Fire Ants

Ever since the overseeding has been completed I have been hearing about fire ants around the golf course.  First, we have several species of ants at Avondale of which maybe 20% are fire ants ... but all ants bite.

Top Choice Fire Ant Label = Applications Only From April - Sept
This is the LAW

CV Vector Control usually treats the golf course just before we overseed to reduce the population but this year with major concerns about the West Nile Virus their attentions have been focused on that problem and asked those of us golf courses on their program to allow them to handle that life threatening issue first.  As in accordance with the pesticide label and the law we could only treat mounds in the Coachella Valley until a certain date using Top Choice (our insecticide) which we did.

Ants have been successful as a species for over 150 million years and are impossible to completely remove.  Our in-house program will start back up as the law allows, and CV Vector Control will hopefully soon return.  But until then common sense must prevail ... if you see a mound, of course report it, but do not approach the ants.  The rules of golf allow for free relief thus your ball can be moved without penalty.