The role of a Greenkeeper…
Today, reducing environmental impacts should be on the
agenda of all sports facilities. Indeed, all walks of business should be doing
their bit for the environment and leading to a better end result, potentially
making financial savings in the process. Golf clubs are no different and I use
these as an example of how the operational direction of a business needs to
change in today's climate.
“For
many, the only green aspect of the golf course should be the greens, tees and
fairways...”
Throughout
the history of golf this has been the role of the "Greenkeeper". In
the past, breaking down the meaning of this title was straightforward - it was
the job of the Greenkeeper to keep the turf healthy and as green as possible also ensuring the best quality for play.
For a while now a Greenkeeper’s
role has stretched out beyond the playing surfaces to include the maintenance
and enhancement of the out of play areas. These “wild” areas have become a
signature for clubs, helping them stand out from their competition by creating
an attractive, natural and diverse environment within which to play golf hence
the fact that we are in the middle of a busy city and just about 1km away from
the busiest highway in South Africa.
The role of the Greenkeeper
has therefore, changed. He or she has become a manager of considerable areas of
land. Add to this the requirement to be aware of and be responsible for and dealing
with environmental issues both on the course and increasingly, in and around
the clubhouse.
It is certainly the case
that the roles of Greenkeepers from the 90’s are much more diverse and complex
than it used to be. As a result of this, Greenkeeper are no longer employed to
keep the greens green but to keep the club green.
Why bother?
People's opinions and
extent of knowledge on the subject of climate change will, no doubt, differ between
individuals but everybody by now are aware of the basic issues - we are over
harvesting, polluting and destroying habitats to a point where our lifestyle is
no longer sustainable.
It is a real problem that
is already beginning to affect us.
For example, I'm sure you've all noticed the
+/- 15% mark up on the cost of food over the past 3 years? This can be linked
to the failure of food crops which, in turn is caused by climate change related
events. The point is the problem won't go away if we pretend it doesn't exist.
Are you thinking green yet?
Becoming greener brings
more than just environmental benefits. This is a key point and a key driver for
change. All businesses need to commit to becoming green - golf courses included
- and those that have the foresight to begin adapting their practices, even in
a small way will undoubtedly reap rewards in the future.
Those that invest money in
Environmental Schemes will almost certainly make their money back within a relatively
short period of time and from then on will continue to accumulate savings year
on year.
For many it’s difficult to
be convinced that change is a good idea. Change is often deemed a scary,
unnecessary process and it is for this reason that some businesses and in some
cases entire industries, get left behind. Becoming greener can only be a
positive change whichever way you look at it.
Our Greens Committee
together with industry professionals have started our own environmental plan
for our Club. We have already identified a few key subjects and areas we will
be covering, E.g. A full list of all the
trees, animals, fish and birdlife (Fauna and Flora) currently living on our property, also identifying out of play
areas where we’ll be able to encourage and stimulate more indigenous plant
& birdlife and a better structure at our Golf Course Maintenance Workshop
where international standards in Workplace Health and Safety are met?
I'm not suggesting you
get straight on the phone and order a solar panel to meet your power needs at
home, I'm merely suggesting that carrying out investigative work costs nothing
and I’m sure you’ll be able to find initiatives that are surprisingly
beneficial to your own house.
Just imagine what our
Environmental Plan can do for the Club's bank balance, image, status,
efficiency and of course…to the environment.
A few interesting facts about Golf Courses:
- A typical 18-hole golf course produces enough oxygen to support 4,000 to 7,000 people.
- Golf courses have a cooling effect during the hot summer months. The average temperature of a golf course is normally 5 to 7 degrees cooler than a residential area and 7 to 15 degrees cooler than an urban downtown setting.
- A golf course can be a healthy natural environment. The turf grass on golf courses serves as a filter to runoff to control flooding; out of play areas offer wildlife habitat; trees and bushes filter dust and pollen; and the green space has a cooling effect on surrounding property.
- Most golf courses compost grass clippings and leaves, which reduces the amount of waste in landfills. Composting is a growing and recommended practice for golf course operations.
- Golf course architects now design courses that reduce the need for pesticides, water and costly maintenance practices while preserving habitat and environmental quality.
- Golf course managers are among the best-educated and most conscientious users of chemical management tools. Today, most superintendents have two- or four-year university degrees in agronomy, horticulture or other related fields. Many of them enter the profession because of a love of nature and the outdoors, and are strongly committed to conservation. A recent survey shows golf course managers give extremely high priority to maintenance practices that do not have a negative impact on the environment.
Ecological benefits of golf courses
In addition to turf-related benefits, courses provide other important ecological and community assets. Golf courses are:
- Key sanctuaries for birds and other wildlife
- Disposal and treatment sites for (effluent) wastewater
- Attractive and environmentally sound “covers” for closed landfills and other ecologically damaged sites
- Recreational places for non-golf activities, such as jogging, walking and bird-watching
- Wetlands preservation areas
References:
Google
Wikipedia
Pitchcare Magazine (Australia) - Economy vs Environment
www.teetimes.info - Quick facts about Golf and the Environment
