Broken Sound Club
This expansive ‘5 Star Platinum Club of America’ in the social hub of Boca Raton is known for its discriminating members and for its cutting edge sustainability accomplishments. The steadfast mission of the club’s sustainability leaders, including the President of the Club Executive Committee, the Club Manager, and the Director of Golf, is to embrace the business value of sustainability in club management. As a mark of good leadership, this mission has been fully adopted by over 350 multinational staff and well over 1,500 club members.
Russ Bodie, GEOSA, Accredited Verifier
Accomplishments at Broken Sound are broad and...
GEO Certified™ Report
Publication of this report confirms that Broken Sound Club has been assessed against the GEO OnCourse™ Evaluation Criteria and awarded the GEO Certified™ ecolabel.
Each section of this report describes the sustainable golf course management activities being undertaken by the management team at Broken Sound Club, across the following areas:
Landscape & Ecosystems; Water; Energy & Resources; Products & Supply Chains; Environmental Quality and People & Communities.
Facility Details
Broken Sound Club is a private golf facility comprising:
Courses
- Club Course at Broken Sound (18 holes, 6945 Yards, Year of opening: 1985)
- The Old Course at Broken Sound (18 holes, 6917 Yards, Year of opening: 1979)
Clubhouses
- Main Club Club House, Year of opening: 2004
- Pool and Grill, Year of opening: 2004
- Spa and Fitness, Year of opening: 2004
- Old Course Club House, Year of opening: 2005
Maintenance Facilities
- Club Course Maintenance Facility
- Old Course Course Maintenance Facility
Other
- Pro Shop
- Facilities
- Halfway House
- On Course WC
Landscape & Ecosystems
There are two very different golf courses for at Broken Sound Club. One is enclosed within housing and the other is a stand alone course with some industrial professional buildings both within the urban development of Boca Raton, Florida. With our environmental programs of enhancement and wildlife preservation, both course have been, and are further developing as refuges for multiple species of bird and mammals. We are one on the largest green space providers within the city. After hurricanes ravaged the area taking out over 3000+ trees within our community, we have added hundreds of replacement trees that are mostly native to Florida. In the last five years the we have collectively changed our operations toward a more naturalised appearance on the courses. Given our high members expectations this is a process we manage carefully as we look for appropriate ways to create new habitats.
Although the courses do not have a long and distinct histories, we have been working for a lanscape enhanced layout since a change in club and course management in 2003 and 2004. We began a program phased in over several years to meet the following criteria: 1. Beautification, 2. Playability, 3. Environmental and Wildlife Enhancement, 4. Maintainability, 5. Fiscal budgeting, 6. A policy for minimum of 90% native landscaping vegetation.
Consultation & Surveys
Broken Sound Club consults the following organizations regarding landscape heritage conservation:
- Community Management Association
- Local Government Arboricultural Department
The following landscape assessments and surveys have been undertaken at Broken Sound Club:
| Landscape Character Assessment | Landscape Architect | 2008-03-08 | |
| Title | Author | Date | View Document |
|---|
Broken Sound Club consults the following organizations regarding ecosystem protection and enhancement:
- Audubon International
The following ecological surveys have been undertaken at Broken Sound Club:
| Botanical survey | Joseph Hubbard | 2010-05-01 | |
| Bird survey | Joseph Hubbard | 2005-01-01 | |
| Title | Author | Date | View Document |
|---|
There are no rare, protected or notable species occuring at Broken Sound Club.
Broken Sound Club does not monitor any species as indicators of environmental quality.
Habitats & Designations
Broken Sound Club does not feature any landscape designations.
Area of habitats / vegetation types, and associated designations at Broken Sound Club:
| Rough 'ecological' grassland | 14.83 | Self Appointed |
| Scrub Vegetation | 9.88 | Self Appointed |
| Native Woodland | 12.36 | Local Government |
| Open Water Features | 72 | Local Government |
| Self appointed wildlife sanctuaries | 7 | Self Appointed |
Turfgrass
Size and estimated species composition of amenity turfgrass maintained at Broken Sound Club:
| Area (Acres) | Turfgrass Species | Sward Composition | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Greens | 6.3 | Cynodon transvaalensis | 100 % |
| Tees | 7 | Cynodon transvaalensis | 50 % |
| Paspalum vaginatum | 50 % | ||
| Fairways | 54 | Cynodon transvaalensis | 100 % |
| Rough | 150 | Cynodon transvaalensis | 100 % |
These turfgrasses are optimal for the circumstances at Broken Sound Club because:
When both courses were renovated in 2001-2003, Tifsport bermuda was selected specifically with the winter season in mind in South Florida. The criterias for the grass specified TifSport had to be able to recover quickly, have cold-tolerance, maintain color through drought and cold, blades had to have fine texture for quality of lie and shot making for the golfers, it had to have reduced pest incidence and be able to recouperate fast with the amount of play we have at Broken Sound year around.
Broken Sound Club assesses mowing patterns:
Every 6 Months
Broken Sound Club consults the following individuals / organizations regarding its grassing plan:
- John Foy (USGA Green Section)
- Gene Bates, Architect
- Bland Cooper, CGCS (PGA Tour Agronomist)
Broken Sound Club is making the following efforts to manage the playing quality expectations of customers:
| Establishing clear internal policies for irrigation, fertilization, colour, cutting heights, overseeding etc | We have a 20 page IPM specification manual, which sets operational processes, frequency and integrated pest management standards for the course. This also has enabled us to develop an appropriate budget, based on real rather than historical data, and more tightly defined and consistently applied turf management operations. |
| Promoting the playing quality values of more naturalized turf, particularly fairways and semi-rough | We have taken measures to naturalise parts of the course (almost 20 acres in total) that used to be maintained as semi-rough. Both courses are relatively tightly bordered by buildings - the land parcel is not huge, and this restricts to some extent how much naturalisation we can do. |
| Promoting the financial benefits of presenting sustainable surfaces | We now that every acre of turfgrass we maintain is costing us thousands of dollars, so we want to manage only the area required for playability and to match our members enjoyment. We are the only course that has fully GPS'd every living item within the boundaries of the golf course using Course Vision, an program designed with Google Earth. This gives us accurate counts of turf, trees, shrubs and also the dimensions of holes. |
| Improving customer understanding around greens maintenance | We publish a newsletter bi-monthly extolling the virtues of our greens maintenance. we use this to inform people about our cultural practices, mowing regimes, chemical use and also wider environmental activities. |
| Demonstrating the direct relationship between environmental best practice and year round high quality playing surfaces | This has taken several years of both the General Manager and myself conveying the laws, BMP's and IMP's to the members. As members finally understand, they tolerate and some embrace the cause of what we are trying to accomplish. We have become one of the top Private Clubs in the country in quality and service by also reducing our dependency on the old practices. We are safer, more environmentally sound but also our quality has also gone up. |
| Activity | Description |
|---|
Conservation & Enhancement
Broken Sound Club is undertaking the following activities to conserve and enhance landscape character:
| Allowing seasonal variation of course colouration and texture | In the last 7 years we have transitioned from 25,000 annuals to around 6,000 annuals. Instead, we have added several varieties of ornamental grasses, coquina beds, pine straw beds, and natural beds for the texturing. We have also planted hundreds of perennial flowers and shrubs to cut costs and material applications. |
| Appropriately matching mowing lines to contours | Being in Florida, in a relatively flat, sandy landscape, we try to use what little contours we have - and accentuate them through carefully planned mowing patterns. |
| Discreet on-course signage and furniture | All signage and furniture within the Club Houses structures, patios & pool areas is in neutral tones, or retained as natural material to be allowed to have a weathered look. |
| Conservation of specimin trees | Every tree has a value for aethetics or playability. We have GPS'd and measured every tree on golf course property plus attached a metal identification tag with a corresponding number. |
| Screening and softening unsightly man-made features | This is done, where appropriate, with natural tree plantings and on lower areas, ornamental grasses. |
| Emphasis on native materials | If landscape proposals do not meet the criteria in our opening landscape and ecosystem statement, then it is not implemented or only native material is used. |
| Activity | Description |
|---|
Broken Sound Club is undertaking the following activities to improve the landscape ecology of the golf course:
| Creation of habitat corridors | The corridors we create are along the banks of the lakes and keeping the easements along the canals free for the wildlife to traverse. |
| Activity | Description |
|---|
Broken Sound Club is undertaking the following activities to improve the quality of habitats on the golf course:
| Promoting species and structually diverse woodlands | Planted thousands of young trees within and around existing canopy areas. |
| Establishment of littoral shelves and marginal vegetation in wetland areas | Tens of thousands of marginal aquatic plants have been introduced to enhance filtration and wildlife habitat. |
| Maintenance of an appropriate balance of open water and aquatic vegetation | We have an environmental aquatic company that maintains the lakes on both courses. |
| Naturalisation of linear habitats | Some margins / boundaries of the course. |
| Activity | Description |
|---|
Broken Sound Club is undertaking the following activities to conserve and enhance biodiversity on the golf course:
| Provision of nesting and nectar for pollinators | At the golf courses 'edges' on the non-residential 'Old Course' we have inter planted Milk Weed, Blue Porter Weed, some ornamental grasses as well as some other 'butterfly' plants. These plants include nectar & host varieties. |
| Installation of nest boxes | We provide nesting houses on both courses, many that were build by local members children. |
| Provision of feeding tables | We provide bird feeders on both courses. |
| Management of pest species that can cause the golf courses damage | We translocate nuisance pests such as skunks, racoons, armadillos, ferial cats, etc. These are trapped and released in safe zones out into the Everglades area. |
| Activity | Description |
|---|
Water
Currently we are using surface water for irrigation captured from rain runoff and canal pumpage on the Club Course into our lakes. It is anticipated that in the second quarter of 2011 that we will have reclaimed water brought into our irrigation lake to be a new diluted water source. This project has taken significant planning and investment, with Broken Sound Club being a leading advocate for the diversion of reclaimed water that otherwise was pumped out to sea.
On the Old Course, recent drought restrictions and the awareness of treated waste water being dumped onto the reefs off the coast by the City of Boca Raton, we made a deal with the City to take reclaimed water to help them with their disposal. The City of Boca Raton installed a $13.2 million dollar reclaimed water line at their own cost to both courses and now beyond to alleviate the 6 million gallons a day of reclaimed being dumped on the reefs along the shore of the Atlantic Ocean. Its a \"win win\" situation.
This year we will be doing a further major irrigation audit and upgrading our pump station on the Club \"Main\" Course in the future for a more efficient and accurate system.
Both courses are computerized Rainbird auto programs with rain switch sensors. We only water our golf courses when we need to, preferring a more firm and fast approach riding the edge of wilt. Another major project in the next couple of years is to change the sandy soil to a more fertile sandy loam that has better water retention qualities and nutrient loading ability (less leaching) that will enable us to cut our water usage. Since 2004 we have taken more of the 360 degree sprinklers out around the lake banks and installed variable heads that can be set to only water the turf and oranmental plantings without throwing into the lakes. Both courses were rebuilt in the last 7 to 10 years with head to head coverage so settings went from 30 nightly sets to 15/20 minutes sets.
Sources & Consumption
No water audits have been undertaken at Broken Sound Club.
The water used at Broken Sound Club is drawn from the following sources:
| 2010 | Sources | % of supply | Total Consumption |
|---|---|---|---|
| Clubhouse | Public / Potable | 100 | 36,628,400 Gallons |
| Golf Course | Surface | 54.2 | 322,100,000 Gallons |
| Reclaimed | 45.8 | ||
| Maintenance Facility | Public / Potable | 100 | 0 Gallons |
| 2009 | Sources | % of supply | Total Consumption |
|---|---|---|---|
| Clubhouse | Public / Potable | 100 | 32,711,700 Gallons |
| Golf Course | Surface | 50.7 | 326,700,000 Gallons |
| Surface | 49.3 | ||
| Maintenance Facility | Public / Potable | 100 | 0 Gallons |
| 2008 | Sources | % of supply | Total Consumption |
|---|---|---|---|
| Clubhouse | Public / Potable | 100 | 36,184,400 Gallons |
| Golf Course | Surface | 52.0 | 266,100,000 Gallons |
| Surface | 48.0 | ||
| Maintenance Facility | Public / Potable | 100 | 0 Gallons |
Irrigation & Efficiency
The following areas receive irrigation at Broken Sound Club:
| Greens | Daily |
| Tees | Weekly |
| Fairways | Weekly |
| Semi-Rough | Weekly |
| Rough | Weekly |
| Outside Home perimeters/property lines on the Club Course. | Weekly |
The irrigation system at Broken Sound Club is:
Fully computer controlled
Serviced every 6 Months
Upgraded every 12 Year(s)
Re-calibrated and checked for efficient application every 6 Months
Broken Sound Club is undertaking the following activities to maximize irrigation efficiency:
| Selection of grass species | We have installed SeaIsle 1 paspalum and SeaIsle supreme on all 18 tee complexes on the Club Course, both Driving Range tees and a few tees on the Old Course including both driving range tees which reduced our irrigation around 50% in those areas. |
| Soil decompaction and thatch management | Once a year we contract a verticutter company to do the fairways 1.5\" deep. We also use our own fairway units with blades to lightly do them 1/4\". We deep tine solid and hollow tines several times a year the entire course. |
| Timing and dose of water application | We only water our golf courses when we need to prefering a more firm and fast approach riding the edge of wilt. We irrigate in the evenings with an 8 to 10 hour window depending on the time of year, wind and weather. |
| Analysis of soil moisture | We purchased expensive soil moisture meters to determine variables for irrigation during main tournaments on the greens. Irrigation rates are determined on a daily basis, based on weather and ET rates. Both courses are inspected daily. |
| Incorporation of evapotranspiration rates and weather data | ET rates, radar, prognostications and anything that changes our calculations daily on the necessity to irrigate. I rather irrigate as little as possible over all. A drier course that has longer and healthier rooting is the rule of thumb. |
| Use of wetting agents | We use wetting agents throughout the golf courses to reduce water and isolated dry spots. We use nonionic nonalcohol wetting agents for the plant's safety. |
| Targeting of sprinkler heads | We have several programs we have designed out for hot spots only or each zone based on greens, tees, approaches and surrounds, fairways and roughs. During water restrictions our water use is phased out - going on priority with semi-rough, fairways, tees and greens - in that order. |
| Optimizing system pressure | The system is set to run effeciently at 90 psi (minimum to bring sprinkler head up) to 120 psi. The pump stations are equipped with low and high pressure discharge shutoffs in case of emergencies such as breaks. |
| Root zone materials | Our projects the next couple of years is to change the sandy soil to a more fertile sandy loam that has some water retention qualities and nutrient loading ability that will enable us to cut our water usage. |
| Irrigation system audit and upgrade | We will be doing an irrigation audit and upgrading our pump station on the Main Club this summer into a more effecient and accurate system. |
| Activity | Description |
|---|
Broken Sound Club is undertaking the following activities to conserve / reduce / minimise water consumption:
| Use of water efficient applicances | We have a new policy to select appliances that are the most water efficient. |
| Use of efficient shower technology | The showers were converted over to low use/flow devices and there was dissatisfaction amongst members. The low flow devices have since been removed, but we are actively looking for a solution and technology that will reduce water use and keep customers satisfied. |
| Repairing leaks | The bathrooms are checked several times a day at the main facilites and on the courses. Any leaks are detected quickly and dealt with by facilities maintenance. |
| Activity | Description |
|---|
Energy & Resources
Our plan and goals are to reduce our electric consumption by 40% over the coming ten years - using green ideas for light fixtures, light monitors and motion sensors throughout the Club. We have also increased better tracking of fuel consumption and we have a new policy going forward to place energy efficiency amongst the top criteria for purchasing new machinery. Our composting program will help us retain water throughout the turf on the sandy soil, thus decreasing irrigation use, hence decreasing electrical use to run the pumps.
We are working with a few companies on overhauling our power sources to be more effecient and to reduce costs based on peak usage rates with our Power Company. All aspects to save power are being looked at currently including window fixtures. All departments are currently involved; food and beverage, golf course, pro shop, tennis, fitness/spa and maintenance facilities.
Sources & Consumption
The following energy surveys have been undertaken at Broken Sound Club:
| Internal energy audits | General manager and department heads | ||
| Title | Author | Date | View Document |
|---|
Broken Sound Club does not consume any renewable energy or resources.
Consumption of non-renewable energy and resources at Broken Sound Club:
| 2010 | 2009 | 2008 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5,998,611 | 5,869,328 | 5,817,676 | |
| 10,073 | 8,315 | 8,970 | |
| 40,402 | 40,627 | 44,551 | |
| 285 | 268 | 260 | |
| 197,045 | 204,155 | 213,411 |
Energy Efficiency
Broken Sound Club is undertaking the following activities to diversify energy and fuel supply:
| Installation of photovoltaic and / or solar panels | Solar powered panels to run the hot water heaters for the swimming pools and the two club houses and the fitness and spa. |
| Activity | Description |
|---|
Broken Sound Club is undertaking the following activities to reduce energy consumption:
| Optimizing themostat levels for heating and refridgeration | Thermostats were raised for the AC and lowered for the heat in the club houses to reduce electricity usage. |
| Installation of low-energy lighting | We also have many changes to all our light fixtures, balasts and light bulbs that use much less energy and reduce light pollution. |
| Use of motion sensor lighting | The Club House now has the bathrooms and other non-high use rooms equiped with motion sensor lighting. They also installed new hand dryers across the site - that use less energy in shorter amount of time. The on course bathrooms also have motion sensor air conditioning and lighting. |
| Transition to energy efficient appliances | Kitchen appliances all have energy efficient ratings for consumption, and our forward policy is to purchase the highest levels of efficiency. |
| Educating staff and customers | This is part of our ongoing training of new personal (who come from various countries), new members who have not seen the posted flyers and constant newsletters on 'going green' that we send out. |
| Reducing the use of irrigation pumps | We are in the process of buying a $400,000 composter to process all of our green debris and food refuse to convert it into compost to transform the sandy soil to hold more water to reduce the use of the electrical irrigation pumps. |
| Activity | Description |
|---|
Vehicles & Transport
The maintenance fleet at Broken Sound Club uses the following fuel sources:
| Ride-on Mowers | Walking Mowers | Utility Vehicles | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90% | 100% | 88% | |
| 10% | |||
| 13% | |||
Additional vehicles operated by Broken Sound Club use the following fuel sources:
| Golf Carts | Cars | Buses | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5% | 100% | ||
| 95% | |||
Broken Sound Club has established the following schemes to encourage reductions in staff and customer transport emissions:
| Group transportation (e.g. buses) | We provide shuttle services for employees that live off site. |
| Secure cycle parking | The club house staff are provided with housing and cycles to ride to work daily. The club house has bicycle secured racks for those employees or members who also wish to ride to the Club House. |
| Increasing equipment storage (e.g. lockers) | Lockers are provided at both maintenance buildings for all employees of the golf course staff. |
| Staff showers | Staff showers are provided for the maintenance crew and club house staff if necessary or needed, meaning they can walk or cycle to work and freshen up on arrival. |
| Activity | Description |
|---|
Products & Supply Chains
We want to do more to lead the way in the ability to reduce waste and costs for a cleaner environment.
Waste is recycled using man made by products in a compactor and sold back to a vendor for revenue generation such as bottles, cardboard and plastic.
We also will be purchasing a large new yard digester/composter to recycle all golf course, club house and maintenance facility biodegradable waste and food products. This will make a sterilized organic mulch to be put back in landscape beds and spread on the golf course fairways - that are mostly sugar sand and low in organic content.
This will reduce our costs for manufactured fertilizers and reduce the chance for leaching of phosophurs and nitrogen in our outfalls in lakes and canals that eventually lead to the ocean.
Styrofoam cups have been changed out to biodegradable cups. Recycling bins are everywhere around all facilities and large containers at a central point have been brought in to mass transport the dry recyclables to local sorting centres.
Purchasing Policies
Broken Sound Club undertakes the following ethical / environmental purchasing activities:
| Use of local suppliers | Our area of Florida has several hundred golf courses within an hour of each other which means golf facility supplies in the locality are plentiful. |
| Use of local products | We certainly will use the local products if the quality and quantity are available. An assessment of our local supply chains is currently taking place. |
| Selection of certified products | We are introducing a new policy to use certified products for paper, cardboard, packaging, cups, coffee, tea, sugar and many other consumables. |
| Use of recycled and recyclable products | We have started to use more recycled plastics for furniture, stakes and signage. |
| Activity | Description |
|---|
Economic Multiplier
Broken Sound Club does not have any suppliers.
Turfgrass Inputs
Broken Sound Club undertakes the following IPM activities:
| Encouragin drought and disease tolerant grasses | We have bermuda and seaisle paspalum turfgrasses which are noted for being drought tolerant with minimal water needed. By way of a trade-off, seaIsle does get dollar spot, pythium and worms quite easily. |
| Managing stress and wear | Aerifications several times a year and traffic control around both courses is a priority to alleviate both. Cutting heights are always carefully assessed and considered. |
| Enhancement of soil structure | Addition of wetting agents, humic acids, biological enhancements and composting has helped turn our sugar sand soil into a richer medium for optimal turf growth and resilency to wear. |
| Optimization of the growing environment | Good sound management of the entire estate is to encourage a quality growing environment. |
| Managing thatch levels | Thatch levels are encouraged in the roughs, watched to an acceptable level in fairways, tees and approaches. Greens are checked weekly and verticutting, aerification and topdressing help reduce the thatch levels. |
| Managing surface moisture | We use our irrigation system to the bare minimum for the quality of the turf, the playability and reduce a lush turf which encourages and is considerably less resistant to pests. |
| Establishing thresholds for pests and disease | We have a zero tolerance on the greens as demanded by our membership but are on a currative program other than pre-emergent weed program throughout the course which allows us to apply a lot less chemical throughout the year. |
| Scouting for pests and diseases | Monitoring is the most important aspect with 7 disease specialists and certified chemical applicators on both sites to see and evaluate the activity of pests. |
| Activity | Description |
|---|
Fertilizer use at Broken Sound Club in the last three years:
| 2010 | 2009 | 2008 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Organic | Inorganic | Organic | Inorganic | Organic | Inorganic | ||
| Greens | N | 202 lb | 181 lb | 162 lb | |||
| P | 28 lb | 15 lb | 31 lb | ||||
| K | 228 lb | 230 lb | 259 lb | ||||
| Tees | N | 4 lb | 87 lb | 132 lb | 4 lb | 120 lb | |
| P | 1.4 lb | 14 lb | 32 lb | 1 lb | 34 lb | ||
| K | 119 lb | 181 lb | 184 lb | ||||
| Fairways | N | 27 lb | 437 lb | 551 lb | 670 lb | ||
| P | 11 lb | 59 lb | 86 lb | 157 lb | |||
| K | 637 lb | 756 lb | 905 lb | ||||
| Rough | N | 705 lb | 1440 lb | 75 lb | 1230 lb | ||
| P | 105 lb | 202 lb | 15 lb | 246 lb | |||
| K | 1065 lb | 1590 lb | 1560 lb | ||||
Pesticide use at Broken Sound Club in the last three years:
| 2010 | 2009 | 2008 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Organic | Inorganic | Organic | Inorganic | Organic | Inorganic | ||
| Greens | Fungicide | 722 lb | 811 lb | ||||
| Herbicide | |||||||
| Insecticide | 60 lb | 36 lb | |||||
| Tees | Fungicide | 189 lb | 209 lb | ||||
| Herbicide | 92 lb | 12 lb | |||||
| Insecticide | 21 lb | 33 lb | |||||
| Fairways | Fungicide | ||||||
| Herbicide | 462 lb | 447 lb | |||||
| Insecticide | 128 lb | 146 lb | |||||
| Rough | Fungicide | ||||||
| Herbicide | 1194 lb | 1346 lb | |||||
| Insecticide | 309 lb | 254 lb | |||||
Broken Sound Club undertakes the following actions to optimize pesticide use:
| Selection on the least toxic and lest persistant products | We do consider product formulae when selecting the active ingredient for use. We balance our approach between multiple applications to control versus introducing one pesticide with one application to eradicate. Costs, effeciency, area/extent, environment, human exposure are just a few of the things we consider. |
| Selection of appropriate products for specific pests and diseases | Its the law, and we follow the label for all applications with no tolerance for variation. |
| Spot-treatment with handheld sprayers and wipers | We have gone away from total boom spraying weeds and insects to spot spraying only as a post application. |
| Calibration and testing of sprayers | They are checked quartely on some equipment and others weekly. |
| Non-chemical weed control | We do a vast amount of hand eradication of weed pulling on both courses and refilling with sterile topdressing. |
| Activity | Description |
|---|
Waste Management
The following landscape assessments and surveys have been undertaken at Broken Sound Club:
| Where's our waste coming from and where's it going | Joe Hubbard and John Crean | ||
| Title | Author | Date | View Document |
|---|
Broken Sound Club manages key waste streams as follows:
| Re-use | Recycle | Landfill | Incinerate | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
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Broken Sound Club undertakes the following activities to continue the lifecycle of materials and resources:
| Separation of recyclable materials | We carry several bins labeled throughout the club to seperate for better management of the process. |
| Establishment of recycling centers | We take all our recyclable products to staging areas for transport to environmental seperation and reuse centers. |
| Returning clipping to fairways and walkways | We take clippings off greens, tees, and approaches only which amounts to 11% of the turf we mow on both sites. We are careful to not accumulate vast amounts of clippings around the course. |
| Education of staff and customer education | Newsletters, signs and letters have notified members of what we are doing to help the environment. The staff is trained and being trained to recycle products in the right bins. |
| Waste awareness campaigns | Members are being made increasingly aware of the importance of recycling and their role in our programs success. |
| Donations of equipment and materials | Old equipment is regularly donated to schools or charities. Metal is sold for scrap, that is then recycled. |
| Activity | Description |
|---|
Environmental Quality
We want to be absolutely sure that our golf course operations are not having a unsustainable and detrimental impact on the quality of air, water and soil.
We recognise our green-space should be a clean and healthy environment, which does more to benefit the local area than to add further pollution risk in a heavily urbanised location.
We want our site to have the net overall effect of being a biological filter and improver of environmental quality for the wider locality.
Pest and disease monitoring is one of the most important aspects in all of this - so we have trained 7 pest and disease specialists and certified chemical applicators on both sites to see and evaluate and understand the activity of pests, and make the best decisions on any chemical use.
Water Analysis
Broken Sound Club monitors water quality with the following frequency:
| Chemical | Biological | Visual | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yearly | Weekly | Weekly | |
| Yearly | Weekly | Weekly | |
| Yearly | Weekly | Weekly |
Waste Water
Waste water from Broken Sound Club is managed as follows:
| Discharges to | Formal Discharge Agreement | |
|---|---|---|
| Irrigation Reservoir | N/A | |
| Mains Sewer | N/A | |
| Stormwater Drain | N/A | |
| Stormwater Drain | N/A |
Hazardous Materials
Hazardous materials at Broken Sound Club are handled and disposed of as follows:
| Secure Storage | Registered Uplift | |
|---|---|---|
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Pollution Prevention
Broken Sound Club undertakes the following activities to prevent pollution from its maintenance facility and clubhouse:
| Storage of equipment and hazardous products on covered, sealed impervious areas | We keep almost 95% of our equipment for the both courses within two maintenance buildings. The floors are epoxy sealed to prevent ground contamination. The facilities are relatively new, effecient and environmentally safe. |
| Maintenance of equipment on covered, sealed impervious areas | Same as storage of equipment. Mechanics maintain and repair all equipment inside unless the piece has broken down on the course. |
| Mixing of pesticides and fertilizers over impervious surfaces | Both courses mix over concrete or newly laid asphalt surface, which have appropriate water attenuation and treatment facilities. |
| Installation of above-ground fuel tanks | All old single skinned containers have been removed from site, and only above ground approved double walled tanks are installed with containment. |
| Provision of containment booms and absorbent materials | We are well supplied on both courses for large and small spills with emergency containment kits. |
| Activity | Description |
|---|
Broken Sound Club undertakes the following activities to prevent pollution on its golf course:
| Eliminating leachate and run-off through careful timing of turf inputs | Weather, temperature and golf course use is noted before any application is administered on both courses. Not only does this save money but also protects non-point source (diffuse) elements from getting pesticides or unintendent fertilizer. We use granular and slow release. |
| Establishment of vegetative buffer strips around water bodies | Maintain vegetative buffers and have planted around $100,000 of wetland and aquatic plants for filtration, wildlife corridors and aesthetics. |
| Establishment of emergency spillage response plan | We have a written plan for emergency contacts, procedure and spill kits with disposal. |
| Controlling erosion and sediment discharge | This is a difficult on the Old Course as the height of weirs were changed after construction off site that has caused alot of bank erosion which we do plantings and fillings for. So we are actually treating sediment discharge that has occurred up-stream. |
| Establishment of pesticide-free zones | Only spot spraying and hand pulling of weeds within 25 feet of all water bodies. |
| Use of swales and bio-filters to slow and treat surface run-off | We have allowed rough grass margins to emerge around watershed areas. |
| Activity | Description |
|---|
People & Communities
Broken Sound is not only the largest voting block in Boca Raton, Florida but prides itself as a leader in inovation when it comes to the environment.
Our staff and directors are asked to assist other communities with ideas and implementation of projects to achieve more while using less.
As a management team, we try to be creative and ask \"why not\" when we discover there are other ways to be inventive to enhance the environment while helping other communities as well.
We are also the largest single parcel of green space within the City of Boca Raton and have helped create large areas for birds to fledge and wildlife to proliferate.
Once our composter and waste digestor is operational we will be bringing in municipalities, state organizations and any of the 1200 golf courses in Florida to see the model and operation.
Almost all activities, initiatives and achievements at Broken Sound are published in local papers, local and national magazines.
This year we will put together our entire operation at Broken Sound into a lecture or production to be presented at schools in the future which will be the catalyst for our youth to expand their inventions and ideas in multiple communities.
Employment & Education
Typical staffing levels at Broken Sound Club are:
| Full Time | Part Time | Seasonal | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | |||
| 44 | 1 | ||
| 92 | 3 | 52 | |
| 15 | 3 | 1 | |
| 11 | |||
| 9 | 1 | ||
| 12 | 30 | ||
| 59 | 17 | 4 |
The environmental working group at Broken Sound Club is comprised of:
- General Manager
- Course Manager
- Committee Members
- Technical Specialist
- Local Government
- Local Community
- City Arborist and Naturalist
Employees at Broken Sound Club receive the following formal and informal environmental education:
| Storage, application and disposal of pesticides | We follow the label required by law for triple rinsing, application and proper disposal. The applicators and crew have been trained on all of those plus in the event of any accidents. We are prepared. |
| Efficient water management | We do daily accessment of water in beds and on the 240 acres of turf. We water only when needed to maintain the course to member's expectations which we have been teaching greenstaff and casual staff to accept more brown than lush green. |
| Management of accidents and emergencies | We have monthly safety training on the golf course maintenance side for all first aid, CPR and accidental spills. All key employees are CPR trained and certified. Defibulators and oxygen are accessible on the entire facility. Emergency procedures and numbers are posted in all offices. |
| Management of habitats and vegetation | We regularly talk about the importance of Broken Sound being a haven for wildlife in an urban environment. We have thousands of photographs, which are shared with the staff, on birds, insects, mammals and plants on the courses. |
| Waste minimalisation, separation and recycling | This will be a huge educational project for us all, and we will engage a huge number of staff in making it work. |
| Health & Safety | The precautions are impressive around the club houses and with safety postings and training, the employees feel very safe to work here. |
| Energy Saving | Department heads are impressing upon staff the financial and environmental importance of energy saving. |
| Understanding of landscape and cultural heritage | Knowing what is Native to this area of South Florida was one of the top priorities I had to revamping the landscaping and maintenance of the golf course. We have put together a new team with a horticulturalist and landscape specialist to maintain the hundreds of beds with thousands of plantings on both courses. It has made a tremendous impact and the knowledge is spreading out across our 40 strong course management team. |
| Enviromental management planning | As you see in our Environmental Policy, it all relates to our reduction in carbon footprint and consumption while enhancing the environment and contributing positively to the community around us. |
| Activity | Description |
|---|
Community Relations
Broken Sound Club engages with local community groups in the following manner:
| Neighbours | For the Club Course - the residents of the community are the neighbors and the members. As a \"club\" course there is much interaction between the golf course, tennis, spa, pool, and club with it's members. The Social Department is continually working to engage our constituents. |
| Local Government | We have a close relationship with the town's mayoral department. |
| Local Community Groups | We liaise very closely with the Community Management Association. |
| Schools & Colleges | We do support college interns through temporary jobs through out the whole club. A number of interns have returned to fill full time positions. |
| Activity | Description |
|---|
Land Use & Cultural Heritage
Broken Sound Club provides access and diversified land use for others through:
| Maintenance of existing public paths | The cart paths, streets & side walks are continually maintained by the governing facility or community depending upon its location. |
| Providing opportunities for other recreation (e.g. fishing) | People are allowed to fish in the lakes & canals at both courses. Boating & fishing are allowed in the canals within the community.It is generally wise & safer to do so away from the active parts of the courses or after playing times to use these water bodies for recreation. There are alligators in this climatic area, so swimming is prohibited! |
| Activity | Description |
|---|
No archaeological or heritage surveys have been undertaken at Broken Sound Club.
Broken Sound Club does not consult any organizations regarding the conservation of cultural heritage.
Broken Sound Club does not undertake any activities to conserve cultural heritage features.
Communications
Broken Sound Club undertakes the following internal environmental communications:
| Provision of newsletters, notice boards & poster displays | A monthly community newsletter is produced with community information & activities. This also works to update people with things we are doing on the courses, information about the affects the weather may have on both the playability of the course as well as in their own yards. There are always many pictures from the activities, competitions, awards and kids activities included. These newsletters are mailed out & available at each club house. |
| Members evenings and course walks | These would all be publicized through the Social Department through the monthly newsletter, email distribution system, website as well as the notice boards strategically placed around the club houses & courses. |
| Interpretation panels & course signage | We have an Audubon display at the club houses showing wild life & habitat around the courses. |
| Activity | Description |
|---|
Broken Sound Club undertakes the following social and environmental advocacy activities:
| Website, press releases & brochures | Releasing press information about our efforts |
| Attending community meetings | Regular involvement in community and governmental meetings and now starting to be a more vocal advocate for more sustainability in Boca Raton. |
| Activity | Description |
|---|
