ENVIRONMENTAL ASPECTS OF GOLF COURSES
David Stubbs
Committed to Green Foundation
Summary of Presentation to APROMA, 3 October 2001, Barcelona

This paper will examine the ecological attributes of European golf courses and how environmental considerations can be built into their design and management.

Golf courses and environment

The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews (R&A, the governing body of golf), has identified six strategic technical issues facing the game in Europe:
· Climate change
· Water
· Chemicals
· Planning and development
· Levels of play
· Environment
All of these relate to the environment. However, by specifically listing environment as one of the key strategic issues, the R&A is recognising the importance of specific aspects, such as biodiversity and landscape conservation, and the wider need for awareness raising programmes based on labelling, accreditation and reporting systems.
The ecological attributes of golf courses are of particular interest. No other sport occupies and manages so much land, a large part of which comprises natural and semi-natural habitats and landscapes. Indeed, the origins of the game derive from the natural environment and the playing of golf is very much influenced by its surrounds. However, modern demands for high quality playing surfaces and pressures for uniformity are constraining the ecological potential of golf courses and leading to higher resource consumption - water, chemicals, energy etc.
Ecologically, however, most golf courses still have considerable potential to conserve significant areas of wildlife habitat and their associated flora and fauna. At their best, golf courses serve effectively as mini-nature reserves and can be good buffers surrounding protected areas.

Environmental aspects of new course development

The construction of new golf courses is likely to have significant effects on the local environment, within and around any given site. In many cases these effects can be beneficial for the environment, especially in the long-term, but there is also potential for environmental damage of sensitive sites if insufficient care is given to environmental aspects.
In relation to golf course development the key environmental issues to address are:
· Environmental planning context - protected areas and other statutory designations, zoning, land use.
· Water - availability and requirements, water quality and impact on hydrological cycle, including drainage and erosion.
· Nature conservation - effects on sensitive natural habitats and wild flora and fauna.
· Pollution - potential effects from the use of fertilisers and pesticides and waste disposal.
· Landscape and heritage - visual effects, archaeology and historical context, amenity and cultural values.

Environmental management of golf courses

All golf courses receive continuous, long-term management to maintain the playing areas and surrounds. This is the most important contributory factor to the ultimate environmental quality of any golf course but has been little studied in Spain.
The Committed to Green programme provides a ready-made Environmental Management System for golf courses and is being adopted across Europe by many hundreds of clubs. It is a programme specifically aimed at golf courses but is based on the structure of the European Commission's Eco-Management and Audit Scheme (EMAS). It has the following essential elements:
· Voluntary participation
· Commitment to continual improvement of environmental performance
· Independent verification
· Public reporting of results
Committed to Green is currently operating in 14 countries and has received the backing of both the governing authorities of golf and leading environmental organisations. The overall coordination of the programme at an international level is assured by the independent, not-for-profit Committed to Green Foundation.
The specific technical categories covered by the programme are:
· Environmental management planning
· Communications and public awareness
· Education and the working environment
· Nature conservation
· Landscape and cultural heritage
· Water resource management
· Turfgrass management (pollution control)
· Waste management
· Energy efficiency and purchasing policies
These are not ranked in any order of priority. To complete a full Environmental Management System will mean a fully integrated approach to each of these component parts. Ultimately there is much overlap between the categories and these divisions are essentially labels of convenience for defining the structure of the programme.

Conclusions

There is no inherent reason for golf courses to harm the environment. Nevertheless, all designers and managers have to take this subject much more seriously than has previously been the case. Golf is under much critical scrutiny from environmentalist and public authorities. It is essential for the well-being of the sport that it can demonstrate a genuine commitment to environmental responsibility and sustain tangible environmental benefits.