GEO Certification
Golfpark Nuolen
Wangen, Switzerland
Verification Report
David Bily, GEO Accredited Verifier December 12, 2009Executive Summary
This former gravel pit was converted into a golf course 12 years ago and since then the club has been dedicated to improving biodiversity, maximising mechanical practices and minimising inputs of fertiliser and pesticide. The site has large areas of wildflower fields, 6 man-made lakes and biotopes which separate the golf holes and provide extensive habitat for birds, amphibians, mammals and insects. The club cooperates with WWF and ProNatura and is guided by a local environmental consultant. The L-93 based playing surfaces require regular mowing, verticutting and top-dressing but very little fertiliser and pesticide. All irrigation water comes from the 6 lakes, collecting natural run-off from the golf course. Monitoring weather and golf course conditions informs the greenkeeper of irrigation and maintenance practices minimising inputs. A solid recycling system is in place and energy alternatives are being studied for the golf course and clubhouse.
Local Translation
Vor ca. 12 Jahren wurde in Nuolen einer der schönsten Golfplätze der Schweiz gebaut. Der Club setzt sich für Biodiversität auf der Anlage ein, reduziert laufend den Einsatz von Pflanzenschutzmitteln und Düngern und verbessert die mechanischen Kultivierungsarbeiten. Zwischen den Spielbahnen dehnen sich Extensivwiesen, künstlich angelegte Weiher und verschiedene Biotope aus. Sie dienen verschiedensten Vögeln, Amphibien, Kleinsäugetieren und Insekten als wertvoller Lebensraum. Umweltberater unterstützen die vielseitigen Pflegearbeiten und der Club arbeitet eng mit dem WWF und ProNatura zusammen. Die Rasenflächen der Anlage müssen regelmässig gemäht, vertikutiert und besandet werden. Sie werden jedoch nur schwach gedüngt und Pflanzenschutzmittel kommen kaum zum Einsatz. Das Meteorwasser wird in den Weihern der Anlage gesammelt und in das Bewässerungssystem eingeleitet. Ein Abfallmanagement-System ist installiert und Studien zur nachhaltigen Energieversorgung sind in Auftrag gegeben.
Scope of Application
Golfpark Nuolen consists of:
Courses
- 9-Hole Course (9 holes)
- Pitch & Putt (9 holes)
Clubhouses
- Golfclub Nuolen
Maintenance Facilities
- GCM Nuolen
Other
- Pro Shop
- Practice Facilities
- Halfway House
- On Course Toilet Facilities
- Academy
Observations
Nature
The club has large rough and biotope areas separating fairways and running along the periphery of the property. Natural areas occupy a large percentage of the total surface area. Over 10000 trees and shrubs have been planted and some rough areas are simply cleared and repopulated naturally or hand seeded with indigenous species. 6 artificial lakes edged with grasses and reeds, 1 with islands for nesting boxes, are regularly maintained to prevent over-spreading and provide quality habitat for bird, mammal, insect and amphibian species. A 5m no-spray zone is enforced around all water elements. The club undertakes regular surveys of all plant and animal species and has many endangered and red list species including rare species of toads, salamanders, dragonflies, birds and flowers. A nature trail winds through biotope and rough areas including brush piles, stone walls and a bee hotel. Nets along the road protect amphibian species and a tunnel to cross under the road is being investigated.
Landscape & Heritage
A pre-construction survey indicates that the site had little landscape or heritage value besides 70 fruit trees and 1 biotope area. These fruit trees are still maintained by the golf club and the harvested fruit are sold locally or made into schnapps. Over 10000 trees and shrubs were planted on the site and are beginning to form interesting landscape structure. Other biotopes have been created and form a series of environmentally sensitive areas maintained by the greenkeeping staff. Some grass and wildflower areas are cut in early July and the hay sold to local farmers for horse feed. The existing course is set nicely into the side of the hill with a rolling topography offering beautiful views to the surrounding mountains and to Zurichsee. Some existing barns on the site have been saved and converted into the main clubhouse building. In cooperation with NGOs and local governments, the club has developed clear objectives for the continued improvement of the golf course landscape.
Water
The 6 lakes collect rain water and run-off providing all the irrigation needs for the golf course. A bore hole with second quality water provides water for washing clubs. The rest of the clubhouse needs are supplied by tap water. The closed loop wash pad reuses water after passing through a filtering system, separating any oils and lubricants for later deposal. A computerised irrigation system services all playing areas but fairways are normally only watered 3 times per year. Hand watering is done in needy areas. Greens are monitored carefully and each green is watered differently depending on the real needs of each surface. The head greenkeeper checks site conditions and weather information daily to help plan for irrigation needs. Water quality on site has improved by more than 30% during the last 10 years and the little water running off site runs into a large retention area with overflow allowing the water to be slowly filtered through reed beds. Sediments are removed once a year.
Turf
The L-93 hybrid works for this region and although the surfaces are kept short the grass remains very resistant to disease. Greens are treated for snow mould after long periods of snow cover but nothing is applied to fairways. One application of insecticide is used against Leatherjackets. The club minimises chemical inputs through a maximum use of mechanical practices. Tolerance for disease on greens is 10% and 20% on fairways although some years have seen extensive snow mould damage in spring and the problem is treated exclusively with dew removal, verticutting and topdressing. Fertiliser inputs are also kept to a minimum and over the last three years the club has recorded continual decrease in fertilisers. The greenkeeper adds K in the autumn to prevent spring disease on greens and uses wetting agent monthly to decrease stress on grass. Greenkeepers regularly monitor for shady areas and remove overgrowth where possible to create ideal conditions for turf grass.
Waste
90% of waste is recycled. Recycling stations exist around the clubhouse and in the maintenance area for all normal products including PET, aluminium, metals, glass, paper and cardboard. All material from the golf course including grass clippings, cores and leaves are recycled/composted and reintroduced to the site. Wood from removed trees is used for creating brush piles and habitat areas. Other wood is reused for building shelters on the golf course. Materials from the kitchen and maintenance area such as detergents, oils, lubricants, pesticides and batteries are collected and disposed of by registered uplift. The wash pad is a closed loop recycling system with no runoff. Depositions are regularly removed from the area and stored elsewhere on site. The wash pad area incorporates a filtering and separation of oils and lubricants which are removed by registered waste removal companies. More obvious signage on the club’s recycling programme could be introduced.
Energy
The club is aware of annual energy consumption with detailed consumption of diesel, petrol, hydraulic oils, heating oil and propane. They are connected to the local green grid supply, use biodiesel and electric buggies. A review of energy saving potential has been studied and considering the clubhouse is the greatest source of energy use throughout the year the club is looking into the addition of solar panels on the large south facing roof. Movement sensors are incorporated in all rooms throughout the clubhouse and maintenance area minimising use of internal lighting. Existing buildings have been renovated to maximise insulation and reduce heating costs. Purchasing policy is to buy locally wherever possible and in bulk orders to minimise transport trips. The kitchen is rented out to a third party and is therefore not entirely under the responsibility of the club.
Education & awareness
Greenkeeping staff are highly qualified for their tasks and receive formal and informal education for pesticide handling, water management, accidents, habitat management, waste administration and health and safety. An emergency incident plan is in place under the owner company Kibag. The club is very active in the local community communicating its environmental activities at the club with an eco-table, posters and a company magazine. A public nature trail leads around the golf course with numerous interpretive boards explaining the importance of biotopes and habitat structures. A bird expert does daily bird watching surveys and the secretary does daily amphibian counts along one adjacent road. The club cooperates with local school and professional groups to do on-site habitat construction projects such as building stone walls, constructing nesting boxes or bee hotels. A mandatory course is given to all members on how to behalf while on the golf course property.
Management planning
An Environmental Policy Statement includes all areas of environmental management including nature, landscape, water, turf, waste, energy and education and awareness. The management plan is reviewed with meetings every 6 months and protocols made and adhered to. The club has received the GCSAA environmental stewards award 3 times for their nature work on the site and continue to improve the quality of the environment through regular maintenance actions and construction projects. The club has aims and objectives to protect the natural environment and only use legal/correct methods and materials for maintaining the golf course. They adhere to the very strict requirements stemming from the original planning permission.
Documentation Reviewed
- Environmental policy
- Environmental management plan
- Action plans & project proposals
- Certification report
- Minutes of meetings
- Newsletters
- External surveys and reports
- Internal reports
- Emergency incident plan
- Environmental data
- Register of accidents
- Awareness raising materials
Conclusions
Together with club members and local environmental groups, the dream team of greenkeeper and club manager is extremely successful in their environmental management of the golf club. They are very proud of their status and numerous environmental awards, and with the solid support of the club owner they continue to work at maintaining natural and playing areas in the most environmentally way possible. New projects for improving their already efficient irrigation system, installing solar panels on the clubhouse roof and building a tunnel for amphibians are just some of the initiatives which bare witness to the environmental dedication of this golf club. The high percentage of environmental area as a proportion of the total hectares is rare for Switzerland and the future 9 hole extension on surrounding gravel quarry will continue with this proportion including the conservation of swallow nesting areas in the quarry cliff edges.
Recommendation
I David Bily, Golf Environment Organization Accredited Verifier, recommend that Golfpark Nuolen be awarded GEO Certified status for excellence in environmental management.
About this Report
This report represents the opinion of an independent environmental professional accredited by the Golf Environment Organization. The environmental performance of Golfpark Nuolen was assessed against the GEO Certification criteria: http://www.golfenvironment.org/about-certification/
