The County Sligo Golf Club
Environmental Stewardship and Social Responsibility "Golf courses support a plethora of wildlife, some of which is strictly protected. It is essential to ensure that due diligence is demonstrated in respect of protected species and habitats"
The County Sligo Golf Club
Contents INTRODUCTION………………………………………………………………...Page 3 OVERVIEW………………………………………………………………………Page 4/5 ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT PLAN…………………………………..Page 6 LINKS FUNDEMENTALS……………………………………………………….Page 7 TURF MANAGEMENT…………………………………………………………..Page 8 PROTECTED SITES IN IRELAND……………………………………………...Page 9 EU ENVIRONMENTAL LEGISLATION……………………………………….Page 10 CSGC AREAS OF CONSERVATION…………………………………………....Page 11 GOLF ENVIRONMENT ORGANISATION……………………………………Page 12
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The County Sligo Golf Club
‘Safe havens for wildlife’
Introduction
As we enter a new and exciting era for County Sligo Golf Club with the Revitalisation Project for the Championship Course well under way there will be increasing interest in how we manage our business and golf course in the years ahead. Important issues such as managing our environment, ensuring the sustainability of our business and the conservation of our wildlife, both flora and fauna will become increasingly important. This report will deal in detail with these concepts later, but for starters let’s set out a basic definition of all three: Sustainability: A development that meets the needs of the present generation without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own. It must be economically viable, socially just and environmentally friendly. Environment: The environmental policies of golf courses should be based on the principle of prevention and minimisation at source of possible adverse environmental impacts. Conservation: As the human impact on lands surrounding golf courses have intensified, golf courses have increasingly become safe havens for wildlife and urban islands of biodiversity. 3
The County Sligo Golf Club
‘An ideal habitat’
Our Environment
Golf Clubs play an extremely important role in Ireland taking great care and pride in managing and protecting the environment. At County Sligo Golf Club we strive to provide a sporting and social experience in an extensive and environmentally friendly manner using work practices and methods that reflect the increasing concern for conservation, landscape protection and wider environmental issues. As well as providing a natural boundary between the ocean and the more fertile agricultural land our links provides an ideal breeding ground for birds and other wildlife. It also creates an ideal habitat for multiple species of flora and fauna. Animals we might encounter when playing a few holes on a spring or summer morning include foxes, badgers, hares and rabbits. There has also been the occasional sighting of the elusive stoat. The links is a haven for birds including skylarks, sand martins, oystercatchers, and gulls to name a few. Herons and swans can be observed as they make their way to and from the lake in Bomore. Scattered throughout the dunes and the semi rough can be found an abundance of wild flowers including the harebell, orchid, rose burnet, bird’s foot trefoil, vetches, clovers, daisies and the meadow thistle amongst others. Next time your ball makes it’s way into the rough, take a moment to savour the colourful array of wild flowers that inhabit that area. You might even encounter the spectacular red and black cinebar moth, a dragonfly or one of the many species of butterfly. 4
The County Sligo Golf Club
‘Unique dune areas’ Our Golf Club has been at the forefront of maintaining and conserving this spectacular environment for over 100 years. Our greenkeeepers have always been aware of the importance of working in an environmentally friendly manner when carrying out their work, any changes have always been sympathetic to the landscape that nature has provided.
Protecting our Environment It is therefore vital that we work within these parameters and be seen to be doing so. In the future as we engage with outside agencies on issues like erosion and the Revitalisation Project we need to get the message across that not only do we environmentally ‘talk the talk’ but that we also ‘walk the walk’!
In recent times the EU introduced legislation across Europe designed to protect plant and wildlife habitats. This legislation introduced Special Areas of Conservation, Special Protection Areas and Natural Heritage Areas. The unique dunes areas of the Atlantic Coast, including Rosses Point, are protected under this legislation so any major development work on our courses must fall within the guidelines of these EU laws.
The Course Revitalisation Project team has been very much aware of its’ responsibilities to both the Environment and the vision of course designer Harry Colt, as it moves towards Phase 2 of the ongoing project. Indeed we’d expect nothing different, haven’t we been doing it this way since 1894! 5
The County Sligo Golf Club
‘Improve forward planning’
Environmental Management Plan
An Environmental Plan should establish the ongoing routine integration of a wide range of golfing and environmental issues in a single management process to ensure a holistic approach and continuity in the event of staff changes and Club Council turnover. The main elements include communication, education and the workplace. Internal -‐ To improve knowledge and understanding of Council members, Club members, staff, visitors and other users of the golf courses on issues relating to environmental management. External -‐ To identify other stakeholders who have an interest in the environment of the golf courses and to work with them to make further improvements therein. To recognise, and seek to co-‐operate positively on local environmental and community issues through appropriate partnerships. Turfgrass -‐ To provide turf conditions typical of a high quality traditional links based on environmentally sound procedures and practices. Water -‐ To recognise water is a valuable resource and to ensure all water use is carried out in line with current environmental legislation. Nature Conservation -‐ To promote and maximise the biodiversity value of the wildlife and habitats of the golf courses. Landscape -‐ To ensure the landscape of the golf courses retain their links character in perpetuity.To enhance the aesthetic character of the golf course by conserving positive attributes and reducing negative aspects, through implementation of landscape guidelines. Cultural Heritage -‐ To acknowledge the importance of the area's landscape history and through appropriate advice, undertake sensitive management. To promote the history and cultural heritage of this historic site. Waste Management -‐ To develop waste management practices which reflect the waste hierarchy -‐ avoid, reduce, re-‐use and recycle. To ensure all disposal of hazardous products meets with relevant legislation and best practice. 6
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‘Protect the land’
The fundamental aim of Links greenkeeping should be to mirror nature, to ensure the long-‐term health and stability of the fixed dune areas and the grasses, namely the native fine fescues and bent grasses that predominate. Links courses have their origins on the coastal land between the ocean and the more fertile agricultural land. This land would originally have been colonised and secured by the pioneering coastal grasses such as Marram and Lyme which, as the land form matured, would become stabilised by the fine fescues and bent grasses. Traditionally these grasses were grazed by animals such as rabbits, sheep and cattle. It was this grazing that managed the links land in such a way that it became the perfect site for the game of golf. Greenkeepers encourage ‘grazing’ in a controlled way as part of an integrated grass management programme.
Links Fundamentals area of grass cutting are mowed at the same height of cut as grazing sheep. This prevents any damage from erosion as the natural grasses are encouraged to create a strong turf. The greens which make up about 2% percent of the total managed area of the golf course receive the same principled programme of maintenance to ensure the stability of the native grasses with the minimum use of fertilisers, chemicals and water. The above principles of traditional Links maintenance will protect the land in the long-‐term, ensuring it retains the very unique and diverse fauna and flora.
The minimal amount of rough cutting is carried out at a height of cut similar to that of grazing cattle, which will not be detrimental to the stability of the natural fauna and will only be necessary at times of excessive natural growth. The fairways, which make up the largest 7
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The County Sligo Golf Club
Turf Management Good quality playing surfaces are the ultimate goal of all Greenkeeping staff, Course Managers and Greens Committees. The effects of climate change are having an increasing impact on golf. Many traditional links courses are experiencing problems of coastal erosion, while the general change in weather patterns are affecting many courses in terms of different prevalence of turfgrass pests and diseases, seasonality of play, changes required to drainage and irrigation systems, pricing of energy and fuel supplies. Less predictable revenue streams from green fees is becoming a major worry.
‘Good quality turf’ These issues, along with the increasing amount of National and European legislation and the higher expectations of golfers, are causing a huge challenge to clubs to retain their high standards. Sustainable turf management techniques should be employed by all golf clubs to ensure good turfgrass quality, reduce the impact of pests and diseases, reduce costs and comply with legislation. Chemicals alone will not encourage strong, healthy, deep rooting, drought and disease resistant turf. They may cure problems such as fungal disease in the short term, but will not affect the real problem, which may be heavy thatch. Other cultural practices such as regular aeration, anti compaction, thatch control, top-‐dressing and traffic management should help to avoid chemical dependence. It is highly recommended that all golf clubs have a written sustainable turf maintenance policy as part of an overall Integrated Management Plan, detailing their cultural and mechanical practices geared to achieving good turf quality.
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The County Sligo Golf Club
Protected Sites in Ireland
Ireland is home to 28 species of land mammal, over 400 species of birds, more than 4,000 plant species and over 12,000 species of insect. If we want all of this to survive, we must ensure that there are enough suitable areas for all these species to flourish.
Rare and fragile species such as the corncrake and the blue cornflower were found all over the country 50 years ago but now have almost disappeared, the demise of these species is linked to change in agricultural practices. To succeed, in conserving our native species we need the support of landowners and people who use or visit the land.
own national laws. The National Parks & Wildlife Service (NPWS) is responsible for the designation of conservation sites in Ireland.
The NPWS works with farmers, other landowners and users and national and local authorities, trying to achieve the best balance between farming and other Conserving species in their land-‐use on the one hand, natural habitats requires a and requirements for strategic approach to Ireland aims to conserve conserving nature in these succeed. One of these is to habitats and species, through selected areas, on the other. ensure the adequate designation of conservation conservation of habitats areas. This is required of us where many of our plants and under European law and our animals live. 9
The County Sligo Golf Club
EU Environmental Legislation Natural Heritage Area (NHA) The basic designation for wildlife is the Natural Heritage Area (NHA). This is an area considered important for the habitats present or which holds species of plants and animals whose habitat needs protection. To date, 75 raised bogs have been given legal protection, covering some 23,000 hectares. These raised bogs are located mainly in the midlands. A further 73 blanket bogs, covering 37,000ha, mostly in western areas are also designated as NHAs.
Special Areas of Conservation (SAC)
These are prime wildlife conservation areas in the country, considered to be important on a European as well as Irish level. Most Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) are in the countryside, although a few sites reach into town or city landscapes. The legal basis on which SACs are selected and designated is the EU Habitats Directive, transposed into Irish law as amended in 1998 and 2005. The Directive lists certain habitats and species that must be protected within SACs. Irish habitats include raised bogs, blanket bogs, turloughs, sand dunes, machair (flat sandy plains on the north and west coasts), heaths, lakes, rivers, woodlands, estuaries and sea inlets. The areas chosen as SAC in Ireland cover an area of approximately 13,500 sq. km. Roughly 53% is land, the remainder being marine or large lakes. Across the EU, over 12,600 sites have been identified and proposed, covering 420,000 sq. km of land and sea, an area the size of Germany.
Special Protection Areas (SPA) Ireland’s SPA Network encompasses over 570,000 hectares of marine and terrestrial habitats. The marine areas include some of the productive intertidal zones of our bays and estuaries. The remaining areas of the SPA network include inland wetland sites, extensive areas of blanket bog, upland habitats, agricultural land and coastal habitats. To date 140 of Ireland’s 154 SPA sites have been protected by Statutory Instrument and it is envisaged that all sites will be protected in the coming months. The Statutory Instrument is the final step in the designation process, however all SPAs are considered protected from their date of classification. 10
The County Sligo Golf Club
Co Sligo GC Areas of Conservation
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The County Sligo Golf Club
Golf Environment Organisation GEO is the sustainability group founded to support the golf industry, helping it to deliver and be recognized for a positive impact on the people and nature it touches, now and in the future.
OnCourse® County Sligo Golf Club is participating in the OnCourse® programme, committing to continually improve in the important sustainability areas of nature, water, energy, supply chain, pollution control, and community. OnCourse® is a widely endorsed online programme that makes it easier to evaluate, improve and report on a club’s environmental and social contributions. 12
Sustainability concerns and expectations are rising across all aspects of life, and the golf community is well positioned to contribute more, for the welfare of nature and communities and for the good of the game. Across an agenda that brings sustainability from a concept into practical actions integrated throughout the daily operations of a golf facility, business and common good interests can be met in unison. A greater focus on sustainability can unlock cost-‐savings, and improve reputation, operational efficiencies, and customer attraction and loyalty. The industry-‐supported programmes provided by GEO help the people on the ground in golf to evaluate and improve performance people, nature, and natural resources. Clubs should keep a continual focus on sustainable improvements, combinations of small adjustments and some larger projects. They can promote their GEO Certified® ecolabel, giving them a very credible way to confidently and consistently talk about your positive environmental and community contribution.
‘Conservation is a state of harmony between men and land’
Editor: Vincent McGee The County Sligo Golf Club 2015 ©