Golf Club Udine Verifier Report
This report was prepared by Paolo Croce, GEOSA, Accredited Verifier.
It was published on November 4th 2011.
Executive Summary
The Golf Club Udine is located in Northeast Italy in the region Friuli Venezia Giulia at approximately 20 km from the city of Udine. It is part of the municipality of Fagagna, which has been included in the list of “The most beautiful villages in Italy” since 2006. The Golf Club covers a surface of about 58 hectares at an average altitude of 230 meters above see level and it has 18 holes (the first 9 holes were built in 1972 and the second 9 in 1996 displaying an amazing view of the Carnic Alps). The golf course is well integrated in the surrounding landscape thanks to its rich arboreal heritage and it is characterized by natural forest mantles, mixed trees with indigenous and invasive species supplied by the Forestry Department, springs and low-maintenance areas enabling an excellent landscape integration of golf in the territory. The surrounding environment is hilly in a mostly agricultural area: the natural vegetation is dominated by hardwood deciduous forests with oaks (mainly English oaks Quercus robur and Downy oaks Quercus pubescens) and hornbeams (common hornbeams Carpinus betulus), whereas maples, ash trees and lime trees are less present. In the wetland the stretches characterized by hygrophile forest include alders and willows. In many areas chestnut trees and agricultural crops replaced the natural vegetation. Nearby, there are two protected areas: at 2 km the “Oasi dei Quadris” (involved in a project aimed at reintroducing the White Storks Ciconia ciconia and the Northern Bald Ibis (Geronticus eremita) and at 10 km the Cornino Reserve (where a project concerning the Griffon Vulture Gyps fulvus is taking place). From an historical point of view, closed to the golf club there are the ruins of the Castle of Fagagna, the Castle of Villalta and Arcano. The GC UDINE was awarded the “Committed to Green” certificate in 2005.
Local Translation
Il Golf Club Udine è situato nel nord est Italia, nella Regione Friuli Venezia Giulia, a circa 20 km dalla città di Udine. Ricade nel Comune di Fagagna che dal 2006 è inserito nella lista dei “Borghi più belli d'Italia”. Si estende per circa 60 ettari a una quota media di 230 m s.l.m., ha 18 buche (prime 9 buche realizzate nel 1972, seconde 9 buche nel 1996 con splendidi panorami sulle Alpi Carniche. Il percorso, grazie alla presenza di un ricco patrimonio arboreo risulta molto ben inserito nel paesaggio circostante, è caratterizzato dalla presenza di fasce boscate naturali, alberature miste con specie autoctone e alloctone fornite dalla Forestale, risorgive e aree a bassa manutenzione che consentono un ottimo inserimento paesaggistico del golf nel territorio. L'ambiente circostante è collinare in un territorio prevalentemente agricolo: la vegetazione naturale è costituita da boschi di latifoglie caducifoglie con querce (prevalentemente farnia Quercus robur e roverella Quercus pubescens) e carpini (carpino bianco Carpinus betulus) e in minor misura aceri, frassini e tigli. Lungo le zone umide i tratti a bosco igrofilo comprendono ontani e salici. In molte aree la vegetazione naturale è stata sostituita dal castagno e da colture agricole. Nelle vicinanze si trovano due aree protette: “l'Oasi dei Quadris” (interessata da un progetto di reintroduzione della Cicogna bianca Ciconia ciconia e dell'Ibis eremita Geronticus eremita) a 2 km e Riserva di Cornino (dove è in atto un progetto sul Grifone Gyps fulvus) a 10 km. Da un punto di vista storico nelle vicinanze del circolo si trovano le rovine del Castello di Fagagna, il Castello di Villalta e d'Arcano.
Il GC UDINE nel 2005 è stato certificato “Impegnati nel Verde”.
Landscape & Ecosystems
The location of the GC Udine and the environmental diversification in the territory confer a considerable natural value to the club. In its approximately 58 hectares there are forest mantles, two lakes, one of which with water that comes from a spring, low maintenance areas with bushes and grass growing spontaneously, ditches bordered with trees, 53 tree species, 8 mammal species, 45 bird species, 6 reptile and amphibian species recorded with certainty. Many of these species are protected being included in international conventions (Bern and Bonn), in the Birds Directive 79/409, in the Italian Red List, in the SPEC and in the IUCN categories. Club’s fairways are often frequented by White Storks that nest in the area thanks to a project supervised by a neighboring reserve aimed at reintroducing the species. Storks stay in the area all year long, thus attracting other migrating birds in hopes that the latter will nest, too.
The club plays an important protectionist role for the species frequenting the area as opposed to the neighboring zones, where hunting activity is performed especially on wild boars and roe deers.
The correct landscape integration of the golf club confer value and importance to the course thanks to its natural arboreal heritage, the integration carried out over the years with indigenous and invasive plants, the view of the Carnic Alps and the disposition of the holes in accordance with the natural slopes frequented by White Storks present in the areas all year long.
The turfgrass is composed by the traditional mix present on the golf courses of the Po Valley and in the neighboring areas. The Agrostis stolonifera, a very demanding species from a water consumption point of view, is restricted to greens and partly tee areas: in total, in approximately 2 hectares. The rest is constituted by an original mix of Lolium perenne, Poa pratensis, Festuca rubra, which was quickly infected by Poa annua and Cynodon dactylon. Maintenance is very careful, the Superintendent graduated from the National Golf School and the staff is skilled and qualified. The monitoring of biotic and abiotic adversities takes place on a regular basis.
Water
The irrigation coverage is of approximately 16 hectares, which amount only to 27.5% of the total surface. A further coverage reduction is therefore not feasible. The club records the irrigation water consumption on a yearly basis. The source of water supply is a well that feeds a small lake of about 4,000 m³, in which the pumping station is located. The water consumption for turfgrass maintenance is variable and depends on atmospheric precipitations. Over the last three years (2008/2010) the average use amounted to a little less than 40,000 m³. This volume equals about half (690 m³/ha) of the amount of water used on average in the golf courses of the Po Valley (1340 m³/ha). The consumption of the Club House is supplied by the drinking water of the public system, whereas in the Maintenance Facility a small part (5%) is provided by the well. The irrigation programming is conceived in such a way to minimize waste and excessive consumption (syringing, irrigation early in the morning and so on) and a structural improvement of the irrigation system is the main objective in the years to come. In any case, further reductions in water use are not conceivable being at the lowest possible levels for the turfgrass species established and considering the climate conditions of the area. As far as the Club House is concerned, the club has joined a project named “Doccia Light” with the installation of 11 showers with low water consumption.
Energy & Resources
At the moment, the club does not use any renewable energy sources, even though measures to obtain energy by photovoltaic panels are on the agenda thanks to state incentives. Energy consumption is carefully monitored both as regards fuels (petrol and gas oil) and electricity. The Club House was built exploiting all the opportunities of natural ventilation in the summer, whereas the selection of casing, the thermal insulation of the roof and the optimization of energy consumption (thermostats and timers) ensure the heat retention during the winter. There is no air conditioning with the sole exception of the secretary’s office. The club adopts an energy-saving policy also for the day-to-day management of lighting by means of low energy lamps. A timer manages all the internal lighting as far as locker rooms, warehouses and the battery recharge area are concerned. Maintenance vehicles and golf carts are carefully monitored as regards consumption and quality.
Environmental Quality
The disposal of special waste such as mineral oils and electric batteries shall be subject to the legal provisions in force and to the insertion in the appropriate register (SISTRI). The storage of pesticides takes place in compliance with the law. The monitoring of wastewaters occurs on a yearly basis by means of chemical analysis, and daily through the visual observation. The Club House wastewaters are sent to septic tanks according to the law provisions in force, until the Municipality completes the district depuration plant. An autonomous device filters the waste of the Maintenance Facility and of the wash pad.
As far as the landscape is concerned, the club is well integrated in the territory, even though trees are not all autochthonous. Therefore, the club is gradually replacing the plants supplied by the Forestry Department with indigenous species and/or naturalized species in the territory. The disposition of the holes according to the hilly landscape hidden by trees and forest mantles with fallow and/or low maintenance areas confer a significant landscape value to the club. Moreover, the presence of protected animals gives a considerable added value from a protectionist standpoint. The declaration on the environmental commitment is the document certifying the real effort carried out by the club over the years.
People & Communities
The club was awarded the “Committed to Green” certificate. The plaque was displayed at the entrance of the Club House and specific information regarding the award has been included in the web site.
Awareness was raised among its members concerning the fact that golf carts should not be used and that players should instead walk the entire golf course.
Historical or archaeological valuable sites are not present within the golf club, whereas in the surrounding areas the ruins of the Castle of Fagagna, the Castle of Villalta and Arcano have been discovered.
However, the club could do more in terms of it’s interaction with the local community on environmental and community matters.
Products & Supply Chains
Periodically, the club fills out a logbook (Quaderno di campagna), on which the use of pesticides and fertilizers is recorded. Pesticides are never used on a preventive basis, but only after the appearance of the first symptoms. The objective is to limit the use of these products. Great attention is devoted to the annual consumption of nutrients, which is perfectly in line with the average rate of the golf courses in the Po Valley (N = 36,3 kg/ha against 39,8; P = 5,7 kg/ha against 6,0; K = 30,8 kg/ha against 33,3). The same applies to pesticides: the annual consumption of fungicide amounts to 3.09 kg/ha against 3.05 on average, herbicides 1.45 kg/ha against 1.7 and insecticide 0,48 kg/ha against 1,9.
The club adopts a waste sorting policy implemented by the Municipality as regards the majority of waste produced (glass, plastic, aluminum, metal, paper and cardboard) through the public waste disposal service. On the contrary, other materials are recycled directly on the golf course (grass clipping, cores, sand of the bunkers, timber).
Documentation Reviewed
- Action Plans and Project Proposals
- Certification Report
- External Surveys and Reports
- Emergency Incident Plan
- Environmental Data
- Register of Accidents
Conclusion
The commitment and the awareness-raising effort demonstrated by the staff is proof of the excellent work being carried out over the years also as a result of the “Committed to Green” project. The landscape integration, water consumption below the average in comparison to other golf courses located in similar environmental context, a turfgrass maintenance in accordance with the agronomic methods and with the use of pesticides only in case of visible signs of disease and not in a preemptive way, the protection of arboreal heritage, the insulation of the Club House to reduce winter energy consumption and the absence of air conditioning to reduce summer consumption (an appropriate air circulation and ventilation system in the rooms were studied to this end) describe the commitment of the club in achieving real results related to the environmental field. The presence of animal species of community interest represent an added value for this course that creates a protected natural environment and a useful ecological corridor in the surrounding agricultural areas characterized by a significant hunting activity.
The Golf Club thanks to the contacts created with the neighbouring protected areas and with the local institutes of agriculture must demonstrate a greater involvement and exchange with the local community aimed at raising awareness of the environmentally-friendly role that golf can play, and fostering knowledge of arboreal heritage and land maintenance and management with environmentally-friendly criteria.
The Recertification targets include the commitment to a potential involvement of educational institutions aimed at promoting knowledge of arboreal heritage, internships for agronomists and/or other faculties (motor sciences), the convention with the Oasis of the Storks to foster visits and awareness-raising campaigns on conservation projects.
Moreover, the gradual replacement of invasive species with indigenous species will further improve the club’s integration in the landscape. The club is also committed to start a project to monitor the status of its trees involving a qualified team of experienced botanists and landscape architects.
Recommendation
I, Paolo Croce, GEOSA, Accredited Verifier recommend that Golf Club Udine be awarded GEO Certified™ status for excellence in environmental management.
