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Keeping it clean
Addressing environmental concerns up front is easier than fixing things later.
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A series of public meetings for concerned citizens preceded the construction of Patriot Hills GC in Stony Point, N.Y. Photos courtesy of M. Ayers and F. Getchell |
Developing a new golf course has become more challenging than ever. As the general public demands more environmentally conscious practices, local, state and federal agencies have put in place tighter regulatory procedures requiring detailed assurances that the development will not adversely affect water quality, water levels or the native ecosystem.
At one such project in the state of New York, developers went to extraordinary measures to ensure that a new course met and exceeded the community’s expectations for how the new facility would use and handle natural resources, particularly water
A precious commodity
Even at courses where design and maintenance are focused on ensuring that appropriate water resources are available and that the facility can be economically maintained, concerned citizens will always turn a critical eye toward a new golf course project.
Golf courses typically encompass a large area, often more than 100 acres, making them an extremely public water user. During and after construction, water consumption for golf course irrigation is significant, even after the turf-growing period is complete. Additionally, peak irrigation demands tend to coincide with the peak period for community water supply use, and also tends to occur during the season when aquifer recharge and surface-water flow is at a minimum. As a result, irrigation, water supply and water resource management are key concerns for a new course.
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Patriot Hills hired a consulting firm to design and install a shallow groundwater monitoring network that included areas of maintained turf, naturalized areas and streams. |
Another key concern is sourcing, or where a new golf course’s water supply will come from. Developers can allay some of the public’s concerns by importing water from a remote supplier. However, that should be the last recourse, since this water tends to be of higher quality (and cost) than necessary for irrigation purposes. Also, relying on an outside supplier will increase the risk of service disruption and may ultimately place restrictions on water use.
In almost every case it’s preferable to identify and develop local water sources. Before siting a new well, however, it’s important to analyze the impact it will have on local water resources. In certain instances, water may be pumped from wells into a surface-water body from which it’s distributed through the irrigation system. At other sites, it may be feasible to pump water directly from the wells to the irrigation system. This tends to be the better option because groundwater is consistently at an optimum temperature for turf irrigation — typically 52-56 degrees Fahrenheit. Plus, there’s none of the evaporation loss that would occur when using a pond.
Many developers, especially in areas such as Florida, where overdevelopment of water resources is a chronic problem, have begun to use treated effluent or “graywater” from wastewater treatment plants for irrigation. Unfortunately, the use of such graywater isn’t necessarily the “free” resource it may appear to be. In order to make practical and economic sense, the site must be near and connected to a wastewater treatment plant. In many cases, rapid infiltration basins may have been put in place as the preferred way to locally manage wastewater capacity. The potential impacts of diverting discharging graywater from a local river or aquifer where it’s used to augment downstream water quantity and quality also must be assessed and found acceptable in order to obtain a permit.
The development of drought- and disease-resistant turfgrasses, improved types of turf management chemicals and efficient application methods can all help minimize a golf course’s impact on water resources. But given the large amount of water needed, golf course managers will always need to rely on adequate water resource development.
Inputs in the spotlight
Water isn’t the only aspect of golf course management that attracts the attention of the general public. The use of turfgrass inputs to maintain high-quality turf and fast greens can also be a flashpoint, putting developers and course managers alike in the middle of concerned neighbors and golfers who demand top conditions. Organic solutions are growing in popularity and effectiveness, but it is important to note that many common turfgrass pest, weed and disease problems — such as snow mold or goosegrass — still lack a dependable organic solution.
As studies have shown, even golf courses using integrated pest management strategies are still far from organic, at least when it comes to the USDA’s National Organic Program Standards. Tracking the impact of fertilizer, pesticides and herbicides on local groundwater and surface-water resources remains a major concern when developing a new golf course. In fact, it’s often the main issue of concern expressed by nearby residents and water purveyors.
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Ongoing water-quality analyses at Patriot Hills GC reassured nearby homeowners that groundwater at the former state-owned college site had not been adversely affected by the golf course. |
A victory in New York
In 2001, the town of Stony Point, N.Y., was considering the construction of an 18-hole golf course, which ultimately would become Patriot Hills Golf Course. The course was to occupy approximately 190 acres situated on a 295-acre former college facility previously owned by the state of New York. The site consisted of several dormitory buildings surrounded by rolling hills with numerous streams and a pond.
Before it could receive final approval from the town, the project faced a series of public hearings, where homeowners around the proposed site expressed concern over the potential impact from the use of fertilizers, pesticides and herbicides on the local water resources, including their individual potable supply wells. In response, Stony Point hired the consulting firm of Leggette, Brashears and Graham Inc. (LBG) to study the potential impact to the local water resources in connection with the future use and maintenance of the golf course.
To assess the potential for off-site impacts on the local water resources, primarily the surrounding residential potable wells and local streams, site-specific hydrogeologic data were collected and analyzed in conjunction with available information on the chemical characteristics of the compounds anticipated for turf management practices. As a result, a shallow groundwater monitoring network was designed and installed across the golf course site. As part of the process, several analytical models were employed to project the impact on the local water quality from the possible application of the respective fertilizers, fungicides, herbicides and insecticides identified by the golf course.
The models incorporated factors such as the initial material concentration and application duration, chemical stability, rate of groundwater recharge and movement and the subsurface chemical environment. The results were used to project the possible impacts from elevated nitrate concentrations, and representative fungicides, herbicides and insecticides on the local groundwater.
Based on the modeling results, Stony Point modified its proposed turf management plan and contracted LBG for approximately three years to provide water quality analyses throughout the construction and subsequent use of Patriot Hills, where Joseph Smith, a 15-year GCSAA member, serves as the Class A superintendent. As a result of the study and subsequent groundwater monitoring, the town was able to demonstrate to the local community that the operations of the golf course would not adversely impact their groundwater. Construction was completed in 2005, and the course has been operating successfully for almost two years.
Negotiating the maze
Clearly, environmental concerns have made the process of golf course development more time-consuming and expensive. Obtaining the necessary approvals at the local, state and federal levels requires, at a minimum, application site-specific evaluation and supporting documentation that addresses all of the factors mentioned above.
This complex permitting and approval process can be more effective, and less painful, if groundwater professionals and environmental consultants are brought on board early on. Having qualified experts participate in meetings with agencies — even prior to the actual application process — to address environmental concerns and incorporate proposed solutions into the planning process will help minimize questions and delays down the road.
Being proactive when it comes to addressing the concerns of regulators and the general public can also prevent issues that may affect the long-term use of a facility. Keep in mind: Addressing all the predictable environmental obstacles up front is easier and certainly less costly than having to go back to fix things after the fact.