ENVIRONMENTAL
THE GOLF ENVIRONMENT ORGANIZATION
he Golf Environment Organization (GEO) is an inter- national non-profi t organisation dedicated to helping golf to achieve its potential as a social, environmental, and economic asset. Partnering throughout the industry to establish golf’s sustainability agenda and inspire progress, GEO provides guidance and practical tools. GEO is supported by a global net- work of partners, patrons, scientists, corporate and individual sponsors and a range of major organisations includ- ing The European Tour, European Golf Association, WWF, UNEP, the Club Managers Associations of Europe, America, and China and The R&A. Jonathan Smith, CEO of the Golf
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Environment Organization, said of Mirimichi’s GEO certifi cation: “What we see here is a model example of sustainability in golf. Mirimichi is well integrated into the community, and has focused on maximising the site’s eco- logical value while minimising resource consumption. Mirimichi highlights that with the engagement of motivated
staff who are actively encouraged to explore common sense opportunities to enhance the facility’s environmental and social value, golf really can deliver a diverse range of benefi ts to local people and ecosystems.”
Mirimichi is the world’s first course to be certified by both the GEO and Audubon International. Timberlake receives the award (above)
vegetation has been planted around the edges of the ponds and streams, which protects the water quality and provides safe access to the water for wildlife.
GETTING EVERYONE INVOLVED Ensuring that all members of staff were involved and informed about the green features of Mirimichi was critical to its success, says Bodie. “There is a real top to bottom commitment from everyone on the team to running the course in an environmentally friendly way,” he says. “We came in and gave a two hour training session to everyone working at Mirimichi, from the supervisors to the people who serve the food and drink. We ran them though all the environmental measures taken by the course, so that if someone asks them what makes Mirimichi so green they will be able to answer.” The staff are kept up to date via environmental meetings and news- letters, and are asked for suggestions of how to further improve the course’s environmental performance. Golfers are educated about the environmental measures via posters, pamphlets and signs, as well as hosted tours and talks. Mirimichi also invites local organisations and charities to take part in events, and learn more about the work carried out on the site.
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“Mirimichi reaches out to local gardening clubs, profes- sional golf clubs, local charities and other golf courses,” says Bodie. “Local gardeners have been particularly inter- ested in learning about the native plants and fl owers, and the organic fertilisers available. It’s important to Mirimichi to be able to be a resource for things other than golf.”
FUTURE PLANS
A clubhouse is planned for the site, and the management has promised this will be designed and built to high green building standards. Sustainable building materials will be used including local and recycled materials, and the amount of construction waste diverted to landfi lls will be reduced. Energy use will continue to be a big focus, says Bodie.
“We will continue to audit our energy use and set annual goals for energy reduction. We are looking at solar power and geothermal energy to supplement our other energy use.” The management is also currently looking at golf carts
that offer the ability to supplement with solar power. “Sustainability is a journey,” says Bodie. “You can never
reach a stage where you can say ‘we’ve arrived’. It’s such a growing industry, with new products and improvements con- stantly evolving to help create an effi ciently-managed facility. “It’s about continuing to push boundaries.” ●
ISSUE 1 2011 © cybertrek 2011
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