Golf Courses:
Lessening the Environmental Impacts of Design, Development & Operation

Chateau Whistler Golf Club, British Columbia Owned by Fairmont Hotels & Resorts' and opened in 1993, this course was designed to allow the natural landscape dictate its path. Environmental features include log weirs that enable fish, such as rainbow trout and dolly varden, to swim up-stream and spawn. Use of pesticides is kept to a minimum by spraying only the greens. It is certified by the Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary Program.

3.  Day to Day Management
*  Establish an environmental management programme. Not all facilities will be able to make major improvements immediately but each can make a start.
*  The principles of energy and water conservation and waste management are important on the course and in facilities such as the clubhouse.
*  Staff should be trained and guests, golfers and walkers informed about 'no go' areas so that wildlife can thrive. Make sure they are signed. Establish a communications programme to advise guests of your environmental achievements.
*  Chemical use should be kept as low as possible, carefully controlled and confined to greens and tees. Adopt a cultural and biological rather than chemical-based approach to keeping down pests. Explore organic options. Strive to achieve a year-on-year reduction in the amount of pesticides applied while maintaining or improving the quality of your course.
*  Golf carts should be solar or battery powered rather than petrol-fueled.
*  Evaluate the possibility of using solar-powered lawnmowers for the greens.
*  Composted waste from turf clippings and restaurant kitchen can be used as a soil amendment in planted areas.

Centres of Excellence
Audubon International
During the past decade, Audubon International has been actively involved in the development and implementation of conservation programmes which provide a comprehensive approach to environmental planning for projects in the design, construction and management phases of development.

The Audubon Co-operative Sanctuary Program for Golf Courses (ACSP) promotes ecologically sound land management and the conservation of natural resources and provides an information service about how to conduct proactive environmental projects for golf courses. It was created in 1191 in partnership with its sponsor, the U.S. Golf Association. 

The ACSP operates a certification process, designed to recognise and support those who work to ensure a high degree of environmental quality on their golf course. There are six 'Achievement Categories' in the certification process:

1. environmental planning
2. wildlife and habitat management
3. integrated pest management
4. water quality management
5. outreach and education
6. water conservation

Committed to Green
The Committed to Green Foundation promotes environmental awareness and responsibility. The project was launched by the European Golf Association Ecology Unit in 1997. Recognition is given to clubs that achieve high standards of environmental performance, similar to Audubon's list. Over 150 European golf clubs from 14 countries have registered.

The golfing world recognised its duty to strive to preserve and enhance the natural resources with which it is entrusted in the Valderrama Declaration, signed by the golf authorities and leading environmental organisations in November 1999. There has been close association with the US Golf Association, which has led the way in recent years with its in-depth environmental research programme.

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From The Green Hotelier magazine, a SustainableBusiness.com Content Partner.

Audubon International's Cooperative Sanctuary Programme for Golf Courses
Case studies: http://www.audubonintl.org/resources/casestudies/index.htm

Committed to Green Foundation:  www.committedgreen.org
(See their publications)

US Golf Association: http://www.usga.org/green/environment/index.html
List of certified courses: http://www.usga.org/green/environment/audubon_program.html

European Golf Association Ecology Unit: www.golfecology.com

Neighborhood Network is a Long Island, NY. non-profit that is successfully working toward organically managed golf courses: http://www.longislandnn.org/golf/index.html