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Powdery mildew is a fungal disease which flourishes on courgettes, cucumber, summer squash & pumpkins when the weather is warm and dry. It can kill the plants.
Infected courgette plants are covered in a greyish-white mould, mainly on the upper surface of the leaves and young shoots.

Treatment
Fungicides have little effect.
As powdery mildew does not like wet conditions, wetting the leaves reduces the severity of attack. A wetter, like detergent, has to be added ~ plain water will just run off the leaves. Washing up water does the trick, because it contains detergent.
Weeds can over-winter the fungus, so good garden hygiene is essential.
Remove and bin or burn infected leaves, don't compost them.

Courgettes Dundoo, Soleil & Tosca have good resistance to powdery mildew, apparently. I might try these next year, as I get PM every s*dding year.

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Thanks - my pumpkins get powdery mildew every year and I've never known what to do about it! Your post has been very helpful!

my corgettes have got a bit of powdery mildew. can you just cut them off or is this not recomended? the last thing i prayed with water and detergent i killed the plant!