Le Maitre de Mont-Tremblant, Composting is a key part of their environmental stewardship program
I'm a big fan of composting.
I know a hand full of golf courses who are making use of their green wastes, in some cases even from resort restaurants, and using it out on the course. It's "brown, hot, stinky gold" I'm told. I've wanted to post information on composting for quite some time, so here it goes, just a bunch of links but I'll definitely source out some more case studies.
This article describes a common situation at golf courses and University campuses, they are concerned about smells, safety (a little paranoid I think) and aesthetics. All of these can be dealt with quite easily, below are a few compost links that may help you refine your techniques.
Start small:
Composting 101
The Compost Recipe
The Composting Guy (great for gardens and limited space and $)
Large Scale:
Farm technique can be modified for use at golf courses
Golf Specific Articles:
Golf Compost
Green Golf with video - MUST WATCH
R&A Article
Looks like a great article - must sign up to read whole thing.
Case Study
Great Case Study
Temporal effects of Compost and Fertilizer Applications on Nitrogen Fertility of Golf Course Turfgrass
Compost Tea
Compost Tea - I love this stuff!
More Compost Tea
Even More Compost Tea
Composting Toilets
Golf Course Dumps Portable Toilets for Composting Ones - I've used them, they are great! You'll see a lot more courses, especially in dry regions, install these soon.
I am awaiting photos from Blakburn Meadows Organic Golf Course on Salt Spring Island who are in the process of installing a home made version.
I'll be posting more info on composting, if you have any experience with composting at your course please tell us your experiences in the comment section.
Le Maitre de Mont-Tremblant, Composting is a key part of their environmental stewardship program
I'm a big fan of composting.
I know a hand full of golf courses who are making use of their green wastes, in some cases even from resort restaurants, and using it out on the course. It's "brown, hot, stinky gold" I'm told. I've wanted to post information on composting for quite some time, so here it goes, just a bunch of links but I'll definitely source out some more case studies.
This article describes a common situation at golf courses and University campuses, they are concerned about smells, safety (a little paranoid I think) and aesthetics. All of these can be dealt with quite easily, below are a few compost links that may help you refine your techniques.
Start small:
Composting 101
The Compost Recipe
The Composting Guy (great for gardens and limited space and $)
Large Scale:
Farm technique can be modified for use at golf courses
Golf Specific Articles:
Golf Compost
Green Golf with video - MUST WATCH
R&A Article
Looks like a great article - must sign up to read whole thing.
Case Study
Great Case Study
Temporal effects of Compost and Fertilizer Applications on Nitrogen Fertility of Golf Course Turfgrass
Compost Tea
Compost Tea - I love this stuff!
More Compost Tea
Even More Compost Tea
Composting Toilets
Golf Course Dumps Portable Toilets for Composting Ones - I've used them, they are great! You'll see a lot more courses, especially in dry regions, install these soon.
I am awaiting photos from Blakburn Meadows Organic Golf Course on Salt Spring Island who are in the process of installing a home made version.
I'll be posting more info on composting, if you have any experience with composting at your course please tell us your experiences in the comment section.
Every once in a while I get overwhelmed with the amount of potential posts, so instead of doing a bunch of individual posts I compile the links with a brief intro, Enjoy!
The Sports Business Journal has a few articles of note, you must sign up as a member to view.
Golf Without Turf - Artificial Surfaces
Golf Deals with a range of Environmental Issues
Interesting perspective! This article starts off by claiming: "For years, a golf course—or proximity to one—has been a prerequisite of the destination meeting. But as meeting planners increasingly seek to green their practices within the meetings and lodgings parameter, they are likely wondering about the green practices of the greens outside".
Read the rest of the article here.
More on the Trump fiasco.
I'll have to write an article on this topic soon, but for now here's just a peak at what is happening in Spain.
And while we're at it here's a bit more background on the concept of water trading.
Here's a bit on Ontario's water problems, from the article:
"Starting Jan. 1, 2009, industrial or commercial water users that fall within certain categories will be required to pay $3.71 for every million litres of water they take".
As of right now Golf Courses are not included within the defined "certain categories".
The above concerns could have something to do with this situation in Orangeville Ontario.
Toppoint has recently released the eCo RANGE golf Ball - "Toppoint Corporation Limited is the LEADER in golf balls manufacturing in Thailand for worldwide export." www.toppointgolf.com
Golf Courses contribute to conservation efforts, here and in some cases it's a little more complicated, like here.
Every once in a while I get overwhelmed with the amount of potential posts, so instead of doing a bunch of individual posts I compile the links with a brief intro, Enjoy!
The Sports Business Journal has a few articles of note, you must sign up as a member to view.
Golf Without Turf - Artificial Surfaces
Golf Deals with a range of Environmental Issues
Interesting perspective! This article starts off by claiming: "For years, a golf course—or proximity to one—has been a prerequisite of the destination meeting. But as meeting planners increasingly seek to green their practices within the meetings and lodgings parameter, they are likely wondering about the green practices of the greens outside".
Read the rest of the article here.
More on the Trump fiasco.
I'll have to write an article on this topic soon, but for now here's just a peak at what is happening in Spain.
And while we're at it here's a bit more background on the concept of water trading.
Here's a bit on Ontario's water problems, from the article:
"Starting Jan. 1, 2009, industrial or commercial water users that fall within certain categories will be required to pay $3.71 for every million litres of water they take".
As of right now Golf Courses are not included within the defined "certain categories".
The above concerns could have something to do with this situation in Orangeville Ontario.
Toppoint has recently released the eCo RANGE golf Ball - "Toppoint Corporation Limited is the LEADER in golf balls manufacturing in Thailand for worldwide export." www.toppointgolf.com
Golf Courses contribute to conservation efforts, here and in some cases it's a little more complicated, like here.
I cant help but to think its a gimmick. I can see the benefits of a ball that is fully biodegradable and water soluble if you tend to hit the ball in the pond often, but the website seems to promote shooting balls straight in to the ocean. I've got to ask, what is environmentally friendly about a ball that is shipped all the way from China and used only once? Bizarre, excessive and truly non-sustainable.
Check out the website for further proof: www.ecogolfballs.com
I cant help but to think its a gimmick. I can see the benefits of a ball that is fully biodegradable and water soluble if you tend to hit the ball in the pond often, but the website seems to promote shooting balls straight in to the ocean. I've got to ask, what is environmentally friendly about a ball that is shipped all the way from China and used only once? Bizarre, excessive and truly non-sustainable.
Check out the website for further proof: www.ecogolfballs.com
Eco Golf (not at all affiliated with this blog) T2G Tees are made of USA grown biopolymers. Biopolymers are produced of biomass derived from such non-food crops as sugar beet, potatoes or wheat. Although these crops are notoriously resource intensive, they are fast growing and they make a product that is compostable. Wood tees are biodegradable too, however the problem with trees are that they grow slow and the tees brake apart far easier than a biopolymer based tee. Eco Golf claims that "All tees will do some damage to mowing equipment. The eco tee minimizes this damage by utilizing softer less impact resistant materials than wood".
Tees are available in 2.25", 2.75", 3" and 3.25"
Check out the selection at www.ecogolf.com
Eco Golf (not at all affiliated with this blog) T2G Tees are made of USA grown biopolymers. Biopolymers are produced of biomass derived from such non-food crops as sugar beet, potatoes or wheat. Although these crops are notoriously resource intensive, they are fast growing and they make a product that is compostable. Wood tees are biodegradable too, however the problem with trees are that they grow slow and the tees brake apart far easier than a biopolymer based tee. Eco Golf claims that "All tees will do some damage to mowing equipment. The eco tee minimizes this damage by utilizing softer less impact resistant materials than wood".
Tees are available in 2.25", 2.75", 3" and 3.25"
Check out the selection at www.ecogolf.com
We all go through tees quite quickly, and with a lack of long lasting re-usable tees on the market maybe we should be looking at our options.
So why Bamboo?
First of all it's a member of the grass family, so I guess it's appropriate on the golf course. Its one of our planets fastest growing plants and requires very little inputs like water and fertilizer to produce a good yield. Bamboo is flexible and does not need to be treated with chemicals like many wood tees, and is fully biodegradable.
The problem with bamboo is that it's grown in Asia and then has to be shipped all the way to North America just so we can prop our balls up on it. The carbon footprint is huge and I'm not convinced that they are the most eco-option out there.
My search will continue, but in the mean time check out hackerhelper.ca for prices and availability.
http://www.hackerhelper.ca/taxonomy/term/224
In the future we will be looking at other materials such as biodegradable composites, recycled plastics, and tees made from materials grown in North America.
We all go through tees quite quickly, and with a lack of long lasting re-usable tees on the market maybe we should be looking at our options.
So why Bamboo?
First of all it's a member of the grass family, so I guess it's appropriate on the golf course. Its one of our planets fastest growing plants and requires very little inputs like water and fertilizer to produce a good yield. Bamboo is flexible and does not need to be treated with chemicals like many wood tees, and is fully biodegradable.
The problem with bamboo is that it's grown in Asia and then has to be shipped all the way to North America just so we can prop our balls up on it. The carbon footprint is huge and I'm not convinced that they are the most eco-option out there.
My search will continue, but in the mean time check out hackerhelper.ca for prices and availability.
http://www.hackerhelper.ca/taxonomy/term/224
In the future we will be looking at other materials such as biodegradable composites, recycled plastics, and tees made from materials grown in North America.
Le Maitre de Mont-Tremblant, Composting is a key part of their environmental stewardship program
