Who Is TurfScout?

Recently Turfhugger learned of a company called TurfScout. So I asked Darryl James of Arbor Turf Solutions (Turfhugger.com's "Irrigation Guru") to give Yale Leiden, President at TurfScout LLC, a call to find out more. Check out the interview Below.

The Celtic Manor Resort - Environmental Policy

Celtic Manor will be hosting this years Ryder Cup in early October and there's a lot of environmental buzz surrounding the event. We'll be posting links to articles, interviews and case studies as we get close to the event, in the mean time here is a copy of the Celtic Manors Environmental Policy which includes info on their Carbon Management Programme, the recent Building of the course and Future Commitments. Celtic Manor is registered in the Golf Environment Organisation's on-line certification programme click here to see the certification.

The Green Ryder Cup, are you ready golf?

I'm sure you've heard about the Ryder Cups efforts to host the greenest sporting event of all time, but just in case you haven't be sure to watch this video featuring Jonathan Smith of Golf Environment Organisation.

2010 Deutsche Bank Championship - A PR Case Study

I've seen quite a few articles describing the green efforts at this weekends PGA events at TPC Boston. Although I was impressed to see the following initiatives on the events website (even though some of them have nothing to do with golf) I couldn't help but notice they left out a number of accomplishments and initiatives that should have  been the main focus.

Golf Channel: Water Conservation

Rain Gardens - FYI

I'm trying to track down some more info about this specific project, but for now here is the press release and a quick excerpt:

Construction will begin in mid-September on a new garden that will capture stormwater runoff coming from downspouts and pavement around the clubhouse and pro shop at county-owned Saxon Woods Golf Course in Scarsdale. 
Plants and soil in this “rain garden” will filter out many of the pollutants commonly found in runoff before they enter water supplies.

The construction, scheduled to last about a week, is not expected to disrupt golf play or activities at the clubhouse and pro shop. The rain garden will be built in an area now partially covered by asphalt

pavement, which will be torn up to accommodate the garden.

Water Restrictions Through Permitting

In North-East and Central Florida the St. John's River Water Management District is responsible for managing water resources under the Water Resources Act. Recently amendments have been proposed to the current permitting rules, below is an excerpt explaining what will now be required by golf courses in the region.

According to the press release: As part of the proposed changes, applicants for ERPs for projects that include irrigated landscape, golf courses or recreational areas would be required to develop and implement a water conservation plan.
The water conservation plan would include a water conservation-based irrigation plan, which would:
* Require separate irrigation zones for turf and non-turf areas
* Limit the use of high volume irrigation to no more than 60 percent of the landscaped area on a residential or commercial lot
* Require measures to increase the efficiency of irrigation systems

Arizona Drinking Water: Ok for Ski hills, but not Golf!

Drinking water for irrigation of golf courses is a tough sell anywhere you go. Personally, I believe it should be for Ski hills too despite the threats of lawsuits. "Don't eat the grey snow" I say.