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Presented in partnership with BASF
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Golf earning its green light
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Editor’s note: Inside Your Environment periodically presents information being featured or archived on The Environmental Institute for Golf Web site. For more about this month’s topic, visit www.eifg.org.
Almost everywhere we look today, we see things with a “green” label or “environmentally friendly” stamp. Similarly, we see those “healthy choice” goodies labeled “light” or “no sugar added.” Nutritionists recommend reading the nutrient facts on the package because “light” or “no sugar added” isn’t a total reflection of the contents. The manufacturers just didn’t add any extra carbohydrates or fat.
Which raises the question: are all things “green” just because they say they are? Well, there are particular “green stamps” that deliver on their environmental inference and, better yet, some of them are in golf.
When you peel back the “green” certifications that Old Greenwood Golf Course in Truckee, Calif., has achieved, you’ll see real results. And they are documented results meeting specific criteria for environmental stewardship. Old Greenwood was one of the first golf courses to achieve the U.S. Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certifications. A LEED certification involves a rating system for a whole building approach to sustainability, including sustainable site development, water savings, energy efficiency, materials selection and indoor environmental quality.
In his case study, “Achieving Audubon Gold Signature and LEED ‘Green Building’ Certifications,” Jonathan Moulton, an assistant superintendent at Old Greenwood and a three-year GCSAA member, shares that even “the members-only clubhouse (Pavilion) is constructed from lumber salvaged from the bottom of the Great Salt Lake.”
Green Links: Highlights from Edge, a section of The EIFG Web site, features Moulton’s case study, where Old Greenwood’s LEED rating report shows how they met the LEED requirements. In addition, Moulton shares his story about how they achieved Audubon International’s Gold Signature status. Gold Signature status isn’t a “green” label easily earned by joining a group; it’s a credential that is awarded upon meeting established environmental stewardship criteria such as Old Greenwood’s ongoing natural resource management plan or their environmental master plan used during development.
Old Greenwood exemplifies golf courses incorporating LEED and Audubon International’s environmental criteria from the beginning. All golf courses can participate in both programs, which have certification opportunities for existing facilities as well.
Edge is the online environmental resource for golf, where best management practices, case studies and technical information can be found for environmental stewardship. On Edge, you can find documents like “The Green Industry Guide to Environmental Purchasing” from the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality, or items of specific interest such as water
conservation.
One such case study on water conservation comes from Wally Dowe, the Class A director of golf course maintenance at The Lodge at Ventana Canyon in Tucson, Ariz. In his story — “The History and Challenges of Effluent Water in a Water Use Conscience Area” — Dowe concludes, “Despite the ‘extra requirements’ associated with using effluent water — it is the correct thing to do. It is best for the environment and water conservation now and in the long-term, especially in the Southwest, where water restrictions and limitations will continue to increase. Water conservation will become even a higher priority as the Southwest desert area continues to expand.”
Golf course professionals can use the case studies and information on Edge and through participation with golf’s environmental programs to ensure that the “environmental facts” labels aren’t of the “no sugar added” variety.
Responsible Industry for a Sound Environment names Karen Reardon its new director of grassroots and Elizabeth Lawder Grotos its new grassroots manager to lead the group’s National Grassroots Program. The initiative focuses on preventing attempts by local municipalities to restrict the availability of pesticide and fertilizer products used by professionals. Reardon will direct the grassroots program and retain her responsibilities as RISE’s director of communications. Grotos, vice president with D.C. Legislative and Regulatory Services, will manage program implementation. Every golf facility houses materials that can present a hazard and a potential threat to your community’s environment. If disaster strikes at your maintenance facility, will you be prepared? Pat Gross of the USGA Green Section presents an On Demand webcast/case study of a golf club that faced several environmental and legal issues when a fire broke out in the maintenance facility. Learn from their experience the importance of each team member knowing your emergency action plan. Learn more about this webcast in the education section of www.gcsaa.org or call GCSAA at 800-472-7878. |
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