts to re-establish native Michigan plants in our non-golfing areas. Some other native grasses that we have seeded are Switchgrass (Pancium virgatum) and Canada Rye (Elymus canadensis).

Raptor-mania

This guy was hanging out at the clubhouse at Leslie Park this past weekend.

Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary Progress

We just got the letter from Audubon International telling us that Leslie Park has received certification in 4 of the 6 categories required for full program certification. The categories we have achieved are Water Conservation, Chemical Use Reduction and Safety, Water Quality Management and Environmental Planning. We have to complete Wildlife and Habitat Management and Outreach and Education in order to become a certified Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary.

May Apples in May!

These wildflowers are called May Apples (Podophyllum peltatum). They are native to Michigan and have appeared for the first time in the natural area between #6 tee and #9 tee.

In among that group is some Wild Geranium (Geranium maculatum) also a native of Michigan.

This is a picture a the hill between #13 tee and #11 fairway. This area has been managed through prescribed burns, handled by the City's Natural Areas Preservation, for several years and is becoming an example of a native savanna. Savannas are characterized by low, native plants growing under large, mature oak and hickory trees.

Here is a close-up of some of the irises that are starting to bloom in the gardens at the clubhouse.

And a picture of a Great Blue Heron (Aredea herodias)near #17 green.

Spring-time is Bloom-time!

Some photos from the last couple of weeks at Leslie Park Golf Course.

Cherry blooms near #5 tee.

Pear orchard between #6 and #8.

May apples (Podphyllum peltatum) and trillium (Trillium grandiflorum)along the left of #9.

Great Egret (Ardea alba) near #8 pond

Turkey Vulture (Cathartes aura) on railroad tracks by #3

Whitetail deer (Odocoileus virginianus) on #9

Bio-Diesel

In an effort to lessen environmental impact of Leslie Park Golf Course, we have used B20 biodiesel in all of our equipment since 2008. B20 is a blend of 20% soy-based fuel and 80% conventional diesel fuel. Not only does this decrease our dependence on petroleum, it also decreases the amount of hydro-carbon emissions.

Phosphorous Regulations

As part of our commitment to water quality management, the city of Ann Arbor does not allow the use of phosphorous fertilizer except for new seeding or when a soil test shows a deficiency. This complies with the Huron River Watershed Council's recommendation. The State of Michigan is adopting a similar regulation that is going into effect statewide in January 2012.

Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary Program

Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary Program

Leslie Park also is working on becoming a certified sanctuary through Audubon International's Cooperative Sanctuary Program for Golf Courses. This program was developed by Audubon International, and helps golf courses protect our environment and preserve the natural heritage of the game of golf. By helping enhance the valuable natural areas and wildlife habitats that golf courses provide, enhancing efficiency, and minimizing potentially harmful impacts of golf courses, the program serves as a vital resource for Leslie Park.

The Audubon program is designed to protect and sustain the land, water, wildlife, and natural resources in and surrounding the golf course. Currently Leslie Park has achieved status in the Environmental Planning category. We are working towards achieving full certification as a Certified Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary. There are five more categories in which we need to achieve full Cooperative Sanctuary certification. They are:

1. Chemical Use Reduction and Safety

2. Wildlife and Habitat Management

3. Water Conservation

4. Water Quality Management

5. Outreach and Education

Michigan Turfgrass Environmental Stewardship Program

Michigan Turfgrass Environmental Stewardship Program

Leslie Park is a certified environmental steward in the Michigan Turfgrass Environmental Stewardship Program. The mission of the program is:


•To advance the environmental stewardship of Michigan's golf industry by increasing the awareness and understanding of Michigan's environmental resources and the potential impacts of golf turf management, and also by elevating the level of pollution protection;


•To enhance fish and wildlife habitat and indigenous vegetation, and to protect water resources with buffer zones on golf course properties;


•To clearly identify environmental laws and regulations and advance the compliance of the golf turf industry;


•To engage the golf industry, regulatory agencies, and environmental citizen groups in productive communication; and


•To recognize, promote, and award environmental stewardship achievements.




Leslie Park accomplishes these objectives through promoting and communicating best management practices to control potential sources of pollution; minimizing inputs to the environment and complying with all environmental laws and regulation; adopting pollution protection practices; and reducing wastes. We also are committed to protecting water quality, fish and wildlife habitat, and native vegetation, as well as all of the natural resources at Leslie Park.



The Michigan Turfgrass Environmental Stewardship Program is intended to organize efforts of the turfgrass industry, state agencies, Michigan State University, and environmental advocacy groups to advance the environmental stewardship of the turfgrass industry and to recognize environmental achievements. The program was developed at MSU with support from the Michigan Turfgrass Foundation, the Golf Association of Michigan, the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality, and the Michigan Department of Agriculture. Since 2004, the Michigan Groundwater Stewardship Program has provided the base funding to develop the program.

Leslie Park Golf Course Environmental Initiatives

At Leslie Park, we view ourselves as stewards of the golf course. We have the privilege, as well as the responsibility, to manage it in such a way that will make it an asset for the Ann Arbor golfing community, while also enhancing wildlife habitat, protecting indigenous vegetation and protecting community water resources.



Leslie Park uses pesticides (fungicides, herbicides, insecticides, and plant growth regulators) in a solely curative way. This means that we only apply a pesticide in the presence of a confirmed pathogen. Before deciding to use a pesticide, golf course staff consults a thorough Integrated Pest Management (IPM) program. The primary principle of IPM is the pest triangle. This is based on the assumption that in order for a pest to become a problem, three conditions must be met: 1) the pest has to have a host that is susceptible to the pathogen; 2) the environmental conditions for the pest must be present; 3) the pest must be present.



Pest management

Spraying a chemical will eliminate the third leg of the triangle, but we always try to impact the other two legs so that a pest infestation will not occur. If we can choose a turfgrass or other plant that is not subject to a disease or pest, we always use that plant. The most common way for the golf course to impact the pest triangle is to alter the environment. For example, dollar spot is a fungus that attacks turf at a temperature between 60 and 85 degrees, but it also requires at least 12 hours of leaf blade wetness. Often, we will drag a rope between two golf carts first thing in the morning to get rid of the dew. This will cut down on the time the leaf is wet and thus the amount of dollar spot that we have in our fairways.


Another important concept of IPM is to establish an economic threshold of injury. We have to realize that we never will be completely free of a certain pest. The trick is to determine at what point the injury from a pathogen becomes too severe and must be corrected. Our tolerance for dollar spot on greens is lower than it is on tees. Tees have a lower threshold than fairways, which have a lower threshold than roughs and out of play areas.


An often-overlooked aspect of IPM is the monitoring of chemical applications. At Leslie Park, we keep track of the chemicals we apply and the effectiveness of those applications. This helps prevent pesticide resistance and helps determine whether the cost and effort are justified.

When possible, the course tries to use pesticides with lower toxicity and has begun to experiment with nontraditional pesticides such as Civitas. Civitas is a synthetic paraffin wax that acts as a plant protectorant and, when used in conjunction with a traditional pesticide, allows us to use half the recommended rates with similar results to using the full rate of the pesticides. We also have tried some bacterial additives that target the dollar spot pathogen.