WHAT DOES
IT MEAN TO BE "COMMITTED TO GREEN"? European
Commission President, Jacques Santer, speaking at the launch of Committed
to Green at Valderrama Golf Club, Spain on 28 September 1997, the final morning
of the Ryder Cup matches: "To
be committed to green is to demonstrate environmental awareness and responsibility.
The aim is to increase awareness of the environmental attributes of golf courses,
and to demonstrate how well-managed golf courses are of benefit to the environment
and the community.The game still faces many environmental challenges we have to
be good convervationists; we need to address water resources and pest management
issues; we want to ensure that greenkeepers receive appropriate training in ecological
management; and we must communciate these points through the golf industry and
to the golfing public. "Committed to Green" will be a major step forward
in that direction." Environmental
considerations are part of the operational management of golf courses. A well-maintained
course requires an integrated approach to management. This is ecologically important
and the link between golf and the environment, with a duty to conserve natural
resources is central to the environmental stewardship ideology of COmmitted to
Green. Committed
to Green is voluntary and the benefits need to be clear, golf clubs need to be
able to see the advantages: - Cost
savings through improved efficiency; reduced water, chemical and fuel consumption,
fertiliser applications and mowing regimes; energy saving through waste reduction,
recycling.
- Cost
avoidance through compliance of environmental (protected species, pollution controls)
and health and safety regulations (fewer accidents, lower insurance).
- Protection
of property asset value though landscape management.
- Environmental
improvement grants (tree planting, hedgerow restoration).
- Employee
motivation.
- Membership
/ visitor satisfaction.
- Improved
local community relations.
- Public
image.
If
the programme is to be effective, the membership needs to be supportive and involved
alongside of management. One way of doing this is for clubs to have a simple
policy statement or charter. |
