The Venice Golf and Country Club

Facility Details

The Venice Golf and Country Club is a private golf facility comprising:

Courses

• Venice Golf and Country Club (18 holes, 6747 Yards, Year of opening: 1991)

Clubhouses

• Venice Golf and Country Club, Year of opening: 1991

Maintenance Facilities

• Resource Preservation Center

Other

• Pro Shop
• Facilities
• Fitness Center, Swimming Pool Facility

Landscape & Ecosystems

The Venice Golf and Country Club is a residential community with an 18 hole golf course, clubhouse facilities, tennis courts, swimming pool, fitness center and driving range. The entire property is approximately 500 acres and was developed with many natural elements in place. We have 13 wetland preserves consisting of approximately 52 acres and nearly 12 acres of deciduous and mixed forest upland preserves with varies degrees of understory. Each wetland is surrounded by a buffer area. Sarasota County is the enforcement agency for the buffers and Southwest Florida Water Management District is the enforcement agency for the wetlands. These preserves are designated by Sarasota County and Southwest Florida Water Management District. We have a third party environmental maintenance company monitoring these areas for invasive plants. Several years ago we undertook a massive project with a cost of several hundred thousand dollars to restore these areas to their natural state. That was an interesting project to get approval for since we had to get approval from two different governmental entities. Of course we were not required to do this work so it was looked on very favorably by both and ultimately approved. Since the community was developed the wetlands were overrun with invasive exotic plants which negatively impacted the local flora and fauna communities along with negatively impacting the enjoyment of golf. Brazilian Pepper Trees crowded out the native vegetation and created a nuisance for golfers. Malalueca trees were proliferating in the wetlands and drying them out. We contracted Earth Balance Environmental company to remove the exotics and plant native species. This project was completed in 2005. Since that time we have seen dramatic improvement in the diversity of wildlife and plant communities. The native plants that we installed were wax myrtle, beauty berry, wild coffee, sable palm, slash pine, Florida maple, sand cord grass, fakahatchee grass, live oak, and native seed mix. We also installed wetland plants such as pickerel weed, canna and others.

We provided a smooth transition between the finely groomed golf course and the adjacent wetland preserves by lining the edge of the preserve with clump grasses. This connected the golf course and the wetland into a cohesive interdependent unit. The golf course conditions are impeccable and the native systems look neat and orderly on the edges and wild and native beyond. Keeping golfers out of the preserves is a challenge. However, a strategically placed beware of poisonous snake sign will do wonders in keeping the unwanted human golf ball hunters out of the preserves.

We continue to utilize the services of several outside contractors that specialize in wetland management and lake management. Sarasota County Environmental Services is also our partner in developing action plans that will perpetuate the health of these native areas. Recently we signed a lease agreement with Sarasota County Solid Waste to utilize the closed landfill site for a nature trail. We have developed a five-year plan for the restoration of the upland areas to a native state. This will be a key wildlife corridor that will directly connect our internal preserves with the Myakka River. This river is lined with thousands of acres of land that is protected from any development. An environmental specialist from Sarasota County is assisting us in the development and implementation of this restoration plan. The county has agreed to lease the use of the property to the Club and we are paying for the restoration efforts. Our members love the environment and are willing to pay for the restoration and maintenance. That amazes me especially in today’s economy.

The turfgrass that is utilized on our tees, fairways and roughs is Tifway 419 hybrid Bermuda. Our greens are Tif Eagle Bermuda. There are several shaded locations were Celebration Bermuda is used because it is more shade tolerant. This summer we will be experimenting with Tif Grand Bermuda in the shadier areas. Our Clubhouse grounds are St. Augustine grass however, we are slowly converting to Zoysia grass due to it resistance to cinch bugs and other pests. Zoysia requires much less inputs of pesticides and fertilizers. It does require more frequent fungicide applications. Most of the reduction in turf grass coverage occurred several years ago. There still are a few opportunities near some preserves where we intend to plant plots of wildflowers. Many of the upland areas are not conducive to grass due to shade and roots. These areas have been mulched or pine straw has been installed. Additionally, a large expanse of turf in front of the Clubhouse is being converted into a sensory garden area. The turf will be replaced with shrubs and other woody plants thus reducing the inputs. Our goal is to make this a show piece tropical setting with meandering pathways, benches and excellent examples of beautiful tropical plants. This conversion will reduce the amount of irrigation water, fertilizer and pesticides necessary for maintenance in comparison to the turf grass..

There have been sightings of the very rare endangered Florida Panther strolling through our property several times over the last few years. We have an active nesting pair of the endangered Sand Hill Crane for the last 5 years. The most evident creatures are the water fowl which includes several species of cranes, herons, egrets, diving ducks, wood storks, and spoonbills. We also having a pair of barred owls that produce offspring each spring in an upland preserve near our fitness center (noisy creatures). The birds of prey include the endangered American Bald Eagle, Red Shouldered Hawk and the Osprey. There are so many other bird species on the property. We typically have one or two families of Bobcats that travel our preserves in search of the rabbits and squirrels and other varmint such as raccoon, armadillos, and opossum. The fresh water otters traverse our waters and can appear in any lake. Of course they do need to be careful of the Florida Alligators. There are plenty of turtle species and several snake species which include the Water Moccasin, Diamond Back Rattlesnake, Pigmy Rattlesnake, Corral Snake, Black Snake and several others. We have installed several bat houses to keep the mosquito populations down. This also helps to keep the bats out of the residents’ homes.

The lakes are teaming with wildlife including some very big largemouth bass. We have a catch and release policy for largemouth bass for all of our waterways. The main species of fish however is Blue Tilapia which proliferates in these waters. Blue Tilapia have spread throughout Florida, in both freshwater and brackish environments. They create large nest craters in shallow waters about 2 feet (0.61 m) wide, visibly altering native plant communities and impeding the spawning of native fishes. As a matter of fact we must harvest a great deal of them each year to keep our water plant communities healthy. These fish are then sold to cat food manufacturer. The birds, turtles, otters and alligators certainly make it difficult to concentrate on your golf shots.

Consultation & Surveys

The Venice Golf and Country Club does not monitor any species as indicators of environmental quality.

Habitats & Designations

The Venice Golf and Country Club does not feature any landscape designations.

Turfgrass

These turfgrasses are optimal for the circumstances at The Venice Golf and Country Club because:

The brutal summer heat and humidity requires us to use hot season grasses. They are resistent to many pests and the heat. We utilize Celebration Bermuda in more shaded areas of the golf course to provide more turf coverage. The TifEagle greens are conducive to high greens speeds, which are maintained at 10-10.5 on the stimp meter. The TifEagle tolerates much lower mowing heights. Nitrogen needs are less than Tifdwarf due to increased density making it a better choice for VGCC. Heavy infrequent irrigation is preferable to frequent light irrigation to encourage deep rooting. The TifEagle root-zone can become hydrophobic because of its density so staff use periodic applications of wetting agents to help lessen these hydrophobic conditions.

Bermuda grass has dense turf with thin blades that can be cut down to as low as two centimetres, which makes it perfectly suited for golf courses. Bermuda grass stands up to traffic very well as long as it is kept in full sunlight. It requires moderate watering every four to five days. Bermuda grass germinates quickly and grows quickly, so it is very self-sustaining. Bermuda grass stands are very resistant to weeds which reduces need for herbicides. It has excellent heat and drought tolerance and goes dormant in winter requiring less maintenance. The Tifway 419 Bermuda has a dark green colour and exhibits an excellent recovery from traffic and injury.

Conservation & Enhancement

Water

The water wars have already begun around the world. Most people think that Florida has plenty of water resources and we do. The only problem with that statement is that the water resources are not the correct type of water that can be utilized for the needs of mankind. The Club identified the need to establish a long term source for irrigation water in 2003. At that time we were utilizing primarily effluent water from the Venice plant. This was the lowest quality of water available to us at the time. We have a water consumptive use permit that is issued by the Southwest Florida Water Management District. This requires monthly reporting of water use for irrigation purposes. We also abide by the restrictions that are mandated during drought conditions.

The Club is entirely situated in the Myakka River watershed in Sarasota County, Florida. The borders of the Club are adjacent to three other distinctive watersheds. We have no water entering the property from outside the community. In essence we are at the top of the watershed which provides us the opportunity to control our own destiny as it relates to water resources. Our property is approximately 500 acres consisting of a carefully planned storm water system consisting of 26 detention ponds at various elevations. This was designed to increase the resident time of storm water in each series of lakes to maximize the nutrient and contaminant uptake by the plants. The lakes are monitored on a monthly basis for invasive plants, algae and water quality tests are performed. The littoral shelves are properly maintained which provides great cover for our bird populations. These lakes were carefully planned to protect the 13 wetlands that are located on the property. We practice watershed management and incorporate it into our maintenance practices.

In 2005 the Club signed an agreement with Sarasota County, Florida Department of Environmental Protection, and Southwest Florida Water Management District to alter our water resource permit. The goal of this was to secure a long range irrigation water source for the Club. The outcome of this modification is positive for all parties involved. The adjacent closed Sarasota County landfill site has a 44 acre lake (borrow pit) that was 1.5 lower elevation than our lowest lake water level. Our property’s lakes and the County both drained into a canal that flows to the Myakka River. Through hundreds of meetings with several government entities we were able to come to an agreement that benefits the environment significantly. It was a complex project and the outcome exceeds our expectations.

The concept is simple. We raised the weir on the County Lake 12 inches. We installed a new outfall from the community lake system that discharges storm water into the County Lake. In essence we are using 12”-18”of what used to be air space to store our storm water. This water is then pumped back to our community and distributed through our irrigation system. We are using the lowest quality source of water to irrigate, storm water. Our secondary source in effluent and tertiary source is a well. The nutrients and contaminants are distributed to the turf grass which uptakes these elements thus preventing them from being discharged into the Myakka River watershed, Charlotte Harbor and ultimately into the Gulf of Mexico. Through water testing and analysis of gallons pumped our consultant determined that approximately 4000 pounds of nitrogen is removed from the storm water on an annual basis by our turf grass. We have eliminated the dependence on well water and have reduced our dependence on effluent water to only the most extreme drought conditions. This has made more effluent water available to other customers in the area which has also reduced their dependence on ground water. Over 99% of all of the irrigation water that we use today is storm water runoff.

We currently irrigate 130 acres of fairways, rough and common area turf. We have 10 acres of tees and greens and 45 acres of landscaping which includes a 50 home community. We have flow meters installed on the transfer pump from the County Lake, the primary irrigation station, the effluent source, the neighborhood lateral, the deep well source and on our landscape line. This is in addition to the flow data that is recorded on our irrigation software located in the golf course superintendent’s office. Our consumptive use permit allows 168 million gallons of irrigation water. However, we are given credits for using the storm water and effluent water thus adding how much water we are authorized to use. In this case more is better due to the positive environmental impacts. Our consumption varies due to climatic conditions. In Florida we are either in the rainy season or the dry season. We irrigate accordingly. A typical year for us is 180 million gallons pumped plus or minus 20 million depending on the annual rainfall distribution.

We aggressively reduced our acreage of coverage a few years ago with our Audubon International Certification analysis. We continue to look to reduce turf areas where possible and install plants and shrubs that require much less inputs. The clubhouse grounds have been fitted with a combination of drip line irrigation and micro irrigation where possible. Rain sensors are installed on all control boxes located throughout the community. We also evaluate the feasibility of replacing hard surfaces with permeable surfaces when a repair or upgrade is required thus reducing runoff.

The irrigation central computer utilizes the Rain Bird Nimbus II software. This provides two way radio controls to all of the field control stations. Each irrigation head is programmed with a specific run time. Slopes for example may dictate shorter runs times with more frequency to minimize runoff. Hot spot programs were developed to irrigate only the areas in need of water instead of entire fairways. Field inspections have further improved the efficiency of the programs and initiated the development of several more. We know how much water went to which head on a daily basis. We make adjustments as the conditions in the field dictate. We are currently changing many of the 1990’s irrigation heads to more efficient heads that provide better coverage and reduce the water consumption. We have replaced approximately 10% of our Toro 690s this year already. Another method we use is to set up temporary irrigation zones to establish native planting beds. Once the plants are established we abandon the irrigation. We have identified a total irrigation system upgrade in 6 years. This will significantly improve our irrigation coverage and also reduce the amount of water required.

This past year we over-seeded the golf course with winter rye grass which is much more thirsty than semi-dormant Bermuda grass. We have been battling week rough areas that were negatively effected by our low rainfall over the past few years. We actually went into level 2 and level 3 water restrictions from Southwest Florida Water management District due to the low rainfall amounts the last few years. We were able to get through this period with our storm water irrigation system without the use of groundwater withdrawal.

Water is the single most important input for a golf course. We recognize this fact and manage this resource to the best of our abilities. We take pride our responsible approach to watershed management. We work closely with the home owners, homeowner associations and contracted maintenance companies to minimize potential leaching and fertilizer runoff into the water ways. All are very cooperative and engaged in maintaining a very sustainable water resource.

Sources & Consumption

No water audits have been undertaken at The Venice Golf and Country Club.

Irrigation & Efficiency

The irrigation system at The Venice Golf and Country Club is:

Fully computer controlled

Energy & Resources

This has been a focus for several years at this Club. Our primary area of interest is how can we reduce our electrical consumption and thus lower our electrical bills. A significant practice is that capital investments are being made to reduce operational expenses. The first few years we picked the lowest fruit that had the shortest payback of the initial investment in the form of reduced operating expenses. Each capital purchase for the replacement of a current asset is thoroughly investigated to make sure the most economical and sustainable replacement is made. The most economical doesn’t necessarily mean the cheapest purchase price. The savings in energy inputs over the next ten years are considered in the purchasing decisions.

The swimming pool and spa originally had heat pumps that drew the heat from the air and transferred it into the pools. These were very inefficient and were not capable of providing enough BTUs in cold temperatures. When it came time to replace these heat pumps we converted the heating system to a series of geothermal heat pumps. Our ground water is 77 degrees year round even when the air temperatures are very low. The result was a significant improvement in the temperature range of the pool water even in the coldest of conditions. It is rare that our pools deviate more than three degrees at any given time. A geothermal heat pump actually takes the heat from the pool water and transfers it to the spa. In the summer months this does help cool the pool water to a more comfortable temperature while providing the spa with the desired temperature of 104 degrees. It is difficult to determine the exact savings in electrical costs because the meters control many other areas. However, when these geothermal heat pumps were installed we immediately experienced a $200 a month decrease in our electrical bill in that particular area.

The Club was built in the early 1990s and many of the mechanic components are nearing the end of their useful lives. Examples of this are the hot water heaters in the Clubhouse. A few years ago we remodeled our Clubhouse and removed the locker room and the showers in both the ladies and men’s bathrooms to make room for other functional space. We needed to replace our hot water heater and our plumber suggested the exact size that was originally in place. I suggested that we re-evaluate the load which was done and the heater was downsized significantly. The kitchen hot water was supplied by a 500,000 BTU propane boiler and was in need of replacement. Again the plumbing companies recommended simply replacing it with a more current model with the same specifications. Upon thorough review we decided to take advantage of old technology used in a different manner. We have many air conditioning units and refrigeration units that utilize compressors that must get rid of heat. We captured this heat by running the hot gasses generated by the compressors through a series of five Zero Energy Hot Water Generators. The generators have no moving parts and require no maintenance. The hot gas pipes are wrapped around the water pipes which enables heat to transfer into the water from the air conditioning and freezer units. The end result is that we have water heated to 170 degrees for free. This process has worked so well it necessitated that we install tempering valves on all sinks. During cold weather the freezers still generate heat however; we do have a 100,000 BTU water heater to meet our needs in the kitchen. The savings in energy usage has resulted in a reduction of propane costs byapproximately $200 per month during the cooling months. In 2004 we built a fitness center for our members and realized that a hot water heater was not the best alternative to heat water for three hand sinks. We installed electrical instant heat devices under the sinks. Although more expensive upfront, we have saved plenty of energy over the last 7 years to more than pay for the initial costs.

As part of our Sarasota County Green Business Partnership an energy audit was required before certification. We have since had two additional energy audits conducted by Florida Power and Light. During the initial audit the HVAC electrical consumption was identified as the area that used the most electricity. Since the audit we continue to replace all condensers and air handlers with more efficient SEER rated units. Trane Company was contracted to install demand control ventilation system on the largest of our HVAC units. This system controls the makeup air damper based upon the occupancy in the rooms which is determined by the CO2 devices. When the rooms are not occupied the damper setting is open only 10% thus reducing the amount of outside air that must be conditioned and replaces it with the already cooled and dehumidified inside air. Additionally, a computer-controlled thermostat program was installed so the system will go to preset temperatures at specific times during the day and night. It is cooler when members are present and much warmer at night when nobody is utilizing the Club. This has reduced our Clubhouse electrical bill by approximately 15 –20%. A FPL rebate of $4,000 helped to defray the cost and we have already broken even on this capital investment. We will soonreplace our exhaust hoods in the kitchen and demand control ventilation will be installed. This would involve variable speed motors that increase or decrease based upon the amount of smoke or steam generated on the line. This will reduce the electrical consumption of the fan motors however; more importantly it will reduce the amount of conditioned air being exhausted thus reducing the load on the air conditioning systems.

The golf course irrigation main pump station was converted to variable drive electric motors that ramp up or down depending upon the demand for water. There are three 75 hp motors and they turn on one at a time depending upon the water demand. So instead of utilizing 225 hp for low demand we use one 75 hp motor that will operate at a lower speed. This saves electricity. This pump station was converted at the same time as our storm water recovery system in 2005. We have extended the life of our irrigation piping because the hammer effect is no longer present. The pumps slowly ramp up to meet demand which is much easier on the pipes and fittings in the field than being immediately slammed with the full force of 225 HP motors at one time.

Lighting is a hot topic in the news and environmental cycles. There is a great push towards CFLs and LED alternatives. We did convert many non-essential outdoor flood lamps to CFLs and some non-dining areas. We have found that these CFLs are not particularly suitable for Clubhouse applications due to the time that it takes to fully illuminate. We have since focused on the LED alternative. The light quality is superior to that of florescent lighting and they are more efficient not to mention they turn on immediately. The Club has replaced all the 175 – 400 watt metal halide parking lot and street lights throughout the entire 587 home community with 52 water LED lamps. The lumens to the ground are higher than the metal halide and the cost to operate and maintain the lamps is much lower. The payback is less than 3 years. One dining room was converted from incandescent flood lamps to LED a few months ago. There was no noticeable difference in the light emitted into the room. In fact not one member commented which is good, considering that we went from 120 watt floods to 18 watt LEDs. Amazing results! I have an additional two dozen 12 watt LEDs ordered to replace 100 watt metal halides in some outside areas. A complete lighting survey was recently completed for a full conversion to LEDs. Capital funding must be obtained from the Board. A recent aquatic center upgrade was done. We found that the cost to install LED landscape lighting was actually a bit less than incandescent due to the smaller gage wire and smaller transformers used in LED applications. Needless to say our new landscape lighting is fitted with LEDs. By the way they look great!

There are many other smaller energy saving devices that we utilize on a daily basis. Motion sensors are used on the golf course restrooms. The sensors turn the exhaust fan and lights on and off according to occupancy. Programmable thermostats are used in air conditioned buildings that are detached from the main Clubhouse. Office automation is also a way for us to reduce energy. One such example is electronic check capture system. We scan the members’ payment checks and transmit the data to a clearinghouse to transfer the funds into the Club accounts. We now make only a couple of trips to the bank a month as opposed to several each week. This saves fuel, time and mileage reimbursements. Of course we strive to reduce the amount of paper used in the Club by maximizing the use of the internet for sending messages, member statements, member newsletters, etc. The electric golf cart fleet is charged during nonpeak demand periods of time mainly at night. This will consume the same amount of electricity however it lowers our peak demand thus reducing our electrical bill. Biological agents are dispensed into our grease traps to break down the grease into water and waste. This practice has resulted in reducing pumping grease traps from once a month to once a quarter. This is a significant savings in septic pumping costs not to mention a reduction in the nasty fumes that are put off during the pumping process. The core implements of the maintenance fleet are updated every three years to insure the best quality of cut and the most efficient models available are utilized. We are currently evaluating the feasibility of purchasing electric walk greens mowers. The fleet is maintained at a high level to enhance the performance and dependability. We have a mix of electric and gas work carts to reduce fuel consumption.

As new technologies and lower energy alternatives become available we will seek to replace our equipment with them. We continue to monitor the feasibility of solar and hydroelectric alternatives. If the payback becomes reasonable we will make the change. After all sustainability is a balance of three factors not just the environment. Our members must embrace the change and it must also make financial sense to proceed. All of our capital decisions evaluate these three variables. When a healthy balance is present change is very easy. When one variable is out of balance caution must be taken. An example of this is the use of solar energy to become energy neutral. Yes it can be done however, the economics of doing so is out of balance. A twenty year payback is not financially feasible for a small private club. As this technology becomes cheaper it may make sense to pursue. However, this is not an option at this point in time.

There has been a small increase in total amount of Diesel fuel over the past season, this is in direct relation to our winter Rye Grass program which calls for the over seeding in the fall.

Sources & Consumption

The Venice Golf and Country Club does not consume any renewable energy or resources.

Energy Efficiency

Vehicles & Transport

Products & Supply Chains

Venice Golf and Country Club (VGCC) recognizes its responsibility to carry out its procurement activities in an environmentally and socially responsible manner. In accordance with our Environmental and Product Procurement Policy we will strive to incorporate environmental and social considerations into our product and service selection process.

The development of this policy was guided by the Ethical and Environmental Purchasing Guidelines created by the Golf Environment Organisation, The Environmental Preferable Purchasing Guidelines by the Environmental Protection Agency and the Sustainability Index of Out on a Limb.

- Purpose -
Consistent with VGCC's Environmental and Sustainability goals the purpose of this policy is to support and facilitate the purchase of products and materiel that minimize the harmful effects to the environment from their production, transportation, use and disposition.
It is VGCC's preference to purchase and use environmentally preferable products whenever they perform satisfactorily and can be acquired at similar total value (cost/quality).
A related purpose is to develop and implement common purchasing programs to be used by all VGCC personnel that support suppliers of environmentally preferable products, services and practices.


- Policies -
All VGCC personnel are encouraged to purchase environmentally preferable products. VGCC promotes the use of environmentally conscious suppliers by seeking and maintaining broad supplier contracts and product standards. The purchaser makes an effort to open contracts with suppliers and contractors that are sustainability leaders in their respective markets whenever practical. We seek to procure products and services using sustainability criteria that has been established by governmental and other widely recognized authorities.

GEOSA Scott J Morrison conducted a survey of the top ten suppliers and contractors from each department to see which companies currently had an environmental policy, waste reduction strategies, Eco Label products or services, and any other criteria related to our procurement policies. Out of the 28 surveyed, 8 responded with various levels of policies currently in place. This 28% of survey respondents returned impressive methods of greening their own supply chain and has therefore helped provide Venice Golf Club with more of an understanding of what their environmental footprint truly is.

To see our Product Procurement Policy, Letter to Service Providers and the results of our Supply Chain Surveys please follow this link: http://golf.ooal.ca/get-started/Venice-Golf-and-Country-Club

To see our Service Provider Survey go here: http://golf.ooal.ca/service-providers-survey

To see our Supplier Survey go here: http://golf.ooal.ca/suppliers

Purchasing Policies

Economic Multiplier

Turfgrass Inputs

Waste Management

No waste audits have been undertaken at The Venice Golf and Country Club.

Environmental Quality

Water management is an area that this Club takes very seriously. We have 26 interconnected lakes that are located at the top of our watershed. This gives us the ability to immediately identify and address any water quality issues immediately. We know that everything in our water system has originated within our golf community. A full scale water analysis for our storm water reservoir located on County property. These samples are pulled on a semiannual basis by water specialists. This includes tests for heavy metals and many other elements that are required by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection. These water samples are used to determine if anything is leaking out from the closed landfill. This test included inorganics (28 different compound tests), organics (45 different compound tests) and field observations. These tests have revealed that the water leaving our property is better quality than what we are pulling out of the reservoir. Thus our turf grass is improving the water quality. This reservoir also takes the runoff water from the 60 acre closed landfill. Our environmental consultant has created an algorithm to determine how much nitrogen is removed from the storm water reservoir by the gallons pumped for irrigation and the water analysis. His calculations have revealed that approximately 4,000 pounds of nitrogen is removed from the water each year by utilizing the water for irrigation instead of discharging this into the Myakka River.

We certainly know where all of the storm water leaves our property. We utilize the golf course as a collection swale for many of the resident’s backyards and roofs. Our turf grass acts as a giant water filter for storm water. Additionally, our wetlands absorb a great deal of rainwater through collection swales. All of the waste water that is created in the Clubhouse, Golf Shop, and restrooms is discharged into the sanitary sewer system. The golf maintenance facility utilizes a closed loop water wash down system to clean all equipment as it comes off the golf course. This system contains a drain with a sump pump that moves the wash water into a separator that removes solids and drops them into a wheelbarrow. We utilize these grass clippings to charge our mulch piles with the active bacteria. The remaining water is moved into a series of chambers that have agitation drums to stir the water and to maximize the effectiveness of the special species of bacteria that consume the contaminants. This system could effectively neutralize 55 gallons of fuel oil in a 24 hour period. The manufacturer states that you can drink the water once it makes one pass through the closed loop system. The bacteria in the wash water are so hungry that they were consuming the grease fittings and bearings on our mowers. This necessitated that we change to a different lubricant. This waste to reuse system does occasionally need water added to it due to evaporation however; it has saved a significant amount of water over the years and has eliminated any waste water being discharged into the environment. We operate this system under a permit issued by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection. We typically have FDEP surprise inspections 1 – 2 times per year. We are in full compliance. Additionally, we have a double walled fuel station that is located on this sloped concrete pad. In the event of a tank rupture the second tank would capture all of the spilled fuel. In the event that both tanks ruptured the wash down pad would contain the spill. No environmental contamination would occur. The bacteria in the closed loop water system would however have plenty to eat for dinner.

We built a mix and load station at our golf course maintenance facility to remove the possibility of non- targeted application of pesticides, herbicides or fungicides. This is a self contained room with a sloped floor with a large drain and sump at the low point. There are three tanks located overhead to store rinse water from our spray tanks. After each application we rinse the tanks out and pump the water to the overhead tank for use the next time this application is needed. Each chemical is carefully inventoried and meticulous record keeping is kept on each product. All of these products are in locked wire lockers after each use. We are very cognoscente of the consequences of discharging these products into a non-targeted location. We take great efforts to make sure the applications go where we want them to go. If there is product left over from a spray tank we do not just find a place to empty the tank on the golf course. We save it for the next application.

We have an excellent recycling program at the Club. We are a case study for the Sarasota County Green Business Partnership Program. The County funded a case study for the Florida Department of Environmental Protection that demonstrates our effective recycling efforts. We recycle just about everything that is reasonably feasible. Florescent bulbs, batteries, paints, electronics, etc. are taken to the county hazardous waste drop off site. Engine oils are kept in a recycle tank and are picked up periodically by an outside contractor. Of course, glass, paper, plastic, and metal are all recycled. Our cooking oils from the kitchen are picked up twice a month by a company that utilizes these oils for the production of bio fuel. We have an active mulch pile in our maintenance yard that we use for topsoil. The yard waste that is collected beyond our capacity to mulch is removed by a contractor that utilizes it to create rich black soil. He has many acres and he processes these materials into rich compost. We also buy many recycled products to use at our facility. One example is that we installed a product made from recycled car tires to create a smooth surface on our cart path bridges. We also installed the product on a concrete cart path to reduce dangerous golf ball bounce near a street.

Training of staff is the key to the success of any environmental plan. Each department takes great pride in our recycling efforts and coming up with new ideas all the time. The application of chemicals is only done by properly trained and licensed individuals who fully understand the environmental impacts of the treatments. All the maintenance staff is trained by our Superintendent about the negative impacts an action can have on our environment. They all take great pride that this Club is a leading example of environmental stewardship.
We have 26 lakes and 13 wetland preserves on the property. We also have several upland preserves. We restored all of the wetlands by removing invasive exotics and installing native flora. We provide a buffer between the highly manicured turf grass and the wetlands by installed a combination of wildflowers and sand cord grasses. It provides a seemless transistion. All of our water is monitored very closely as it relates to the wetlands.

Water Analysis

Waste Water

Hazardous Materials

Pollution Prevention

People & Communities

The Venice GCC has engaged in limited "PR" related to promoting itself as an environmental steward, however GM James Schell has been invited to speak at numerous events about his efforts to fellow businesses in Sarasota and Southern Florida. Staff are informed of environmental policies and asked to provide input to the "Green Team", a group of staff from each department to review and network on opportunities related to the environment, resource efficiency and environmental education.

Golf played a pivotal role in Sarasota's earliest beginnings, when a Scottish nobleman by the name of Sir John Gillespie purchased 60,000 acres of Florida wilderness - sight unseen, including the site of Sarasota in 1884. The decision to send his son, Colonel J. Hamilton Gillespie, to Sarasota in 1886 to manage his property, inadvertently helped set in motion events that would shape the future of the state as well as the area. Colonel Hamilton was a keen golfer, and he built an early golf course, a four-hole affair, which was later lengthened to nine holes. The dual appeal of golf and fishing set the tone for the state's popularity as a winter resort. Many locals still refer to Sarasota as the \"Cradle of Golf\" in the United States

Today, Sarasota County boasts more golf courses per capita than any other community in the world! Visitors from around the globe have come to tee it up and walk these fairways steeped in golfing history. The current British Course record is 62 set by a local lad, Paul Azinger, in 1980. Maybe your next round will be the new record. Enjoy and good golfing.

Employment & Education

Community Relations

Land Use & Cultural Heritage

No archaeological or heritage surveys have been undertaken at The Venice Golf and Country Club.

The Venice Golf and Country Club does not consult any organizations regarding the conservation of cultural heritage.

The Venice Golf and Country Club does not undertake any activities to conserve cultural heritage features.

Communications