The Environmental Institute for Golf (EIFG), the philanthropic arm of the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America (GCSAA), has established a program, “Golf’s Drive Toward Sustainability,” to provide the industry with a collaborative, sustainable approach to golf facility management.
As part of that initiative, the GCSAA has developed a Golf Course Environmental Profile, through a series of five surveys that were completed by superintendents from 2006 to 2009. Based on the data collected, the EIFG has identified five areas in which golf courses are succeeding in their environmental stewardship practices, five areas that need improvement, and the top three environmental issues of the future.
Areas in which golf courses are succeeding:
- Expansion of non-turf landscapes on golf courses
- Implementation of environmental improvements such as irrigation system upgrades, chemical handling system improvements, incorporation of native plants and erosion control
- Professional management of water and nutrients use
- Use of non-drinking water as water sources
- Willingness of more golf courses to use recycled water if it was available
Areas in which golf courses could improve:
- Commitment to continual improvement
- Expanded use of written nutrient plans and Integrated Pest Management plans
- Greater reliance on technology in water-use decisions
- Infrastructure upgrades for nutrient and chemical storage
- Continued evaluation of efficiency of inputs
Top future environmental stewardship issues:
- Water conservation
- Water quality protection
- Energy conservation
Source: GCSAA, Environmental Institute for Golf
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