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While many people in Southwest Florida would prefer
that natural lands remain in a native condition, we all recognize that
with the popularity of golf increasing, more courses will be in demand
and built…whether we prefer it or not.
Our goal is to educate everyone, and ensure that golf courses are
built responsibly with respect to the environment, because Smart Golf is
an example of Smart Growth. A
properly sited, designed, constructed and managed golf course can be a
low impact development, providing valuable open space, wildlife habitat
and a viable economy.
Smart Golf is environmentally, socially and
fiscally responsible. It
takes all the elements of well-designed golf courses, integrates them
with the preserved and enhanced aspects of the land and creates an
amenity that is aesthetically pleasing and contributes to the ecological
and economic health of the area. Often,
the public perception is that golf courses are an adversary of Smart
Growth. The reality is,
Smart Golf promotes environmental planning and sensitivity, water
conservation and quality, and economic viability…all goals of Smart
Growth.
Tour a course built and maintained in accordance
with Audubon International guidelines and you’ll see Smart Golf in
action. The natural
features of the property guide the design of the golf course so that
historic flow ways and indigenous vegetation are maintained.
A Natural Resource Management Plan that addresses wildlife
conservation and habitat enhancement, waste and chemical management and
reduction, energy efficiency, water conservation, water quality
management and monitoring, integrated pest management, and education is
created to provide a working document for the proper long-term
sustainability of the golf course.
Smart Golf encourages water conservation practices
such as state-of-the-art computerized control systems that allows the
golf course superintendent to constantly fine-tune watering practices
and achieve maximum water savings.
The computer utilizes an on-site weather station to calculate
daily local evapotranspiration rates and calculates nightly start times
so that watering programs are perfectly linked to start in the optimum
order. This achieves
consistent water demand and flow control and thus maximum efficiency in
water supply and distribution. At
the Bonita Bay East Course here in Southwest Florida, each pump is
placed on the Florida Power & Light Time-of-use Meter.
This keeps the pumps operating within “off-peak” service
hours, leading to greatly reduced energy costs.
Furthermore, 2 of the 3 pump stations have Variable Frequency
Controls, which utilize state-of-the-art technology for energy savings.
A key factor in water conservation efforts is the ability to
micromanage each sprinkler head. The computers’ solid-state field controllers have 32
station capability and combined with a valve-in-head hydraulic system,
the superintendent has control of the watering times on each individual
head. By programming into
the computer factors such as soil types and compaction, terrain slope
and plant material types, the superintendent can ensure that each area
of turf gets the proper amount of moisture.
In addition, “smart” courses have a rain gauge installed on a
field satellite, which shuts down the system whenever a threshold amount
of rain is received, any time, day or night.
Smart Golf utilizes other features to conserve water as well.
Each hole may be designed with adjustable arc perimeter
sprinklers in addition to full circle fairway heads.
This greatly reduces any sprinkler overlap into lakes, natural
areas or sensitive wetlands. Well-trained
golf course superintendents are vigilant in keeping sprinklers properly
adjusted to hit only their intended turf areas.
Environmentally and fiscally responsible -- that is Smart Golf.
Another Smart Golf principle that leads to water conservation is
xeriscaping. Utilizing
native Floridian plantings that require less amounts of water to
maintain than more traditional landscape designs is a simple and very
effective water conservation tool and it provides habitat for native
wildlife.
Smart Golf encourages the use of licensed certified
pest applicators for all pesticide application and continued education
of all golf course staff. Pesticides
should only be applied when a thorough scouting program deems them
necessary and the quality of turf is at stake.
A majority of weeds in the turf should be hand pulled to reduce
herbicide usage. Where
possible, upland buffers and “no
spray zones” are established around lakes, weeds are hand pulled and
parasitic nematodes are used along lake banks to control mole crickets
and reduce the risk of pesticide run-off into lakes.
A well designed golf course maintains some undeveloped land
surrounding it to provide habitat for many species of birds and
armadillos, which subsequently play a role in controlling worms, mole
crickets and grubs.
Smart Golf encourages “fertigation” as the main source of
nutrition for fairways and roughs.
It allows the golf course superintendent to “spoon feed” the
turf while reducing waste and run-off.
Fertigation also allows for easy adjustment of minor nutrient
needs for optimum turf growth and health.
Smart Golf also promotes environmental education
through club membership. Members
are encouraged to learn about native wildlife, ecosystems, and the role
they play in protecting Florida’s environment.
If you would like to learn more about Smart Golf and the Audubon
International Program, support a fundraiser for the Southwest Florida
Watershed Council and have a day of fun in a beautiful native
environment, then please join us on September 13th for the First Annual
Southwest Florida Watershed Council Open at the Bonita Bay East Golf
Club in North Naples. You
can learn more about the measures the golf course is taking to protect
water quality and about related steps being taken elsewhere in the
watershed. Environmental sensitivity, with an emphasis on water quality,
is the theme of the tournament, and golfers will participate in learning
exercises as they make their way around the golf course.
Participants will receive a list of “10 Things Golfers Can Do
To Help” as well as other education material.
For more information, call Tournament Chairman Andy Barienbrock
at 332-6975, ext. 129.
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