Alberta's first organic golf course is under construction near Edmonton.

Wild Splendor Golf Course will be built along the natural lay of the land. The fairways, greens and tee boxes will be pesticide and herbicide free, and covered with a mixture of natural and native grasses.

"Going with the more native grasses will lessen your amount of disease and stress, and they're more in tune with the usage of water," said course designer Bob More.

Wild Splendor will also keep golfers and wildlife healthier because no harmful chemicals will be sprayed, he said.

Golfer Rob Brazeau said chemicals on the golf course is something he worries about.

"When you see chemicals and guys in white suits from head to toe spraying, and you're just walking on and picking up your ball and cleaning it, it creates a little bit of concern," he said.

Golfers expect perfect turf

Going organic can pose challenges for superintendents and it can also be a challenging sell.

Many golfers aren't willing to accept less than perfect turf, said More.

"A lot of people forget that a lot of golf courses on the PGA tour have vegetable dye put on them so they look nice and green for the TV," he said.

"You go and see some of those courses when the tournaments aren't there and they're not as pretty as everyone thinks they are."

Wild Splendor, southwest of Sherwood Park outside Edmonton, is slated to open in the spring of 2007.

Canada has two other organic golf courses – Fiddler's Green in Antigonish, N.S., and Blackburn Meadows on Saltspring Island, B.C.