Sustainability in turfgrass science can be measured through input efficiency, reduced labor, lower emissions, biological pest control, environmental protection and even the social benefit of keeping recreational greenspaces open to the public. The Cornell Turfgrass Program often uses the term sustainable turfgrass management to describe these practices across lawns, sports fields and parks. But on Long Island, perhaps the clearest place to see them in action is at Bethpage State Park Golf Course.
In the New York metro area, golf courses face mounting pressure from increased play and traffic. More rounds mean more stress on putting greens and more management decisions—when to irrigate, spray, cut or aerate.
Bethpage, one of the busiest public golf facilities in the world, balances state regulations, ecology, taxpayer resources, televised tournaments, and daily golfer demand—showing that world-class championship play and environmental stewardship can coexist successfully on Long Island.
Promoting Pollinators and Ecological Spaces
Fairways and greens are built around the ecological landscapes they originated from. Natural landscaping not only enhances the aesthetics of golf courses but also creates habitats for pollinators and wildlife.
Pollinators are critical to the nation’s food supply, but they are also vital for maintaining plant diversity of flowering of forests, ornamentals and grasslands. At Bethpage, native pollinator gardens are scattered across the property’s five courses. “We have an elementary school that we are neighbors with, and we built a little pollinator garden and a birding trail,” said Andrew Wilson, director of agronomy at the park.
With its five courses and 1,368 acres of public greenspace, Bethpage is both a golfing destination and an ecological haven. The park’s Long Island landscape supports tree swallows, bluebirds, warblers, red-tailed hawks and great horned owls, tracked by park ecologist Yael Weiss and naturalist Jim Jones. Golfers are even encouraged to share their wildlife sightings with staff.
“Since we are a state park…there are 1,500 acres of permanent residents, wildlife. They don’t have a voice, so we have to be their voice,” Wilson explained. “Not all the decisions on a golf course…are 100 percent golf conditions focused.”
Site of a Living Laboratory
Bethpage State Park Golf Course was the test site and inspiration in the early 2000s for transforming public golf courses into living laboratories. Through the Bethpage Project, Cornell researchers and the superintendent team proved that championship turf can thrive with fewer chemicals—using up to 45 percent less pesticides and 65 percent less nutrients.
That same research ethos continues today. Bethpage is one of the host sites for the Metropolitan Shoe Trials—examining how different golf shoes affect putting green surfaces and traffic tolerance under Long Island’s sandy soils and heavy play.
Cornell researchers will also be on site during the 2025 Ryder Cup, collecting data and adjusting management protocols throughout the week. As part of the maintenance crew, Chase Skrubis will record daily stimpmeter readings to monitor green speeds relative to target ranges. Based on those measurements, he’ll adjust rolling frequency and timing each morning to achieve the desired tournament playability. Frank Rossi will set hole locations and support Mike Hadley, Black Course superintendent, and Andrew Wilson, director of agronomy, in making daily management decisions during the tournament.
Cornell’s involvement in the Ryder Cup mirrors its weekly and monthly interactions with superintendents across New York, where the focus is always the same—preparing for daily golf or worldwide tournaments while keeping environmental stewardship and playability at the forefront.
Water Resource Sustainability
Water stewardship is a top priority for regions like Long Island, New York. Its dense population is heavily reliant on a unique, vulnerable underground aquifer system for its entire drinking water supply.
According to the Long Island Golf Superintendent Association, 90 percent of Long Island golf courses implement water-quality BMPs, including nutrient management planning, soil testing and buffer zones. More than 85 percent use advanced irrigation scheduling, drought-tolerant turf seed and stormwater capture systems. The island’s sandy soils and environmental limitations require unique irrigation strategies.
Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Plans
Turfgrass may be a playing surface rather than a food crop, but the principle is the same—growing plants that need to be fed, maintained and kept healthy. As turf is a perennial crop, the challenge is balancing plant health with environmental responsibility during year round care.
Integrated pest management (IPM) offers that balance. It is a flexible, site-specific approach guided by scientific thresholds and principles, yet tailored to each turf system. “We are trying to reduce inputs, reduce harmful impacts, and promote plant health,” said Jennifer Grant, former director of Cornell’s IPM program.
The process begins with reducing turf stress—choosing practices that make grass naturally resilient to pests. Decisions are based on close monitoring of pest biology, weather conditions, turf value and customer expectations. Record keeping is central for managers to track pest incidence, interventions and the costs to refine strategies over time. The IPM model calls for the least disruptive, most effective control first, with chemicals used only as a last resort.
Rather than a rigid recipe, IPM is a proactive, step-by-step framework that helps turf managers keep grass healthy while minimizing risks to people and the environment. Cornell State Park agronomists help all state parks develop yearly IPM plans.
Reduce Risk Practices and Best Management Practices
All state park golf courses implement risk-reduction strategies outlined in New York’s golf best management practices (BMP). These practices guide everything from chemical use to habitat management, ensuring that courses meet high environmental and safety standards.
“Using fewer inputs does not mean lower quality. When we use less water or less nitrogen, we actually get better playing surfaces that are firmer and faster,” said Carl Schimenti, Cornell’s urban environmental scientist.
Year-round, golf course superintendents rely on soil moisture or evapotranspiration data to schedule irrigation instead of using fixed schedules. They avoid applying nitrogen late in the fall, especially after turf growth slows; they use spot treatments rather than blanket spraying; maintain buffer zones along wetlands and streams; and regularly check and calibrate irrigation systems to prevent leaks. All of these strategies are outlined in the BMPs.
Converting Managed Turf to Native Grasslands
Research and surface mapping help identify low-traffic areas that are still actively managed but do not need to be. Converting these zones to native grassland, or low mow areas, reduces inputs and creates valuable wildlife habitat.
“We’ve taken almost 500 acres out of regular mowing across the state parks and reduced emissions,” said Frank Rossi, associate professor of horticulture and the state’s turfgrass extension specialist.
Efficient Maintenance and Site-Specific Care
Maintenance practices are increasingly site-specific. Even though you have distinct segments of the golf course—greens, fairways, tees, rough, bunkers and long grass areas, Carl Schimenti said, “within those areas a lot of those areas should probably be treated differently and can use different amounts of nitrogen.”
The golf industry calls that spot treatment or site-specific care. That also extends to water, irrigation, or even cultural practices. The most common cultral practices include verticut, topdress and cultivation.
Public Access
Public access is an important dimension of sustainability in turfgrass management. Seventy-two percent of New York golf courses are open to the public, including 153 municipal facilities. In total, the state has 833 courses, making sustainable management a significant driver of environmental stewardship statewide.
“We know when people go into urban green spaces, they have less stress, less anxiety and have improved emotional states,” Carl Schimenti said. “Walking around in nature for four hours is an immense benefit, physically, emotionally and socially.”