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Mining for Molecules
March 1, 2009 By: Larry Aylward GolfdomChemical companies say they are as committed as ever to the golf industry, despite a down economy and potential new environmental regulations
IF you were a chemical company that manufactures pesticides for the golf course maintenance industry, how would you approach these tumultuous times?
The general economy continues to limp along, and the limp is getting worse. The golf economy is hobbling as well, with rounds and revenue down at golf courses across the nation.
 ILLUSTRATION BY: ISTOCK INTERNATIONAL INC.; PHOTO BY: LARRY AYLWARD |
And then there's the Democratic-led U.S. government, which controls the presidency and Congress. A lot of people believe the environmentalists in Congress, including Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.) and Sen. Harry Reid (D-Nev.), are anti-pesticide and aim to impose tough, new regulations.
Again, if you were a chemical company, how would you approach these tumultuous times?
"The only thing I'm certain of is that there's a lot of uncertainty facing us over the next five years," says Owen Towne, president of Phoenix Environmental Care in Valdosta, Ga.
 Superintendents appreciate it when companies give back to the industry, says Owen Towne, president of Phoenix Environmental Care. |
But that's not stopping Towne and his chemical market peers/competitors from moving ahead with future business. According to several chemical companies, including the new and the old, they're doing anything but packing it in on the golf course maintenance industry. Chemical companies say they continue to invest in the industry because there's a future need for their pesticides.
"For the golf industry, I would contend we're putting more dollars into research and development now than we ever have in the past," says Toni Bucci, business manager for BASF Professional Turf & Ornamentals in Research Triangle Park, N.C. "We wouldn't be putting in the dollars that we're putting in today for the future if we didn't think there was a future."
 Toni Bucci says BASF is researching products outside traditional pesticides. |
"My research and development budget is as strong today as it has ever been," says Chuck Silcox, the global turf and ornamental product development manager for DuPont Professional Products in Wilmington, Del.
Scott Welge, director of marketing of green professional products for Bayer Environmental Science in Research Triangle Park, says Bayer is dedicated "as far as the dollars we're going to invest."
 Scott Welge says Bayer is concentrating on herbicide development in the short term. |
"That's our livelihood ... new products and new revenue," Welge adds.
Dave Ravel, golf market manager for Syngenta Professional Products based in Greensboro, N.C., says the company is already committed to "10 years out" in the golf course maintenance industry through products it has in the pipeline.
 Pesticides NOT on the Chopping Block |
"We're investing in R&D as much as we always have," Ravel says. "At the same time, we're looking at all of our cost structures. We need to make sure we make good business decisions."
Mark Urbanowski, senior marketing specialist for turf, ornamental and technical products for Dow AgroSciences in Indianapolis, says new pesticides may not be coming as fast to the market as they have in the past, but they're still coming.
"We definitely have goals of introducing new actives that will be beneficial to the golf industry in the next five to 10 years," Urbanowski says.
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