From the Fairways

from theFAIRWAYS

by Matt Sapochak, Golf Course Superintendent

In the golf maintenance industry, we use a term known as “sustainable golf course”. A sustainable golf course requires a low input of water, fertilizer, chemicals, and mowing. This benefits the environment and the Club.

There are many ways to ensure a low input sustainable golf course. Some clubs spread their food waste on their fairways as fertilizer and some courses are using effluent water to irrigate their golf courses. Hilton Head was one of the first areas on the east coast to use effluent water to irrigate a golf course. Courses also use diverse types of grasses to be more environmentally friendly. These include tall or bunch type grasses that are planted in the rough. Courses also switch to low input grass such as paspalum.

We try to ensure Hampton Hall is a low input and sustainable golf course. This is done by keeping our rough at four to five inches, reducing the amount of chemical and fertilizer used, using cordgrass as mulch, planting bunch grasses by the lake banks, and using equipment that reduces fuel. Hampton Hall is also a certified Audubon Sanctuary Golf Course that promotes wildlife. There are 58 blue bird houses and 28 duck boxes located around the golf course. The Club also grows a butterfly garden and flowers to promote pollinators.

The Golf Club has also purchased equipment that will reduce costs and benefit the environment. Our newest purchase of a woodchipper uses low horsepower, increases productivity, uses less fuel, is more durable, results in less debris, and ultimately saves money. We can now chip 98% of our branches into the wood line, which reduces input and helps environments that are far outside the confines of Hampton Hall.

We are continuing to work hard to keep our golf course sustainable to better the environment.

LGS Ground’s Crew Lunch

Our Ladies’ Golf Society showed their appreciation for everything our Ground’s Crew does with a special luncheon.