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On Course™ Report

Contents

 

1. About this Report
2. Scope of Application
3. Nature
4. Landscape & Heritage
5. Water
6. Turf
7. Waste
8. Energy
9. Education & Awareness
10. Management Planning

About this Report

This On Course™ Report indicates the commitment of Machrihanish Dunes Golf Club to become a GEO Certified facility by February 24th 2013

It has been automatically generated from data submitted to the Golf Environment Organization by Machrihanish Dunes Golf Club. Publication of this data is the first step towards becoming a GEO Certified facility.

To achieve full certification Machrihanish Dunes Golf Club will be required to submit further detailed data and be assessed by a GEO Accredited Verifier against the GEO Certification Criteria. You can download the criteria from this page.

Each section in this report covers a key area of environmentally sound 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

Machrihanish Dunes Golf Club consists of:

Courses

• Machrihanish Dunes Golf Club (18 holes)

Clubhouses

• The Golf House

Maintenance Facilities

• The Bunker

Other

• Pro Shop
• Practice Facilities
• Halfway House
• On Course Water Dispensaries and Litter Bins.
• Driving Range.
• Putting Green.
• Pitching Green.
• The Old Clubhouse Bar and Restaraunt.
• Machrihanish Post Office ( Laundry, storage and staff accomodation).

Accommodation

• Kintyre Cottages - Self Catering (14 rooms)

Nature

The course is situated on the most extensive dune system in Kintyre. This consists of mobile dunes at seaward face to stable sandhills and hollows inland.

Plants- The dune slacks, behind mobile dunes (flooded in winter) contain 2 notable species: small-fruited yellow sedge and early marsh orchids (2 sub-spp).
The fixed dunes vegetated by fine-leaved grasses and herbs – lady’s bedstraw and wild thyme are characteristic. Other notable plants which can be commonly seen are: frog orchid – beige to green/red flowers, common centaury - bright pink flowers, field gentian – purple flowers, bog pimpernel - pale pink flowers. This is the only site in Kintyre that supports the pyramidal orchid.

Other Wildlife- The plants also support many invertebrates: butterflies, moths, snails, bees and other insects. About a dozen birds breed. The most important is skylark, there is a big population here and their singing of skylarks is one of the evocative sounds in the dunes. The next largest populations are of meadow pipit and wheatear. Wheatears often nest in rabbit holes. 18 wheatear nest boxes have been installed in the dunes to keep this bird breeding. We also have a small population of sand martins which dig nesting burrows. Areas of open sand faces have remained undisturbed to retain these habitats. The birds of prey which hunt over the site are short-eared owl, peregrine, buzzard and raven. Other notable sightings include lizards, deer, fox and otter.
Out over the Atlantic Ocean are an array of seabirds including spectacular diving gannets and you can regularly spot bottle nose dolphin and porpoise.

Aims
Machrihanish Dunes Golf Club aim to maximise the ecological value of the course through careful management practices and conservation philosophies centered on nature.

Designations

Machrihanish Dunes Golf Club features areas that are designated or protected at the following levels:

• National Government
• Local Government
• Self Appointed
• S.S.S.I.
• Self designated informal wildlife sanctuaries.

Surveys

The following ecological surveys have been undertaken:

Title
Botanical
Birds
Mammals
Invertebrates
Amphibians
Fungi
Breeding Bird Survey
Baseline surveys of flora, fauna and habitats.- Spring Summer 2004
Annotated list of key species found- 2004, then updated for management plan in 2008. Map populations of early marsh orchids, pyramidal orchids and small-fruited yellowsedge and annually monitor the orchids. 2008 and annually.
Fixed quadrat monitoring of roughs- July 2008 ongoing.
Inhouse- Recording of species sightings by staff and golfers, ongoing. Lizards, Otter,Roe Deer, Fox, Barn Owl and Heron so far.
National Vegetation Classification (NVC)
Fixed quadrat monitoring of fairways- July 2007 ongoing.
Birds, Edward McGuire, Machrihanish Seabird Observatory
Description of habitats/vegetation types with plan- 2004 then updated for management plan in 2008. Calculation of natural/semi-natural areas. Natural - 62ha, Semi-natural - 7.5ha.

Habitats

Estimated area of habitats at Machrihanish Dunes Golf Club:

• Rough ‘ecological’ grassland: 69.5 ha
• Wetlands: (Seasonal) 2 ha

Activities

Machrihanish Dunes Golf Club has undertaken the following activities to enhance nature protection:

Activity
Habitat protection.
Birdlife protection and enhancement.
Habitat creation.
Habitat creation.
Habitat protection.
Habitat protection.
Habitat protection.
Habitat creation.
Habitat monitoring.
Habitat creation.
Habitat protection.
Management actions.
Habitat monitoring.
Management actions.
Management actions.
Habitat monitoring.
Management actions.
Habitat creation.
Habitat protection.
Management actions.
Habitat monitoring.
Management actions.
Habitat monitoring.
Habitat creation.
Management actions.
Management actions.
Management actions.
Management actions.
Management actions.
Management actions.
Habitat monitoring.
Flora.
Habitat creation.
Habitat protection.
Management actions.
Habitat creation.
Habitat creation.
Flora.
Flora.
Habitat monitoring.
Habitat creation.
Limited chemical usage.
Flora.
Flora.
Flora.
Birdlife protection and enhancement.
Habitat protection.
Habitat monitoring.
Habitat protection.

Landscape & Heritage

Machrihanish Dunes is a coastal location with breathtaking views over the Sound of Kintyre to Northern Ireland and the distinctive Jura hills and Islay. The sounds of crashing waves and seabirds along with the refreshing salt spray in the air rise up from the clear beach stretching out into the distance.
The small picturesque town of Machrihanish can be seen at the southern end of the bay. Rolling forested hills and historical agricultural land form the landward side of the course.
Machrihanish Dunes is a natural golfing environment within a designated SSSI, it represents the type of land on which golf evolved in its simplist and most natural form.
The course also contains standing stones that may date back to the Bronze Age, 2000 BC. These are listed as a scheduled ancient monument, the standing stones of Clochkeil. Situated in a sheltered circular hollow on the links, are three stones, two of them erect, the largest of which is about 6 feet high above ground, and their relative positions might almost suggest that at one time they formed part of a stone circle. The nature of the site would also support this conclusion. The meaning of the adjacent farm name has been rendered Clach gheal, i.e." the white stone," but as it is known by local Gaelic speakers as Clach-caol, signifying the "slender stone," it is not unlikely that this name originated from the presence of these standing stones.

Aims
Machrihanish Dunes Golf Club aim to maximise the landscape value of the course through careful management practises and conservation philosophies centered on the landscape and cultural heritage.

Designations

Machrihanish Dunes Golf Club features the following landscape designations:

• National Park
• Geological

Machrihanish Dunes Golf Club features the following cultural heritage designations and protected features:

• Buildings (Listed Buildings / Ancient Monuments etc)

Surveys

The following landscape assessments and appraisals been carried out at the site:

Date	Title
2009-10-26	Inhouse Initial Landscape and Heritage Assessment.
2009-10-26	Inhouse- Historical context data ongoing.
2004-05-31	Landscape Character and Visability Assessment carried out by Tyton Design Limited as part of Environmental Statement.
2009-10-26	Inhouse- External visual impact of site.
2009-10-26	Inhouse- Definition of landscape character and zones within site.
2009-10-26	Inhouse- Internal visual impact of site. With specific details of tees, fairways, greens, pathways, buildings, seating and course furnishings in relation to harmony with the existing landscape.
	All future construction projects must follow an archeological survey as part of the management plan.

The following archaeological and heritage surveys have been carried out at the site:

Date	Title
2009-01-16	Archaeological Assessment (Golf House)
2004-05-31	Archaeological Assessment of the site was carried out by GUARD, Glasgow University Archaeological Field Department.

Activities

Machrihanish Dunes Golf Club undertakes the following activities to enhance landscape and cultural heritage:

Activity
Culture and Heritage Management.
Culture and Heritage Management.
Culture and Heritage Management.
Culture and Heritage Management.
Culture and Heritage Management.
Landscape Considerations.
Landscape Considerations.
Landscape Considerations.
Landscape Considerations.
Landscape Considerations.
Landscape Considerations.
Landscape Considerations.

Water

Machrihanish Dunes follow an environmentally responsible management approach to our water resources with the aim of minimising water use and to protect and enhance water quality in and out of our course.

Irrigation water from 19 well points is pumped a short distance to the course. This groundwater source is also used in the Golfhouse. Impoundment & Abstraction Licenses are obtained annually from SEPA. Consumption figures for the golf course for 2009- 192473L. 2008- 571693L as part of the grow-in. These consumption figures will be used to develop reduction targets for 2010.
A modern and fully automatic irrigation system only operates at night. We only irrigate greens and tees when needed. Handwatering is carried out to optimise water efficiency in high winds.
All waste water and runoff is directed to the catchment and treatment areas contained at MOD Machrihanish after leaving the property.
We annually review Water Resource issues in conjunction with our environmental policy.

Consumption

Water sources

	Primary Source	Secondary Source (if used)
Clubhouse	Public / Potable	N/A
Golf Courses	Groundwater	N/A
Accommodation	Public / Potable	N/A
Maintenance facility	Public / Potable	Groundwater
Other	Groundwater	N/A

Irrigation

The following areas are irrigated:

Area name	Approx. Hectarage
Greens	1.5 ha
Tees	1 ha
Golf House	0.5 ha
Golf Village	0.5 ha

Analysis

Machrihanish Dunes Golf Club undertakes environmental monitoring of water quality.

	Chemical	Biological	Last Test Date	Tester
Inflow	Yes	Yes	2007-06-01	Greentech
On-site	Yes	Yes	2010-07-01	SEPA
Outflow	No	No

Activities

Machrihanish Dunes Golf Club has undertaken the following activities to conserve / reduce / minimise water consumption:

• Minimise irrigated area
• Irrigate in the evenings
• De-compact the soil
• Grass species selection
• Regular inspections for irrigation system leaks
• Soil moisture analysis
• Use of wetting agents
• Gathering of evapotranspiration data
• Mulch cover and only water decorative planting in severe drought conditions.
• Regular servicing, calibration and upgrading of irrigation system.
• Low/adjustable trajectory nozzles reducing wind effects.
• Observe and map areas that have different water use patterns based on turf response to dry periods.
• Hose with a shutoff nozzle if washing all equipment and machinery with water. Use pressurized air to clear clippings.
• Rainwater collection and re-use.
• Installation of screens and windbreaks in exposed areas.
• Record rainfall and temperature for seasonal and annual comparisons.
• Clearly stated aims- Machrihanish Dunes follow an environmentally responsible management approach to our water resources with the aim of minimising water use and to protect and enhance water quality in and out of our course.

Machrihanish Dunes Golf Club undertakes the following activities to protect and enhance water quality:

• Creation of swales and attenuation areas
• No spray zones
• Erosion control
• Pest and disease tolerant grass selection
• Informed selection of fertiliser type
• Informed selection of pesticides (least toxic, least persistent)
• Identify where all waste water and runoff flows.
• Spill procedures internally or entering site from upstream.
• Filter wash water and other outflows.
• Increased water storage.
• Prevention of grass clippings to enter water bodies.
• Regular environmental monitoring of water qaulity. Samples sent to STRI. pH also monitored regularly.

Turf

Machrihanish Dunes Golf Club aims to minimise its resource inputs and reduce pollution risks through environmentally sound management of turf achieving high quality playing surfaces.

Eighteen greens, practice putting green, pitching green, five tees per hole and driving range tee have established from 2008. Three greens have been turfed with all others grown in with fescue suitable for local soils and climate. All are constructed by shaping the existing pure sand. These greens consists primarily of fescue (Chewings and slender creeping red) and brown top bent. Tees have the same composition as greens. Fairways are naturally occurring varieties. We sow greens and tees only, with fescue and brown top bent several times each year to reduce consumption of water, fertilisers and pesticides.
Results monitored constantly and annually reviewed in conjunction with our environmental policy.

Machrihanish Dunes Golf Club maintains the following turfgrass species:

Greens

• Fescue (Festuca rubra)
• Browntop bent (Agrostis tenuis)

Surrounds & Approaches

• Fescue (Festuca rubra)
• Annual meadow-grass (Poa annua)

Tees

• Fescue (Festuca rubra)
• Browntop bent (Agrostis tenuis)

Fairways

• Fescue (Festuca rubra)
• Annual meadow-grass (Poa annua)

Semi-rough

• Fescue (Festuca rubra)
• Annual meadow-grass (Poa annua)

Machrihanish Dunes Golf Club regularly undertakes the following practices to improve turf health:

• Hollow Coring - 2 times per year
• Top Dressing - 7 times per year
• Micro Tining - 6 times per year
• Scarification - 1 times per year
• Verticutting - 1 times per year
• Deep Anti Compaction - 2 times per year
• Rolling - 20 times per year

Nutrition

Our nutrition programme is timed to maximize uptake by the grasses, limiting factors such as light, temperature, moisture and growing season. Soil tests and plant tissue tests obtain information in order to streamline applications.

Greens-Applications of liquid feed as required. (approximately 2 applications of granular slow release. 30 - 60kg of Nitrogen per hectare per year.) At 2010 during the grow in phase higher amounts are anticipated. Wetting Agent 8 applications.

Tees-Liquid feed as required. (approximately 2 applications of granular slow release. 30-60kg of Nitrogen per hectare per year). Wetting agent 4 applications.

Results monitored constantly and annually reviewed in conjunction with our environmental policy.

The greenkeeping staff feed the following areas of the golf course:

• Greens
• Tees
• Driving Range tee

Pest & Disease Control

With Machrihanish Dunes being situated on a SSSI it has been agreed within the planning restraints that greens and tees can be managed how we see fit, but due the sensitive nature of the site we use cultural methods to control any weeds - these include hand weeding or trying to reduce compaction where possible. Coring, verticutting, vertidraining and well timed topdressing to limit disease conditions. Chemicals are only used as a last resort and only on greens and tees.
A comprehensive log is kept for disease occurrences and pest outbreaks.

Pesticide use:

• Fungicides - If Necessary
• Herbicides - If Necessary
• Insecticides - Never
• Lumbricides - Never
• Growth Regulator - If Necessary

Machrihanish Dunes Golf Club keeps detailed records of pesticide application.

Activites

Machrihanish Dunes Golf Club undertakes the following activities to minimise / reduce pesticide use:

Activity
Cultural methods.
Limited Chemical use.
Limited Chemical use.
Limited Chemical use.
Cultural methods.
Cultural methods.
Fertilizing policy
Cultural methods.

Waste

Machrihanish Dunes Golf Club is committed to a structured, comprehensive and quantifiable approach to waste management.

We follow the main principles -

Waste prevention via assessment of materials consumed and purchasing policies.

Recycling and reuse through seperation and storage.

Minimising disposal and monitoring.

Management

Waste streams for Machrihanish Dunes Golf Club

	Avoid	Re-use	Recycle	Landfill	Incineration	Registered Uplift
Glass	Yes	No	Yes	No	No	No
Plastic	Yes	No	Yes	No	No	No
Aluminium	Yes	No	Yes	No	No	No
Metal	Yes	No	Yes	No	No	No
Paper	Yes	No	Yes	No	No	No
Cardboard	Yes	No	Yes	No	No	No
Electrical	Yes	No	Yes	No	No	No
Grass Clippings	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No	No
Cores	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No	No
Turf	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No	No
Sand	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No	No
Wood / Timber	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No	No
Leaves	Yes	Yes	No	No	No	No
Detergents	Yes	No	No	No	No	Yes
Cooking Oils	Yes	No	Yes	No	No	Yes
Lubricants	Yes	No	No	No	No	Yes
Pesticide Containers	Yes	No	No	No	No	Yes
Fertiliser Bags	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No	No
Oil Filters	Yes	No	No	No	No	Yes
Batteries	Yes	No	Yes	No	No	Yes

Machrihanish Dunes Golf Club has secure storage for hazardous material.

Site1 Maintenance Facility (The Bunker)

Diesel is stored in an over ground tank with a spill basin. Inspected by SEPA guidelines and are given certificates of compliance.

Petrol storage is in sealed containers in a separate room with catch basins.

Chemical storage is in a seperate room in a secure chemical safe also with required catch basins. Up to date register of all hazardous products stored on-site.
All apparatus and signage regarding spillages prominant at filling points. Designated staff trained accordingly.
Preplanning for hazardous waste is routine and disposed of according to existing legislations.
On course- Spillage action plan and oil clean up kit.

Surveys

Machrihanish Dunes Golf Club has not undertaken a waste audit.

Waste Water

Machrihanish Dunes Golf Club manages its water as follows:

	Discharges to:	Legally Compliant?	Formal Discharge Agreement
Clubhouse	Mains Sewer	Yes	N/A
Accommodation	Mains Sewer	Yes	N/A
Maintenance Facility	Mains Sewer	Yes	N/A
Wash Pad	Ditch	Yes	N/A

Activities

Machrihanish Dunes Golf Club undertakes the following activities to reduce resource consumption or minimise waste:

Waste Actions.

• (i) Calculation of waste through auditing.

Waste Education.

• (i) Education of staff in company waste procedures. (ii) Signage located to prompt waste saving activities and educate staff on company policy.

Management Philosophy.

• (i) Local and natural materials used as a priority. E.g. Natural stone tee furnishings selected from local quarry, Driftwood directional markers sourced from adjacent shoreline. (ii) Green purchasing policies, communicated through our supply chain.

Waste Actions.

• (ii) On site recycling station. (iii) Tees recovery and re-use system. Along with biodegradable tees available to golfers. (iv) Printer and toner cartridges recycled.

Waste Education.

• (iii) Waste awareness campaign. (iv) Cross-pollination of initiatives and waste philosophies across departments, facilities and interpretation within the global company structure.

Waste Actions.

• (v) Staff advised to limit Christmas cards waste to colleagues. (vi) Footer message on email to discourage unnecessary printing. (vii) Staff routing slips rather than several copies.

Waste Actions.

• (viii) Opening packages carefully as not to damage potentially re-usable packing cases.

Energy

Machrihanish Dunes Golf Club is committed to carrying out an energy efficiency programme. The main objectives are as follows:-
To establish how much energy is being used.
To compare externally to similar golf clubs and internally between departments and over time periods.
Lead by example in awareness and energy efficiency.
Set performance targets and monitor success.
Help place the golf sector in the forefront of the sustainability agenda by demonstrating environmentally responsible management.

Consumption

Energy and fuel use in 2009

• Electricity - 480010 Kwh
• Diesel - 9000 Litres
• Petrol - 3000 Litres

Surveys

Machrihanish Dunes Golf Club has not undertaken an Energy Audit.

Activities

Activities undertaken to record energy consumption:

• Billing documents and meter reading.
• Listing of principal energy consuming activities.
• Carbon footprint calculated.
• Transport audit.
• Research into solar, wind and ground heat source.
• Energy audit planned for 2010.

Activities undertaken to reduce energy consumption:

• Insulation.
• Training on cultural practices.
• Event planning measured in terms of carbon footprint.
• Staff car-share system.
• Low energy timed/motion sensor lighting systems.
• Steps to improve insulation and heating efficiency.
• Available covered and secure bicycle storage.

Green purchasing activities undertaken:

• Biodegradable/recycled material golf tees.
• Rechargable Battery powered Buggies for golfers of limited mobility.
• Course/Golf Village furniture. The wood is sourced from sustainable forest in Northern Europe to fit with our environmental policy.

Departments involved in energy saving activities:

• Golf House.
• The Old Clubhouse.
• Kintyre Cottages.
• Maintenance sheds.
• Machrihanish Post Office.

Education & Awareness

Knowledge

Employees of Machrihanish Dunes Golf Club receive the following formal and informal environmental education:

• Pesticide storage, application and disposal
• Efficient water management
• Emergencies / accident management
• Habitat and vegetation management
• Waste minimisation, separation and recycling
• Health and safety
• Energy
• Landscape and cultural heritage issues
• Environmental management planning
• Plant Identification Test (particularly rare species to avoid damage)
• Ecology Induction.
• Ecology Written Test.
• Company Background Written Test.
• Golf History Written Test.
• Working Procedures/Theory Written Test.
• Emergency incident plan, in accordance with national environmental and health and safety regulations.
• Management education regarding each GEO certification category.

Machrihanish Dunes Golf Club keeps formal staff training records for these departments:

• Greenkeeping
• Administrative
• Catering
• Accomodation

Machrihanish Dunes Golf Club keeps the following record of accidents in the workplace:

• Number
• Type
• Severity

Communications

Machrihanish Dunes Golf Club undertakes the following internal environmental communications:

• Newsletters
• Course walks
• Displaying awards
• Notice boards
• Poster displays
• Course guides / brochures
• On-site interpretation panels
• Eco tables
• Magazine table
• Course signage
• Nature trail
• Ecology Information Insert provided with Scorecard and Yardage Book.
• Internal interpretation panels.
• Environmental area in golf house.
• Web links to environmental sites.
• Environmental area in office with all relevant documentation filed and an environmental dossier available on request.
• DVD and film shown to visitors as an introduction during complimentary bus transport. Also available online and shown in public areas.
• DVD available of Kintyre wildlife.
• Website ecology section with regular updates.

Machrihanish Dunes Golf Club undertakes the following external environmental communications:

• Website
• Course walks / Open days
• Press releases
• Attending community meetings
• Brochures
• Joint practical projects with community
• School Information Visits.
• Close links with local environmental groups.
• Communication of environmental survey data with relevant data groups.
• Communication of environmental policies with environmental bodies. S.N.H.
• Communication of environmental procedures and activities with golfing bodies; GEO, SGEG, R&A, BIGGA, IOG, individual golf courses and networking golf websites.
• Ongoing communication with experts in the field of new environmental products and procedures. Building up a environmental network.

Partnerships

Machrihanish Dunes Golf Club works with the following external groups:

• Local environmental groups
• Neighbours
• Media
• Local government
• Local community groups
• Schools
• Local businesses
• Authorities
• Colleges
• Major project to encourage cross pollination of initiatives and waste philosophies across departments, facilities and for interpretation within the global company structure.

Management Planning

Environmental Policy (PDF)

EnvironmentalPolicy2010.pdf

Environmental Management Plan

Machrihanish Dunes Golf Club has an Environmental Management Plan covering:

• Nature
• Landscape & Culture
• Water
• Turf
• Waste
• Energy
• Education & Awareness

Working Group

Machrihanish Dunes Golf Club has an environmental working group, comprising the following individuals/organisations:

• General Manager
• Course Manager
• Technical Specialist
• Local Government
• Local Environmental NGO