BERHAMPORE golfers are unhappy Wellington City Council hasn’t fully informed them about the use of endosulfan on their golf course.

Many players spoken to by NewsWire did not even know the toxic pesticide was used on the council-owned Berhampore course.

The council sprayed it on parts of the green from time to time until May, particularly around smooth areas near the holes, says council spokesman Richard MacLean.

Endosulfan was sprayed when worm casts became a problem and is not currently used because of public and politicians’ concerns about possible long-term contamination.

Although the council always closes the course when spraying with the substance, golfers say they would like more information, such as signs, so they are informed it has been used in the past.

Golfer Allan Mcloud, 20, says: “I heard about golf course spraying but I didn’t know it was here. If it has an adverse effect I’d like to see a sign.” 

Kieran Anderson, 23, is another of the golfers keen to have more information. “I had heard a little bit about it,” he says. “As long as they’re not trying to pull the wool over our eyes.”

Mr MacLean says people are kept off the sprayed greens until the sprayed area is dry (within 24 hours) and, after that, there is no appreciable danger to golfers.

Tony Yuile, a golfer in his mid-40s, would still like to know when endosulfan was sprayed and would expect to see signs.

The council has not ruled out strictly limited use of endosulfan in future if the need arises. There is no other cost-effective means of controlling worms, says Mr MacLean.

But another golfer, Lou Stockman, 58, says: “If you kill all the worms then you ruin everything else – it’s all a big balance.”

Mr MacLean says only very small amounts of endosulfan – less than 100ml – are needed for any spray job. “This is then diluted before spraying.”

CAPTION: A golfer takes a swing on Berhampore’s green.