This 3 hole golf course and adjoining noise testing area was built in 2008 on industrial wasteland adjacent to the Ransomes Jacobsen international headquarters and manufacturing facility in Ipswich. It was designed for multiple use - as a golf course, and as a demonstration area and noise testing facility for machinery. The aim was a sustainable golf course, using turfgrasses (mainly bents and fescues) managed appropriately with low inputs of water, fertiliser and pesticide. This has been achieved. A large water feature and heathland areas have been created. There is a strong link with the Suffolk Wildlife Trust, who provide ecological advice. All water abstraction and discharge, and energy use and waste management is undertaken as part of the whole site environmental management plan...
Publication of this Certification Report indicates that RJ National has been assessed against the GEO Certification Criteria and awarded GEO Certified status.
Each section of this document covers a key area of environmentally sound golf facility management. As defined by the Golf Environment Organization, these are: Nature, Landscape & Heritage, Water, Turf, Waste, Energy, Education & Awareness and Management Planning.
Scope of Application
RJ National consists of:
Courses
RJ National (3 holes)
Nature
In 2008 a 3 hole golf course was built on industrial wasteland adjacent to our international headquarters and manufacturing facility in Ipswich. The purpose of the course is to demonstrate our products to customers. From the earliest stage the course was planned, designed and constructed in an environmentally sound way. This involved initial site survey, care over retention of the most interesting habitats, and most significantly the careful planning of a central open water. Although a small scale development, we applied the same principles and process of nature conservation as for larger golf developments. It has the potential to be a valuable area of diverse habitat within an otherwise industrialised setting.
Designations
RJ National does not feature any designated or protected areas.
Surveys
The following ecological surveys have been undertaken:
Title
Author
Date
Botanical
Suffolk Wildlife Trust
2010-08-05
Habitats
Estimated area of habitats at RJ National:
Open water features: 1 ha; of Local Importance
Heather and other dwarf shrub communities: 1 ha; of Local Importance
RJ National has undertaken the following activities to improve the landscape ecology of the site:
Connect patches with external habitats
Improve and diversify habitat edges
Species
There are no rare, protected or notable species occurring at RJ National.
Consultation
RJ National consults with the following nature conservation organisations:
Suffolk Wildlife Trust
Activities
RJ National has undertaken the following activities to enhance nature protection:
Activity
Description
Heather
We have re-located any disturbed patches of heather
conservation
A conservation and development plan has been developed following the Suffolk Wildlife Trust survey.
Tee backings
Tee backings are treated as fairway areas. the grass land behind the second green has been left to grow as a wild grass land.
Aims & Objectives
RJ National has the following key objectives for maximizing its ecological value:
We want the course to mature into a natural landscape - albeit small in scale.
to develop a healthy heathland patches.
Retain a naturalistic feel to reinforce this ethos to the many practitioners who visit the site.
Landscape & Heritage
The course is a haven of water, scrub, heather, rough grassland and scrub in a heavily industrialised landscape. It is an immediate enhancement of the immediate landscape. It is in an enclosed setting with no long range views outwards, or into the site. The course was created to improve the landscape.
Designations
RJ National does not feature any landscape designations.
RJ National does not feature any cultural heritage designations or protected features.
Surveys
The following landscape assessments and appraisals been carried out at the site:
Date
Title
2008-04-10
Summary landscape appraisal
No archaeological or heritage surveys have been carried out at this site.
Consultation
RJ National does not consult with organisations responsible for landscape and cultural heritage issues.
Activities
RJ National undertakes the following activities to enhance landscape and cultural heritage:
Activity
Description
Golf course plan
We went for a naturalistic feel to the course in the planning process to help improve the aesthetics of the site
Pond
We designed a naturalised pond and wetland complex. Which allowed us to use the soil to from all of the banks on the course instead of bring it in form a outside source
Keeping existing plant life
We retained all original larger trees and tree belts
Species selection
We have brought into the site a wealth of diverse colour texture and landform
Construction
The scale of earth-shifting and landform is entirely appropriate for the scale and enclosed nature of the location
Aims & Objectives
RJ National has the following key objectives for conserving or enhancing its landscape and cultural heritage value:
Retain and promote a naturalistic feel
Avoid interruption to boundary features and existing screening
Promote naturalisation of the pond
Water
The water for the golf course is drawn from an on site bore hole and is pumped a short distance to the course. We have collected base line water consumption figure form the golf course in 2008/2009. These consumption figures will now be used to develop reduction targets for 2010/2011.
Consumption
Water sources
Primary Source
Secondary Source (if used)
Clubhouse
N/A
N/A
Golf Courses
Groundwater
N/A
Accommodation
N/A
N/A
Maintenance facility
N/A
N/A
Other
N/A
N/A
Water consumption (m3)
2009
2008
Clubhouse
N/A
N/A
Golf Courses
2589
2346
Accommodation
N/A
N/A
Maintenance facility
N/A
N/A
Other
N/A
N/A
Irrigation
The following areas are irrigated:
Area name
Approx. Hectarage
Greens
0.062 ha
Tees
0.037 ha
Fairways
0.117 ha
Noise Test Area
0.303 ha
RJ National irrigation system is Semi-automatic.
This irrigation system is serviced every 12 months.
This irrigation system is upgraded every 5 years.
This irrigation system is calibrated every 1 years.
Our greenkeeping staff incorporate evapotranspiration rates and weather data into their irrigation programme:
we use green cast's five day weather forcast to see if there is any rain for the week and what temperatures there are going to be to see when the best times to irrigate are or if it is even needed.
RJ National does not monitor soil water content.
Analysis
RJ National undertakes environmental monitoring of water quality.
Chemical
Biological
Last Test Date
Tester
Inflow
Yes
No
2009-01-05
Scotts
On-site
No
No
Outflow
No
No
The key findings of these tests were:
due to the abstraction licence we monitor how much water we use. we have found that we use less per day that what we are aloud to take. this is helped by the selection of grasses that we have on the course.
Activities
RJ National has undertaken the following activities to conserve / reduce / minimise water consumption:
Irrigate in the evenings
Grass species selection
Regular inspections for irrigation system leaks
Use of wetting agents
RJ National undertakes the following activities to protect and enhance water quality:
Maintain vegetative buffers
No spray zones
Pest and disease tolerant grass selection
Informed selection of fertiliser type
Informed selection of pesticides (least toxic, least persistent)
Naturalisation of pond margins to improve oxygenation
Aims & Objectives
RJ National has the following key objectives for conserving water quality and minimizing water consumption:
Turf
Many different types of grass cultivars have been used on the golf course to demonstraate the company's product. During the design process consultation was undertaken with Barenbrug UK and Collier Turf Care.
The following criteria were used in the selection process: aesthetics of the plant; regeneration of the plant; drought tolerance; disease resistance; wear tolerance; and playing surface quality.
This has enabled us to maintain the necessary playing quality conditions with minimal inputs of water, fertiliser and fungicide.
RJ National maintains the following turfgrass species:
RJ National regularly undertakes the following practices to improve turf health:
Top Dressing - 5 times per year
Micro Tining - 1 times per year
Scarification - 2 times per year
Verticutting - 1 times per year
Deep Anti Compaction - 1 times per year
Rolling - 9 times per year
Nutrition
The fertilzer program is made up of granular organics as the soil that was part of the construction process was lacking in nutrients’ and organic matter. We are using the organics’ to help start the micro life in the soil, this will promote a healthy balanced root zone, and by introducing synthetic fertilizer we aim to improve the ph in the soil to optimze grass growth.
The greenkeeping staff feed the following areas of the golf course:
Greens
Tees
Fairways
Adjacent 5-a-side football pitch
The nutrition programme at RJ National is informed by:
Soil Analysis
Visual Appearance
Fertiliser use in 2008
Nitrogen (kg/year)
Phosphate (kg/year)
Potassium (kg/year)
Greens & surround
70
12.32
116.2
Tees
70
12.32
116.2
Fairways
189
4.62
69.72
Semi Rough
0
0
0
Rough
0
0
0
Fertiliser use in 2009
Nitrogen (kg/year)
Phosphate (kg/year)
Potassium (kg/year)
Greens & surround
129.5
56
189
Tees
129.5
56
189
Fairways
63
5
28
Semi Rough
0
0
0
Rough
0
0
0
RJ National has no further fertiliser data.
Pest & Disease Control
We employ a wide range of cultural and mechanical practices to ensure that turf is healthy and any chemical applications are kept to a minimum. All records of the chemicals applied are documented and retained by the assistant greenkeeper. Areas treated for pest and diseases are the greens, tees and football pitch.Also we treat the whole site for weed control this is to help promote a healthy sward.
Pesticide use:
Fungicides - If Necessary
Herbicides - If Necessary
Insecticides - Never
Lumbricides - Never
Growth Regulator - If Necessary
RJ National keeps detailed records of pesticide application.
Pesticide use in 2008
Fungicide
Herbicide
Insecticide
Active ingredient
kg
Active ingredient
kg
Active ingredient
kg
Greens & Surrounds
Azoxystrobin
0.5
Azoxystrobin
0.5
Propiconazole
0.2
Tees
Azoxystrobin
0.5
Azoxystrobin
0.5
Propiconazole
0.2
Fairways
Azoxystrobin
0.5
Azoxystrobin
0.5
Propiconazole
0.2
Rough
Pesticide use in 2009
Fungicide
Herbicide
Insecticide
Active ingredient
kg
Active ingredient
kg
Active ingredient
kg
Greens & Surrounds
Fludioxonil
11
2,4-D + dicamba + fluroxypyr
2
Fludioxonil
11
Fludioxonil
11
Tees
Fludioxonil
11
Fludioxonil
11
Fludioxonil
11
Fairways
Rough
RJ National has no further pesticide data.
Thresholds for using pesticides at RJ National:
To pre-determined thresholds / degrees of damage
RJ National selects pesticides with the following attributes:
Toxicity - Low
Persistence - Medium
Solubility - Low
Specificty - Medium
Scouting at RJ National:
Frequency / month
Scout
Greens
3
Greenstaff
Tees
3
Greenstaff
Fairways
3
Greenstaff
Semi Rough
3
Greenstaff
Activites
RJ National undertakes the following activities to minimise / reduce pesticide use:
Activity
Description
Managment of the sward
we manage the sward so that the grasses that we want to keep are the dominant species this helps to reduce the need for any fungicides being used as the sward is tight and healthy
Aims & Objectives
RJ National has the following key objectives for achieving high quality playing surfaces in an environmentally responsible manner:
Following an integrated approach to turf and pest management (IPM)
Promoting healthy, durable, drought and disease resistant sward
Regular monitoring and scouting to build up detailed understanding of turfgrass performance and pest and disease impacts
Constantly re-assessing our thresholds for the circumstances under which we consider applying chemicals
Constantly re-assessing our decisions over the need to irrigate and feed the turf
Avoiding overwatering and promotion of less desirable turf grasses
Waste
Our waste management is covered under Ransomes Jacobsen's already fully accredited ISO 14001 procedures. This covers all green/biodegradable waste, hazardous materials and other recyclables.
Management
Waste streams for RJ National
Avoid
Re-use
Recycle
Landfill
Incineration
Registered Uplift
2009 Totals (kg)
Glass
No
No
No
No
No
No
0
Plastic
Yes
No
Yes
No
No
No
0
Aluminium
No
No
No
No
No
No
0
Metal
No
No
No
No
No
No
0
Paper
No
No
No
No
No
No
0
Cardboard
Yes
No
Yes
No
No
No
0
Electrical
No
No
No
No
No
No
0
Grass Clippings
No
No
Yes
No
No
No
0
Cores
No
No
Yes
No
No
No
0
Turf
No
Yes
No
No
No
No
0
Sand
No
Yes
No
No
No
No
0
Wood / Timber
No
Yes
No
No
No
No
0
Leaves
No
No
Yes
No
No
No
0
Detergents
No
No
No
No
No
No
0
Cooking Oils
No
No
No
No
No
No
0
Lubricants
No
Yes
No
No
No
No
0
Pesticide Containers
No
No
No
No
No
No
0
Fertiliser Bags
No
No
Yes
No
No
No
0
Oil Filters
No
No
No
No
No
Yes
0
Batteries
No
No
No
No
No
Yes
0
RJ National has secure storage for hazardous material.
Surveys
RJ National has not undertaken a waste audit.
Waste Water
RJ National manages its water as follows:
Discharges to:
Legally Compliant?
Formal Discharge Agreement
Clubhouse
N/A
Yes
N/A
Accommodation
N/A
Yes
N/A
Maintenance Facility
N/A
Yes
N/A
Wash Pad
On-Site Treatment Plant
Yes
Waste Water Wash Pad Formal Discharge Arrangement
Activities
RJ National undertakes the following activities to reduce resource consumption or minimise waste:
Record keeping
in 2009 a record was kept of the hours the machines and the irrigation system was running. these have been reviewed and taken in to account for the maintenance plan for 2010
Reduction of waste clippings
we now have a compost heep in our compound located behind the golf course. this has all of the golf course clippings, leaf and other orgainc waste
Solection of appropriate materials
We follow the purchasing policies of the company, and utilise the waste separation and recycling facilities provided at the company HQ and the manufacturing plant
Aims & Objectives
RJ National has the following key objectives for reducing, re-using and recycling waste, and minimizing resource consumption at source:
all waste objectives are managed by our ISO 14001
Energy
Without a clubhouse, dedicated maintenance area or pro shop, the energy issues for our golf facility apply to the course itself. All machinery storage and wash down facilities come under the energy policy of the company's ISO 14001 programme.
On the course we are careful to keep all inputs of machinery, fertilisers, pesticides and water to a minimum. We are aware that all these input bring with a large amount of embodied energy.
As a demonstration for our machinery, the course will be used to test nd promote the latest, most efficient and lower emitting turf care machinery, including electric and hybrid technology.
Consumption
Energy and fuel use in 2009
Electricity - 12.5 Kwh
Diesel - 164.25 Litres
Petrol - 117 Litres
Hydralic Oil - 35.8 Litres
Energy and fuel use in 2008
Electricity - 12.5 Kwh
Diesel - 219 Litres
Petrol - 108 Litres
Hydralic Oil - 80.4 Litres
RJ National has taken the following measures to diversify energy and fuel supply:
Use of electric hybrid vehicles
Surveys
RJ National has not undertaken an Energy Audit.
Carbon
RJ National has not begun to carbon footprint its operations.
Purchasing Policy and Sustainable Supply Chains
RJ National informs suppliers of its environmental preferences:
We have a written waste and energy purchasing policy statement located on the company IMS.
Purchasing policy for RJ National
(1 = not important; 5 = very important)
Performance Quality - 5
Price - 5
Supplier Service - 5
Durability - 5
Energy Efficiency - 5
Recycleability - 5
Pollution Risk - 5
Packaging - 5
Disposability - 5
Local Produce - 5
Activities
Activities undertaken to record energy consumption:
These figures are all assumptions based on current and anticipated usage for the facility. When the grass is fully developed the cutting regime will be reviewed with potential savings on fuel.
Activities undertaken to reduce energy consumption:
Naturalistic layout of the course
RJ National has not undertaken any green purchasing activities.
Departments involved in energy saving activities:
The golf course maintenance department
Close links with the department responsible for wash pad, water supply
Close links with the company's administration, energy and waste services staff
Aims & Objectives
RJ National has the following key objectives for reducing energy use and moving towards cleaner and renewable energy supplies:
To find ways to reduce energy consumption through minimising inputs into the golf course
To have a positive influence through our supply chains by communicating our energy and waste policy
Education & Awareness
Knowledge
Employees of RJ National receive the following formal and informal environmental education:
Emergencies / accident management
Habitat and vegetation management
Waste minimisation, separation and recycling
Health and safety
RJ National keeps formal staff training records for these departments:
Greenkeeping
RJ National keeps the following record of accidents in the workplace:
Number
Type
Severity
Response plans for accidents and emergency situations at RJ National
we have a accident response plan. This is located on the company’s IMS system for all employees to see
Communications
RJ National undertakes the following internal environmental communications:
Course walks
Notice boards
On-site interpretation panels
The most successful internal communications project at RJ National has been:
We have staff training days on the golf course
RJ National undertakes the following external environmental communications:
Website
Course walks / Open days
Press releases
The most successful external communications project at RJ National has been:
In 2009 the golf course was used as a part of the Ransomes Jacobsen Customer care conference.
Partnerships
RJ National works with the following external groups:
Local environmental groups
Local businesses
Colleges
The most successful partnership project at RJ National has been:
Links with the greenstaff at Ipswich Golf Club and local colleges, who bring students and greenkeepers to the site for field-trips.
Aims & Objectives
RJ National has the following key objectives for educating and raising environmental awareness amongst staff and golfers:
monitoring training requirements of staff
continually update trade press articles
talking with all visitors and colleges that visit the course
RJ National has an Environmental Management Plan covering:
Water
Turf
Waste
Education & Awareness
The Management plan was first introduced: 2009-04-14
RJ National review the management plan every:
12 Months
1 Years
RJ National monitor the progress of the scheme as follows:
We monitor the progress of the course by having the consultant come in once a week to see how the course is progressing.
Working Group
RJ National has an environmental working group, comprising the following individuals/organisations:
Owner
General Manager
Course Manager
Technical Specialist
Accreditation
RJ National belongs to the following accreditation or award schemes:
ISO
Key national environmental legislation with which RJ National complies:
Town and Country Planning Act 1990
Water Industry Act 1991 (WIA91) - Part IV
Private Water Supplies Regulations 1991
Water Act 2003
Water Resources Act 1991 (WRA91) - Part III
Water Industry Act 1991 (WIA91) - Part IV
Environmental Protection Act 1990 (EPA90) - Part II
Waste Management lEnvironmental Protection (Duty of Care) Regulations 1991 (SI 1991/2839) as amended
The Hazardous Waste (England and Wales) Regulations 2005 The Landfill (England and Wales) Regulations 2002 (SI 2002/1559) as amended
Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations
Control of Pesticide Regulations
Clean Air Act 1993 (CAA93)
Environmental Liability Directive (2004/35/CE - 21 April 2004)Contaminated Land Regulations
Aims & Objectives
RJ National has the following key objectives for effectively planning its proactive and long-term environmental management:
Extending our Environmental Working Group membership
Certified 02 / 2010
