The following strategic aspects will be addressed from a golf course design and construction perspective:
Energy Efficiency
Golf course design will focus on limiting the earth moving during construction. This approach stands true to the Peter Matkovich design philosophy of ‘listen to the land’.
Greenhouse Gas Emission
By their very nature golf courses are CO2 sinks. In other words chlorophyll and carbon dioxide results in the production of oxygen (O2). In addition to this the golf course landscaping through the planting to of trees will further improve oxygen production. This in the light of the fact that currently the piece of land at The Bay is predominantly grass land.
Water Conservation
While it is a common opinion that Golf Courses have high water requirements most of the wastage of water associated to irrigation practices is reduced through a targeted irrigation system. This ensures that only that which requires water will receive it.
Furthermore from a design perspective Peter Matkovich will look to utilise local varieties to landscape out of play areas which reduce water requirements. Design of the golf course will also ensure that out of play areas require limited water. Re-cycled water will be used to irrigate the golf course however this will only come into play as the development is built and the sewage treatment works comes on line
Waste Avoidance, Re-Use and Recycling
In an effort to reuse and recycle grass clippings can be composted and reused. It is advisable to place bins strategically on the golf course which separate out glass, plastics and other waste.
Pollution Prevention - Noise, Water, Air, Soil & Light
Wetland filters will be employed throughout the golf course to ensure minimal water contamination.
During construction soil erosion control measures will be in place to prevent damage and contamination. Furthermore “green” storm water management principals are vital. This ensures that water is slowed down allowing it to infiltrate into the soil before rushing into the dam.
From a maintenance perspective the use of energy efficient maintenance equipment should be considered.
Enhanced Biodiversity
Design and construction will at all times attempt to include wetlands, grasslands, and some savannah/bushveld areas into the construction of the golf course. All these areas can sustain more diverse life – birds etc.
Productive and Healthier Environments
The game of golf can help educate residents that there is an alternative and more sustainable way to live. This would however require that it be made easy and/or rewarding for them.
Flexible and Adaptable Spaces
The following equation best addresses the above point:
Golf course = green space = bio filters = oxygen banks = natural habitat for fauna = space for relaxing for man = stress relief.
The above items give you a general strategy for each of the listed concerns. For a more in depth discussion of these points please see the additional information below.
HISTORICAL
Until 1990 there were more golf courses in South Africa closing than new ones being built. South Africa a land of untold potential through diversity of cultures, beauty, mineral wealth was split by politics into two very distinct parties, the whites who had access to virtually all sporting facilities and amenities and the black, colored and Indian sectors of the community who were denied entry to most facilities and what amenities they could play and were at best second rate.
White sportsmen were, to an extent, limited in what they could achieve by sanctioned boycotts by the rest of the world and golf especially became seen as an elitist sport played by white businessmen by the majority of South Africans. South Africa was seen by the outside world as a dangerous and unstable country to visit.
With the end of apartheid in 1992 South Africa became, (with all the excitement of the “Madiba Magic”) the darling of the world. The strength of the Rand fell to all time lows in 2003 and with all the political razzmatazz tourism took off.
If we study other developed and developing countries we will see that with any country where tourism is big that golf is a major attraction – and South Africa needs to play “catch- up”. We have some of the best Game Reserves in the world; we have some of the best beaches and coastal towns in the world. We have some great golf courses – but undoubtedly not enough, as we see the continued trend of more and more tourists visiting our treasured land.
The upsurge in business over the last couple of years has seen an incredible demand for housing developments. As previously disenfranchised now seek homes in up-market areas and as business continues to boom this pattern will continue.
If we study the rest of Africa another fact becomes apparent – it is not only the “whites” who enjoy the game of golf and so already we are seeing a trend of “black” businessmen taking to the links as part of the long standing culture of modern business, where relationships are formed away from the boardroom. With a new generation of golfers again we are going to find that South Africa with its 450? Golf courses are way behind in terms of numbers.
It would be a utopic world where the poor lived arm and arm with the rich and so it is that in South Africa as in every other country in the world the wealthy, irrespective of colour or creed, will move and isolate themselves in enclaves where they can afford security of their families and assets. The golf course has unfortunately become a focal point in this political debate as it does lend its self so readily to the international dream of the large house overlooking a beautifully manicured garden. Golf estates are found in every country virtually in the world – a foolish notion to believe we should not believe and strive to realize the same dreams and aspirations.
ENVIRONMENTAL
We are in South Africa as in most countries in the world becoming more and more aware of how strained our water and natural resources are, as we see the population of South Africa and the world explodes. It would be foolish of us as golf course architects and builders to ignore this fact and if we are to survive we need to adapt to the best utilization of these resources possible.
It is a fact that currently in the Witwatersrand area that there are virtually no streams or rivers where the e-coli counts are low enough for the water to be potable. This is a result of discharge of untreated or semi-treated effluent into these water bodies. In addition to this, these waters are so high in nutrients (mostly nitrates and phosphates) that they are subject to huge algal blooms the minute they are allowed to stagnate (as seen in the Hartebeestpoort Dam). This deterioration of the water is result of several factors; informal housing settlements, with inadequate or no effluent disposal means on the edges of streams and rivers, overloaded sewage treatment works, uncontrolled and illegal effluent disposal by factories and mining organisations and lastly farming enterprises.
As water becomes more and more valuable those of us in the golf course trade are adapting to ways and means to curb water utilization (for instance the use of part circle sprinklers to target irrigate fairways etc.) We are adapting to utilizing treated effluent – (incidentally courses such as King David in Cape Town have used treated effluent for over 40 years) and new developments are piping this resource great distances so as to recycle this valuable resource (Steenberg and Westlake Golf Courses pump their water over 12kms from the Retreat outfall in False Bay). We do not see new sports stadiums being built near these facilities- is this not poor town planning?
It is a fact that efficient turf grass irrigation is the best natural cleanser of nutrient high water, better than wetlands where inevitably higher flowing channels occur there and water is not as well polished as with good irrigation, where the precipitation is precise.
Golf course irrigation once a throw and be damned scenario is changing with the times and we are now seeing the new courses evolving with on-site weather stations, probes and tensiometers being used, whereby irrigation becomes an exact science and watering of the active growing root zone is targeted, leading to virtually zero run off.
Whereas in the past the greenkeeper used to throw on (providing he had a good budget) fertilisers, fungicides and pesticides through ignorance and lack of training, today with education the greenkeeper is moving towards an integrated management plan.
• Here, where possible the longer lasting organic fertilisers are utilised.
• They in turn lead to high soil microbe levels, where the so called good pathogens help to suppress the bad, thus reducing the necessity of fungicides and pesticides.
• Specific pests are targeted and only treated when they reach unacceptable thresholds.
• Where possible microbes are introduced to combat these pests and as a final resort short term low residual pesticides or herbicides are used. Again specific areas are targeted with little or no overspray.
Whereas in the past the greenkeeper was the old retired major, today the new generation superintendent is a highly educated person usually with a diploma or degree in horticulture, who is trained not only in the science of turfgrass maintenance but is also equipped with laboratories where he can have his soil and leaves analyzed so as to determine accurately what his plants needs are.
Today the golf course is a business and the golf course superintendent has to provide his client with the highest standards his income will afford him and likewise reduce costs wherever possible to achieve the sustainability of the course. This is achieved through a thorough knowledge of his field of expertise and the application of science, not through whimsical applications of water and fertiliser.
The environmentalists will talk of golf courses being green deserts where monocultures are grown; on the fairways and greens this is to an extent a true reflection. In mitigation this 30 odd hectares of lawn is a magnificent “green lung” usually placed in the middle of suburbia, sucking up all the CO2 emissions from our transport and our very breathing. What does not fall into this statement is the “out of play” areas that constitute the remaining 50 odd hectares that make up the balance of the course and if we multiply this by the 450 odd courses we have in South Africa we end up with a potential 22500 hectares of ground that lends itself to habitat for endemic birds, reptiles, insects and plants.
If we are to turn off the water to these courses, we should do so to every park in the towns, for surely they comprise the same ingredients; grass, trees and shrubbery. Then we may see the true extent of mans impact on mother earth.
Environmentalists are very quick to protest the development of a golf estate, citing destruction of habitat, limitation of access by the general public to open spaces, water utilization etc. We as golf course architects and contractors inevitably find ourselves on already degraded land, where it is convenient for the general public to dump their refuse. We almost inevitably find ourselves having to eradicate the alien vegetation that has swamped the site as there is no money at municipal levels to clear these open areas. We almost inevitably find ourselves next door to towns where the urban sprawl continues with seemingly little planning and certainly zero regard for the environment. There are no or certainly very few instances where municipalities have codes for the planting or protection of endemic plants or species.
In terms of the access by the general public to beaches etc. we may not fence off Admiralty Reserves and have to allow access to these areas; however we are able to prevent the 4x4 brigade from destroying what vegetation has not already been swamped by the alien plants. Yes we do move mountains of soil, but we do replace the topsoil after shaping is complete. We do bare the soil to the vagaries of the weather only once, usually for less than 18 months, unlike the farming community where soil is by necessity ploughed with the advent of every new crop. Yes we do interrupt hiking trails that previously meandered through the property, but inevitably we do provide alternate routes and the course is inevitably utilised by a far greater number of the public than that utilised the trail previously.
I would guarantee that there is more care taken on a golf estate than any municipal extension, not only during the construction phase but usually Golf Course Estate residents contribute through levies to the maintenance of out of play areas for perpetuity. I would like to see where in usual town planning that provision is made for the creation of no-go nature sanctuaries - they do happen on golf courses.
We are very quick to forget the main reason for man’s love of the game of golf. Is it his love for the competition against his opponent? - Undoubtedly. Is it his desire to test his inner self? - Undoubtedly. Or is it his means to get out of the 4 walls that surround him and the chance to escape to nature. To walk at peace in a tranquil surrounding, where for a few hours he can escape the every day hubba-hubba of life?
ISSUES
It would seem that in every paper we pick up there is an issue raised with golf course developments. What has created this virulent attack on what we are doing? Do we do more damage to the environment than for instance unchecked urban sprawl? I do not see articles in the paper condemning the new squatter camp that has overnight sprung up in the middle of a piece of pristine endemic forest or on the edge of a wetland. I do not see environmentalists shouting in every paper that these squatter camps are polluting the river below them. I do not see the newspapers slamming the big mining companies and timber mills whose effluent kill off rivers and make groundwater undrinkable. I do not see environmentalists screaming for an end to all the pollutants spilling into the air from Eskom’s coal powered generators. I do not see environmentalists moaning about farmers who year after year plough within meters of waterways, which has led to most estuaries being silted up, or the fact that they pour on vast quantities of water to their crops or that they apply enormous amounts of pesticides and herbicides to their crops annually.
We do not get praised for the fact that these estates do create jobs for the locals – “Ah” I hear you say “there are only a few jobs for unskilled laborers”. Not so. If we take a golf estate once up and running, directly we have staff trained in the maintenance of the estate and the course. All these members receive ongoing training; they become machine operators, security guards, receptionists, assistant greenkeeper's, and drivers. All the above trained at the expense of the estate form unskilled laborers to trained and valued citizens with a future in the respective fields they have chosen and inevitably earning a wage they could not previously have attained. Indirectly the effect a large golf estate must have on a community must be huge affecting, after construction, so many subsidiary businesses and their staff, the plumbers, electricians, municipal workers, nurses, doctors, greengrocers, market gardeners, farmers. The list is endless. Then we have something that means a lot to us all, in fact rapidly becoming one of South Africa’s biggest industries – we encourage tourism and are a major draw card to our country.
I ask again why golf courses are being targeted so much. I believe there is an element of jealousy, the have not’s versus the have’s, but most of all I believe it is because of money.
Environmentalists have become professionals. In days of old he would have a job in the National Parks, today he can have a job in society earning great money either objecting to or mitigating for developments. Golf courses are high end of the market developments; they cost a great deal of money and realize a great deal of money. They are ideal places for someone such as an environmentalist to get money!
Please do not get me wrong, we do need environmentalists, they are our consciences. They do despite all that I have written care for our world. But please understand so do we. We also have children and when I die I would hope my children’s children will look on my work with pride and hopefully God will also be pleased with what I have done.
THE FUTURE
Why is it necessary to build more golf courses? Why is there global warming? Why are we running out of water? One reason – too many people!
In Africa as with many other parts of the world we have a culture where many children are a sure sign of wealth and a guarantee of care and comfort in our dotage. Sadly the world is not like that any more. We need education. With that we can get jobs, which can enable us to have pensions. With education we can learn about the world’s vulnerability and that too many people will stretch the worlds resources to breaking point.
To suggest that politicians or environmentalists should tackle these sensitive issues would be insane – what chance would he ever have of re-election or the environmentalist ever having a job again. Yet sometime in the not too distant future it will have to happen. Weather it will be in time, who knows?
ENVIRONMENTAL BENEFITS OF TURFGRASS SYSTEMS
Although potential environmental risks have been identified for turfgrass management of lawns and golf courses, the overall benefits of turfgrass should be considered:
• Healthy turfgrass probably provides the greatest benefit to land surfaces in urban and suburban environments.
• Healthy turfgrass has the greatest resistance to disease, insect and weed infestations.
• Strong root systems use applied nutrients and water efficiently.
• Efficient use of nutrients and water limits the need for unnecessary irrigation, fertilisation and pesticide applications.
One of the greatest influences of turfgrass is on water resources:
• Research on grasslands, pastures and turfgrass indicates that sediment and nutrient losses from these systems, is considerably less than losses from agricultural systems.
• Turfgrass is capable of entrapping and retaining large quantities of precipitation and reducing the rate and volume of surface run-off.
• Turfgrass is capable of reducing sediment losses and surface losses of residual pesticides and nutrients in the soil.
• Turfgrass is capable of scavenging nitrates and phosphates and therefore acting as a nitrate, phosphate filter and source of groundwater recharge.
• Turfgrass additionally removes sediment and heavy metals from treated effluent.
• Utilisation of treated effluent on turfgrass reduces the demand on potable water resources.
• Turfgrass has a positive influence on the dissipation of solar energy in urban environments, leading to reduced temperatures as it absorbs infrared radiation.
• To a limited extent turfgrass also absorbs atmospheric contaminants without sustaining permanent injury.
• Turfgrass absorbs ozone, carbon dioxide and hydrogen fluoride and releases oxygen to the atmosphere.
• Turfgrass creates an “oasis” effect in urban areas, providing living greenery and aesthetic value to communities and residences.
BENEFITS OF IMPLEMENTING ITEGRATED TURFGRASS MANAGEMENT STRATERGIES.
Golf course and turfgrass managers are faced with the dilemma of maintaining cost effective operations and meeting user demands, whilst sharing the publics concerns regarding environmental effects, effects on water supplies and potential health hazards.
The use of fertilisers, pesticides and water for irrigation is considered necessary for economically viable golf courses.
Sound management of water, nutrients, and pests involves practices designed to retain the applied chemicals onsite and within the soil root zone. Establishing a record regarding prevention of adverse environmental impacts and chemical losses not only reduces operational costs, but is vital to establishing credibility with environmental bodies.
CONSERVATION OF WATER RESOURCES
Groundwater, streams, lakes and dams are invaluable natural resources. They provide drinking water, supply water for irrigation and industry, and are a source of natural beauty and recreation.
Although the utilisation of water for turfgrass is very small compared to agricultural and industrial use its utilisation is highly visible through the irrigation of recreational and leisure turfgrass facilities. This is seen as a “luxury” of use by certain sectors of the community. The sensible and scientific application of water therefore on turfgrass is critical to the well being of the industry and its patrons.
USE OF TYRFGRASS FERTILISERS AND ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS
The use of fertiliser for maintaining acceptable turfgrass growth rate and aesthetic quality is an important competent of turfgrass management. Recent concern over the potential contamination of water supplies associated with turfgrass systems such as golf courses has prompted scientists, heath officials and others to evaluate the effect of turfgrass maintenance practices on the environment.
Nitrogen phosphorus and potassium are the most widely applied fertilisers in turfgrass maintenance. In general turfgrass is most responsive to nitrogen application, providing growth and colour to the sward. Due its dynamic nature in the soil, nitrogen levels tend to decrease over time and therefore require additions to maintain established levels.
Turfgrasses require potassium and recent research shows that increased potassium levels result in improved root growth; heat, drought and wear tolerance as well as reduced incidence of disease. Phosphorous enhances root growth but deficiencies are not as common as nitrogen or potassium.
Essentially management issues related to turfgrass fertilisers lie in the judicious application of these chemicals so that they remain within the root zone of the sward and are not carried in solution either through run off or into the ground water underlying the golf course. Utilisation of organic fertilisers enhances bacterial activity within the root zone and results in a gradual slow release of nutrient that is taken up by the plant. The utilisation of foliar fertilisers ensures that these chemicals are absorbed directly by the plant and not released to ground water.
It follows that the application of any fertilisers should not be carried out prior to anticipated rain or heavy irrigation and that conditions are favourable for their application. Cognisance must also be taken of items such as soil texture and organic matter content, surface crusting, slopes and water levels within the soil. Application of fertiliser is also critical in terms of meeting plant uptake requirements thereby reducing the potential for fertilisers to be transported outside of the root zone.
MANAGEMENT GUIDELINES RETATED TO PESTICIDES AND WATER QUALITY
• Only chemicals specifically labeled for application should be used.
• All pesticides should be registered “turf grass” products.
• Any personnel utilising pesticides must be trained by a recognised institution in their use and receive refreshing training with the passage of time.
• Equipment maintenance and correct calibration is essential to ensure even distribution and correct application at determined rates.
• All label instructions, storage requirements, and regulations must be followed to ensure safe handling of the products.
• Proper mixing, handling and loading prior to application will reduce risk of fill site contamination.
• Closed systems for loading and mixing of pesticides are especially useful in reducing water source contamination.
• Proper disposal of unused chemicals and containers will ensure safety of the users, water resources and non-target organisms.
• Personnel involved in the application of pesticides should ensure that they are wearing appropriate protective clothing, respirators, gloves and shoes.
• Avoidance of excess run off, the prevention of spraying pesticides in or near any standing water bodies is of paramount importance.
• Selection of pesticides should be based on efficiency of treatment and criteria that reduce off-site movement and potential adverse environmental impacts.
• Selection of less toxic, less mobile and less persistent chemicals with greater selective control of pests is an important management consideration.
• The rate and timing of application relative to irrigation or precipitation that may lead to run-off or leaching is vital so as to avoid such incidents. Light irrigation after application may ensure the pesticide is placed in the thatch and upper soil layer where it will be most effective and reduce opportunity for losses through run- off water.
Unless the soils are well compacted, turf grass soils have high levels of water infiltration and conductivity. Numerous studies have proved that water run-off from turf grass is limited, it is therefore important that irrigation management prevents leaching through exceeding turfgrass water demand.
The movement of pesticides is related to:
• soil texture and degree of water conductivity
• thatch development
• the amount of sub-surface water movement
• pesticide adsorption and degradation
• cultural management characteristics.
Leaching of pesticides will occur when persistent and soluble pesticides are used at high rates on sandy soils.
Although extremely limited research has been carried out on the effects of pesticides in turfgrasses, it would indicate that there are very low levels of water related losses from turfgrass. Understanding the site-specific relationship of pesticide fate, persistence and transport is an essential component of understanding the environmental impacts of pesticide management.
INTEGRATTED MANAGEMENT PRACTICE FOR TURFGRASS
The approach to turfgrass management today is to integrate the above factors including cultivar selection, soil building practices, nutrient management, biological management and pest management as a single and interrelated entity thereby maximising their utilization and minimising their effect on the surrounding environment. This combination of pest and nutrient control irrigation scheduling and other cultural practices when properly implemented will produce turfgrass practices that are economically feasible, profitable and acceptable to turfgrass managers and critics. These practices include a thorough knowledge of herbicides, pesticides and fertilisers their utilization, effects and properties and how their utilization is aided through scientific data such as chemical leaf analysis soil analysis and the utilization of aids such as weather stations that determine evapo-transpiration and wind speeds. The data capture related to the above evolves a history of management to provide future knowledge for the maintenance of good grass of a particular site.
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