Hirsala Golf

About this Report

Publication of this report indicates that Hirsala Golf 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.

To maintain this award Hirsala Golf will be re-certified by a GEOSA Accredited Verifier before December 22nd 2013.

Facility Details

Hirsala Golf is a golf facility comprising:

Courses

• Hirsala Golf (18 holes)

Clubhouses

• Mammutti

Maintenance Facilities

• Mustapekka

Other

• Pro Shop
• Facilities
• On Course WC

Nature

Hirsala Golf is located in a beautiful forest in east Kirkkonummi. The course is quite new and therefore all environmental aspects have been taken into consideration when planning the course. Especially environmentally sensitive areas and wildlife habitants were paid extra attention to. The nature surrounding the course is highly important and gives the course its unique character.

The course area is extremely diverse, located in a dense forest consisting of high rocks, deep wetlands and flat fields. The nature’s wide variety is significant making an unique environment to play golf in. That’s why it is in our deepest interest to preserve the nature and its wellbeing.

Designations

Hirsala Golf features areas that are designated or protected at the following levels:

• National Government

Surveys

The following ecological surveys have been undertaken:

Title	Author	Date
Botanical	Helena Rönkä	2000-11-01
Birds	Helena Rönkä	2000-11-01
Mammals	Helena Rönkä	2000-11-01
Fungi	Helena Rönkä	2000-11-01

Habitats

Estimated area of habitats at Hirsala Golf:

• Scrub and shrub vegetation: 0.05 ha; of National Importance
• Wetlands: 10 ha; of National Importance
• Open water features: 3.5 ha; of Local Importance
• Heather and other dwarf shrub communities: 5 ha; of Local Importance

Hirsala Golf has undertaken the following activities to improve the landscape ecology of the site:

• Create new habitat corridors
• Introduce a policy to avoid habitat fragmentation

Species

Rare, protected and notable species occurring at Hirsala Golf [Latin names]:

• Dryocopus martius
• Tetrastes bonasia

Consultation

Hirsala Golf does consult with any nature conservation organisations.

Activities

Hirsala Golf has undertaken the following activities to enhance nature protection:

Activity	Description
Route proposals	Players are advised to certain routes, not to disturb the natural areas

Aims & Objectives

Hirsala Golf has the following key objectives for maximizing its ecological value:

• Preservation of the biodiversity

Landscape & Heritage

Before the construction of the golf course investigations concerning the areas scenery and landscape was made. As a result vegetation such as hazel trees, giant asps and deciduous trees were left untouched not to disrupt the original ecosystem. Rocks among other materials that would easily wear were also avoided and preserved. The fairways and service roads were located naturally on old fields that would not disrupt the scenery. Also the courses reservoirs are located so that the water is gathered by natural forces.

Designations

Hirsala Golf features the following landscape designations:

• Hazelgroves
• Swamps
• Juniper

Hirsala Golf 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
2000-03-09	Expected course environmental investigation

No archaeological or heritage surveys have been carried out at this site.

Consultation

Hirsala Golf does not consult with organisations responsible for landscape and cultural heritage issues.

Activities

Hirsala Golf undertakes the following activities to enhance landscape and cultural heritage:

Activity	Description
Carefull investigation of the ecosystem	All important objects mentioned in the investigation was taken into consideration and preserve

Aims & Objectives

Hirsala Golf has the following key objectives for conserving or enhancing its landscape and cultural heritage value:

• None disruption of the natural ecosystem

Water

We use public water for all activities except for irrigation. Our irrigation system has been designed to be so detailed that we can achieve the target of managing the grass conditions in various climate conditions with ease and this can be done so that it will end up saving water, which in turn ends up being very economical to us.
The water for irrigation comes from our own reservoirs and consists mainly of rain water. Proper timing and placement of irrigation is central to improve course quality and energy efficiency.

Consumption

Water sources

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

Water consumption (m3)

	2009
Clubhouse	727
Golf Courses	22000
Accommodation	N/A
Maintenance facility	104
Other	N/A

Irrigation

The following areas are irrigated:

Area name	Approx. Hectarage
Greens	1.2 ha
Tees	0.8 ha
Fairways	15 ha
Semi-rough	2 ha
Rough	2 ha
Garden	0.5 ha

Hirsala Golf irrigation system is Fully computer controlled.

This irrigation system is serviced every 1 months.

This irrigation system is upgraded every 1 years.

This irrigation system is calibrated every 1 years.

Hirsala Golf do not incorporate evapotranspiration rates and weather data into their irrigation programme.

Hirsala Golf monitors soil water content to minimise irrigation and improve turf quality.

Analysis

Hirsala Golf undertakes environmental monitoring of water quality.

	Chemical	Biological	Last Test Date	Tester
Inflow	Yes	No	2010-05-31	Harris, Analync
On-site	Yes	No	2010-05-31	Harris, Analync
Outflow	Yes	No	2010-05-31	Harris, Analync

The key findings of these tests were:

Magnesium, phosphate ang nitrate levels are low. Zinc and boron levels are too low. The only problematic substance is iron which level is very high.

Activities

Hirsala Golf has undertaken the following activities to conserve / reduce / minimise water consumption:

• Irrigate in the evenings
• De-compact the soil
• Grass species selection
• Regular inspections for irrigation system leaks
• Soil moisture analysis
• Use of wetting agents
• Timing of fertilizing

Hirsala Golf undertakes the following activities to protect and enhance water quality:

• Maintain vegetative buffers
• No spray zones
• Erosion control
• Pest and disease tolerant grass selection
• Informed selection of fertiliser type
• Informed selection of pesticides (least toxic, least persistent)

Aims & Objectives

Hirsala Golf has the following key objectives for conserving water quality and minimizing water consumption:

• Minimum use of pesticides
• Efficient irrigation system

Turf

Our grass varieties have been carefully selected whit high quality demands. It is extremely important that the grass varieties are particularly wear-tolerant, manages well under various climate and environmental pressure (e. cold winters, drought and amount of sun), has good resistance against diseases and adapts well to low irrigation and nutrient rates.

Hirsala Golf maintains the following turfgrass species:

Greens

• Creeping bent (Agrostis stolonifera)
• Fescue (Festuca rubra)

Surrounds & Approaches

• Smooth-stalked Meadow-grass / Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis)
• Fescue (Festuca rubra)

Tees

• Smooth-stalked Meadow-grass / Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis)
• Fescue (Festuca rubra)

Fairways

• Smooth-stalked Meadow-grass / Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis)
• Fescue (Festuca rubra)

Semi-rough

• Smooth-stalked Meadow-grass / Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis)
• Fescue (Festuca rubra)

Hirsala Golf regularly undertakes the following practices to improve turf health:

• Top Dressing - 4 times per year
• Micro Tining - 5 times per year
• Scarification - 60 times per year
• Verticutting - 1 times per year
• Deep Anti Compaction - 1 times per year
• Rolling - 30 times per year

Nutrition

Fertilize programme based on soilanalyses and turf nutrition requirement

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

• Greens
• Tees
• Fairways
• Semi-rough
• Rough

The nutrition programme at Hirsala Golf is informed by:

• Soil Analysis
• Visual Appearance
• Sward Density
• Rooting Depth

Fertiliser use in 2009

	Nitrogen (kg/year)	Phosphate (kg/year)	Potassium (kg/year)
Greens & surround	308	97	278
Tees	189	81	81
Fairways	1016	313	1350
Semi Rough	1016	313	1350
Rough	1016	313	1350

Hirsala Golf has no further fertiliser data.

Pest & Disease Control

Pesticides are only used when noted necessary
Snow mold is prevented buy fungicides

Pesticide use:

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

Hirsala Golf keeps detailed records of pesticide application.

Pesticide use in 2009

	Fungicide		Herbicide		Insecticide
	Active ingredient	kg	Active ingredient	kg	Active ingredient	kg
Greens & Surrounds	Propikonatsoli		-		-
	Prokloratsi
Tees	-		-		-
Fairways	-		-		-
Rough	-		MCPA/ Fluroksipyyri	10	-

Hirsala Golf has no further pesticide data.

Thresholds for using pesticides at Hirsala Golf:

On evidence of actual damage

Hirsala Golf selects pesticides with the following attributes:

• Toxicity - Low
• Persistence - High
• Solubility - High
• Specificty - High

Scouting at Hirsala Golf:

	Frequency / month	Scout
Greens	25	Deputy Superintendent
Tees	12	Greenstaff
Fairways	12	Greenstaff
Semi Rough	12	Greenstaff

Activites

Hirsala Golf undertakes the following activities to minimise / reduce pesticide use:

Activity	Description
Carefull selection of turf species	Selection of turf species that are tolarent against cold and draught climate
Optimizing irrigation use and timing	Exact irrigation and timing will minimize the risk of turf diseases
Good greenkeeping	Good care taking and conduction will minimize the risk of tuft diseases

Aims & Objectives

Hirsala Golf has the following key objectives for achieving high quality playing surfaces in an environmentally responsible manner:

• Good, responsible greenkeeping

Waste

In the year 2010 the entire waste handling was renewed when an agreement with Lassila&tikanoja, a major wastehandling and recycle contractor was made. As a result all waste practice is performed under right circumstances and according to national laws. All personell are required to get acquainted with the terms and improved informative signspots have been added. Also new improved container arrangements have been made to relieve the sorting of waste.

Management

Waste streams for Hirsala Golf

	Avoid	Re-use	Recycle	Landfill	Incineration	Registered Uplift	2009 Totals (kg)
Glass	No	No	Yes	No	No	No	0
Plastic	No	No	Yes	No	No	No	0
Aluminium	No	No	Yes	No	No	No	0
Metal	No	No	Yes	No	No	No	0
Paper	No	No	Yes	No	No	No	0
Cardboard	No	No	Yes	No	No	No	0
Electrical	No	No	Yes	No	No	No	0
Grass Clippings	No	No	Yes	Yes	No	No	0
Cores	Yes	No	No	No	No	No	0
Turf	No	Yes	No	No	No	No	0
Sand	No	Yes	No	No	No	No	0
Wood / Timber	No	No	No	No	Yes	Yes	0
Leaves	No	No	Yes	No	No	No	0
Detergents	Yes	No	No	No	No	No	0
Cooking Oils	No	No	No	No	No	Yes	0
Lubricants	No	No	No	No	No	Yes	0
Pesticide Containers	No	No	No	No	No	Yes	0
Fertiliser Bags	No	No	No	No	No	Yes	0
Oil Filters	No	No	No	No	No	Yes	0
Batteries	No	No	No	No	No	Yes	0

Hirsala Golf has secure storage for hazardous material.

Fuel containers with doublewrapping
Pesticide storage according to law

Surveys

Hirsala Golf has not undertaken a waste audit.

Waste Water

Hirsala Golf manages its water as follows:

	Discharges to:	Legally Compliant?	Formal Discharge Agreement
Clubhouse	Mains Sewer	Yes	N/A
Accommodation	N/A	No	N/A
Maintenance Facility	Mains Sewer	Yes	N/A
Wash Pad	Mains Sewer	Yes	N/A

Activities

Hirsala Golf undertakes the following activities to reduce resource consumption or minimise waste:

Collaboration with professional wastehandling company

• New agreement 2010-2012 with Lassila&Tikanoja, a major professional wastehandling contranctor.

Minimazation of paper use

• Striving towards a paperless office

Reuse of biowaste

• All grass clippings and leaves are composted and used as nourishment

Aims & Objectives

Hirsala Golf has the following key objectives for reducing, re-using and recycling waste, and minimizing resource consumption at source:

• Proper sorting and wastehandling
• Paperless office
• Ecofertilizers, made by ourselves

Energy

As a new course the facilities are equipped with new economical technology. All activity from the clubhouse, lamps, sauna stoves and computers are new and energy efficient. Also the restaurant is furnished with the newest equipment cutting down on energy use. However the cold climate makes it difficult to cut down the heating, which is our main source of energy consumption. Therefore we have planned to install heath pumps in the year 2011 to cut down the present energy use making it possible for us to achieve efficient energy consumption.

Consumption

Energy and fuel use in 2009

• Electricity - 440208 Kwh
• Gas - 1 Cubic Metres
• Diesel - 9000 Litres
• Petrol - 600 Litres
• Hydralic Oil - 150 Litres
• Propane - 600 Litres

Hirsala Golf has not taken any measures to diversify energy or fuel supply.

Surveys

Hirsala Golf has not undertaken an Energy Audit.

Carbon

Hirsala Golf has not begun to carbon footprint its operations.

Purchasing Policy and Sustainable Supply Chains

Hirsala Golf does not inform suppliers of its environmental preferences.

Purchasing policy for Hirsala Golf

(1 = not important; 5 = very important)

• Performance Quality - 5
• Price - 5
• Supplier Service - 5
• Durability - 5
• Energy Efficiency - 4
• Recycleability - 5
• Pollution Risk - 4
• Packaging - 4
• Disposability - 5
• Local Produce - 2

Activities

Activities undertaken to record energy consumption:

• Monthly recoring and evaluation

Activities undertaken to reduce energy consumption:

• No air condition in the facilities
• Lowering of the facilities temperature during winter

Green purchasing activities undertaken:

• New energy efficient technology
• Heatpumps are to be installed in the year 2011

Departments involved in energy saving activities:

• Greenkeeping, Office, Restaurant, Pro Shop

Aims & Objectives

Hirsala Golf has the following key objectives for reducing energy use and moving towards cleaner and renewable energy supplies:

• Cutting down our carbon footprint

Education & Awareness

Knowledge

Employees of Hirsala Golf receive the following formal and informal environmental education:

• Pesticide storage, application and disposal
• Emergencies / accident management
• Habitat and vegetation management
• Waste minimisation, separation and recycling
• Health and safety
• Energy
• Emergency incident plan
• First aid education
• Employment safety, health examinations

Hirsala Golf keeps formal staff training records for these departments:

• Greenkeeping
• Administrative

Hirsala Golf keeps the following record of accidents in the workplace:

• Type

Response plans for accidents and emergency situations at Hirsala Golf

Hirsala Golf has a rescue plan that everybody is to follow in an emergency

Communications

Hirsala Golf undertakes the following internal environmental communications:

• Newsletters

The most successful internal communications project at Hirsala Golf has been:

Environmental management meeting

Hirsala Golf undertakes the following external environmental communications:

• Website

The most successful external communications project at Hirsala Golf has been:

Posting of the GEO participation on our website

Partnerships

Hirsala Golf works with the following external groups:

• Neighbours
• Local government
• Authorities

The most successful partnership project at Hirsala Golf has been:

None so far

Aims & Objectives

Hirsala Golf has the following key objectives for educating and raising environmental awareness amongst staff and golfers:

• Knowledge

Management Planning

Environmental Policy (PDF)

Ympäristöpolitiikka.pdf

Environmental Management Plan

Hirsala Golf has an Environmental Management Plan covering:

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

The Management plan was first introduced: 2010-07-31

Hirsala Golf review the management plan every:

• 12 Months

Hirsala Golf monitor the progress of the scheme as follows:

By samples

Working Group

Hirsala Golf has an environmental working group, comprising the following individuals/organisations:

• Owner
• General Manager
• Course Manager

Accreditation

Hirsala Golf does not belong to any other accreditation or award schemes.

Key national environmental legislation with which Hirsala Golf complies:

• Ympäristösuojelulaki, maaperänsuojelulainsäädäntö, ympäristövahinkolainsäädäntö, lintudirektiivi, luontodirektiivi

• Vesien- ja merensuojelulainsäädäntö, koskiensuojelulaki

• Jätelainsäädäntö

• Kemikaalilainsäädäntö

• lmansuojelulainsäädäntö

Aims & Objectives

Hirsala Golf has the following key objectives for effectively planning its proactive and long-term environmental management:

• Working for a sustainable and diversify surrounding to play golf in

Verifier

• Kari Mattila