environmentally friendly golf?

[Greenkeeper]

Hi all
You may or may not be aware of the current change towards a more ‘sustainable’ approach of our UK courses. This basically involves fewer Chemicals, harmful fertilizers and reducing the amount of irrigation water to our courses. It also involves clubs becoming more sensitive to the environment and encouraging nature on the course.

 

[Basher]

Hi GK.

I voted Don't know. It's not that I don't care.
A golf course is an area of land for recreational use and in most cases is privately owned. In short it's a business. In order to make the business viable it requires customers (ie golfers/members).
Customers will not return if the course is badly worn, greens are bare and poor etc, etc.
Therefore, fertilisers and chemicals are required in order to allow the course to recover quickly.
Regarding the irrigation water subject. I'm fairly sure we have no problem with too many water shortages in this country (maybe during a particularly dry summer - God knows how!)You have only to look at the lush courses in Portugal and Spain etc where they have much dryer weather than we do.

Back to fertilisers and chemicals. Harmful chemicals may be better phased out if similar environmentally friendly replacements are available. But try telling that to the Americans!

Other than that I suppose I'm pretty open minded on the subject.

 

[birdieman]

Well put Basher, inclined to agree.
Simple things like not topping the rough when nesting birds are about or knapsack spot-spraying rather than tractor-mounted boom-spraying for weeds etc helps cut down on environmental damage.
I'm no expert but if you cut greens short every other day then they will need some fertiliser feeding, won't they

 

[HomerJSimpson]

I had to vote yes really. Several of our holes have protected environmental areas which basically means if your ball goes int here it is a lost ball (some rare species of newt and a rare protected wild orchid apparently). Any golfer seen entering is automatically banned for 6 months (it was the main headache when our new course was being planned getting permission to build around these areas etc).

In general apart from treating the greens (which I consider essesntial maintenance) I am not sure what other treatments we have.

We have a lot of wild deer, pheasant, buzzards etc on our course so I know we have to be careful. Anything which can be done to use less chemicals has to be a good thing.

We are a private emebers club and I have to say apart from members maoning about the greens (as per every other club in the land) very few have every complained about the condition of our fairways or tees etc

 

[billyg]

I'm sure making provision for the wildlife as mentioned above is desirable and I agree with it BUT

...i'm completely sick to the back teeth of this new, all pervading religion of enviromentalism wanting to poke it's nose in everywhere. I won't be long before you can't have a cup of tea without someone from The Hemp Yoghurt knitted Jumper Society for the Welfare of Lightly Frozen Mung Beans ( or something) wants to stop you.

There are many greater targets to pick on than Golf as far as denudeing our enviroment but this won't stop them.

By all means lets be considerate of the nature we enjoy on the course and make reasonable adjustments to sustain it but when the government bans start coming it's literally game over.

Anyway, rant over

 

[brendy]

Am I wrong for thinking golf courses are more environmentally friendly than most other sports grounds and residential areas?
I think yes there are probably areas which can be improved and replaced for environmentally sound versions but come on, there are other areas that need addressing before golf courses.
I would back the green staff on whatever their decision on fertilisers etc. They are the folks that look after the land and I would like to think they would take every opportunity to use the most appropriate ingredients to look after the course.

 

[thecraw]

Golf is already a great haven for wildlife.

However thats not to say it cant be improved. Especially chemical wise as the run off can do serious damage to nearby water sources.

A course I used to be a member of used seaweed based fertilizers. If everybody does something to lesson the impact on the climate then I think golf courses will be left alone.

 

[viscount17]

We have lots of nature, sometimes too much ! Trying teeing off when a flock of 50 or more geese don't want to move - cheeky b****** don't even have the courtesy to duck .
That said, I voted yes though I'm sure that many courses are already doing more than a lot of parks. Still if there are less harmful alternatives and if going a bit greener will keep the tree huggers quiet, why not?

 

[GB72]

Whilst I do nto feel that golf courses are particularly guilty when it comes to environmental concerns (in fact I think most do pretty well) I feel that any efforts made in this direction are not wasted. Part of the pleasure of an early morning round is seeing the widlife around the course and I am of the opinion that the course is improved if is blends in with the natural surroundings and is as sympathetic to the area as possible.

 

[USER1999]

Back in my day the fairways were cut by sheep. Proper environmental green keeping. Self fertilising too. Can't get greener than that.

 

[TommyMorris]

We are trying to achieve this at the Jubilee course where we are limiting the amount of fertiliser / irrigation we apply to try and encourage the finer fescues back in the sward, this grass not only putts better but requires less chemical inputs to sustain itself.

 

[Boabski]

environmentally friendly golf and conservation of the ozone ? don't fart on the course !!!!!! methane is a ozone killer

 

[madandra]

TommyMorris, we are on the Jube on Friday at 11am. Do you have any advice for the guys going up?

 

[medwayjon]

I feel hypocritical commenting on the environment when I am sticking 200 cars per year on the road. Hence why I voted don't know don't care.

 

[TommyMorris]

Forecast is looking poor for this week, too wet to get much done, course usually handles whatever the weather throws at it though. I will tell whoever is changing holes for Fri to make them REAL tough!!! here is a pic, just for a wee taster of whats to come..


[image]http://www.biggacentralsection.org.uk/picdec1807.htm[/image]

 

[TommyMorris]

 

[billyg]

Blimus TM, I would happily pay a greenfee just to walk that, let alone play it!

you lucky lucky people ;-)

 

[TommyMorris]

if you look to the right of the pic you should see the two tier green at the 16th which is about 1200 sqm in size, the tier is only about 3 foot high, small in comparison to the 6ft high tier in the 5th green!

 

[madandra]

Thanks Tommy ...... I aint gonna get a wink of sleep from now to Friday !!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[John_Findlay]

Some of the photos on that site are great, Tommy. The Castle Course looks a cracker. Would you recommend it?