The Latest from The R&A s Sustainability Programme Danish Greenkeepers Conference 9 November 2010

Transcription

1 The Latest from The R&A s Sustainability Programme Danish Greenkeepers Conference 9 November 2010

2 Contents 1. Sustainability 2. Identifying the target audience 3. The new R&A course management website 4. Health Check & Health Tracker 5. The DGU Green Audit 6. Summary Golf Course Committee

3 Sustainability Optimising the playing quality of the golf course in harmony with the conservation of its natural environment under economically sound and socially responsible management.

4 Sustainability: the Journey

5 The primary asset?

6 The primary asset?

7 Golf Course Committee

8 Sustainability: the four parameters Playing Performance Economic Performance Environmental Stewardship Social Responsibility But who to address?

9 Sustainability: who should we be addressing? How do we get the attention of the people who can initiate and drive change?

10 Greenkeepers Work with the land Habitat management Agronomy however Frustrations Restrictions Pressures

11 Golfers Are they interested? Can be poorly informed Difficult to reach Influential but not decision makers

12 Sustainability: the change Strategy Policy Direction Resourcing Good information

13 The need to record, monitor and review? Assess value of management regimes Return on investment and value for money Environmental regulation Social perception Impact on playing performance Continuity Informed decision making Job satisfaction Communication

14 Sustainability: who should we be addressing? The Decision Maker? Owner Board/committee member General manager Club manager/secretary Course manager/head greenkeeper/ superintendent Contract management company

15 Sustainability: inspiring uptake Encouraging Supporting

16

17 Golf Course Committee

18 Our goals To provide a data capture service To provide worked examples To promote best practice

19 HOME HEALTH CHECK AND HEALTH TRACKER SUSTAINABILITY MAP THE GOLF COURSE PLAYING PERFORMANCE ECONOMIC PERFORMANCE ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY KNOWLEDGE CENTRE OBJECTIVE MEASUREMENT INCOME ECOSYSTEMS ENERGY EFFICIENCY NEWS GOLFER EXPECTATION HUMAN RESOURCES WATER RESOURCES WASTE MANAGEMENT CASE STUDIES DESIGN MATERIALS PESTICIDES WATER MANAGEMENT SUSTAINABILITY MAP TURF MANAGEMENT MACHINERY FERTILISERS NATURE DOWNLOADS AND FREE PUBLICATIONS CLIMATE CHANGE POLLUTION COMMUNITY

20 Health Check A simple, 5-minute questionnaire Only 6 questions Multiple choice answers No need to search for data Covers four parameters of sustainability Provides a score and position on the sustainability ladder Register for the next step and you can print off an R&A logoed score sheet

21 Health Tracker Much simplified process Only annual input Focus on the business of course management Most information available from club balance sheet All four sustainability parameters covered 10 questions Useful outcomes to measure where you are now and your progress over the years

22

23 Function Playing performance number of rounds days of green and course closure dominant grass type for greens and fairways

24 Function Economic performance annual income from the course annual expenditure on the course (materials, human resources and machinery) time spent maintaining greens, fairways, bunkers, etc

25 Function Environmental stewardship habitat types on the course implementation of management plans

26 Function Social responsibility Cost of energy used on the course Cost of uplifting waste from golf course operations

27 Outcomes Materials spend water 22% 25% wetting agent fertiliser fungicide 4% 16% 13% 2% herbicide insecticide 5% 5% 8% top dressing growth regulator bunker sand

28 Benefits Provision of: 1) a means to record management activities over time and assess the impact of any changes 2) a means to objectively assess how management routines are affecting the playing quality of the course surfaces over time 3) a means to assess return on investment and value for money 4) a means to record use of water and chemicals and demonstrate compliance with increasingly stringent legislation regulations 5) an aid to informed and strategic decision making

29 Usability Simplicity Accessibility Value

30 Usability User input during development and testing on Beta site Use of statistics to monitor visitor journeys Interactive communication with users Regular review

31 The Green Audit R&A engagement in 2008 with offer to DGU to develop on benchmarking site Initial roll out for 2009 Audit Review Revision

32

33

34

35 Benefits Online Secure The necessary information Consistent reporting Easy to collate

36 Summary Initiate continued progress and uptake of sustainability Reaching the people with the ability to make change The internet The Green Audit Demonstrate benefits Inform, persuade and support

37