Lesson 2: Why Golf Courses Use Fertilizer
Grass needs nutrients to grow — just like you need food to stay healthy. The three most important nutrients for grass are nitrogen (for green color and growth), phosphorus (for root development), and potassium (for overall strength).
When natural nutrients are used up or washed away by rain, turf managers apply fertilizer to replenish them.
But using too much fertilizer can be harmful. Excess nutrients can wash off the course into streams and ponds, causing algae blooms that harm aquatic life.
Good turf management means applying only as much fertilizer as the grass actually needs — no more, no less. Like Goldilocks: exactly the right amount.
Look at different parts of the course and compare the color of the grass. Some areas may be darker green, some lighter. Ask a staff member if there are areas that have recently been fertilized. Can you see a difference in color between fertilized and unfertilized areas?
The fertilizer lesson introduces the concept of ‘too much of a good thing’ in an environmental context — a gentle introduction to unintended consequences. This idea will be developed significantly in Stages 3 and 4. Planting it here, simply, creates a foundation for much more complex thinking later.