Marriott raises eco-standards for golf

[Chip Gaskins]

Marriott raises eco-standards for golf

http://www.bizjournals.com/washington/stories/2008/03/17/daily15.html?ana=from_rss

Marriott Golf is requiring 34 of its managed golf courses in North America and the Caribbean to become Certified Audubon Cooperative Sanctuaries by the end of this year.

To be granted certification a golf facility is required to demonstrate that it is maintaining the highest degree of environmental quality in several areas including environmental planning, wildlife and habitat management, outreach and education, chemical use reduction and safety, water conservation and water quality management, a release from Marriott said.

The certification is part of a system wide commitment by Marriott International Inc. (NYSE: MAR) to promote environmental stewardship, the release said.

Marriott Golf is already operating six courses in accordance with the Audubon standards, including the Ritz-Carlton Members Club in Sarasota and four other Florida courses.

Marriott International's energy conservation measures include replacement of 450,000 light bulbs with fluorescent lighting, linen reuse programs and installation of 400,000 low-flow showerheads and toilets at its hotels worldwide. Marriott operates more than 3,000 lodgings in 69 countries and territories around the world.

Marriott Golf manages 62 golf courses at 46 locations in 13 countries.

[Adam Russell]

I guess this is a good thing, but the Audubon Certification should be something that is a bare minimum for a golf course operation. I see it as a corporate way to appeal to people, to say "see, we care, we're not out for money" with press releases. Its better than nothing, but it is not the best or  the highest degree to which you can plan and maintain a golf course. The Audubon Certification should become the standard for new course construction, not a stopping point honor. I wonder how many courses go beyond this? There is a great need to have a more strenuous LEED program similar to what standard architecture has now for golf course architecture and maintenance. I think a site such a this would be a great advocate for this, to push the boundaries of good design and environmental quality together. I for one, would love to lead the revolution. Now if I can only find a job...

[Garland Bayley]

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[Jason McNamara]

We'll see how far this eco-stuff goes when someone suggests that "hey, you could save a lot of electricity by encouraging your golfers to walk rather than take carts."   

[Wayne_Freedman]

This ecology 'stuff' is fairly important.
Everybody wants a free pr ride on the Green Bus.
That thing reads like a press release, but at least Marriott is doing something, and the Audibon Society is putting its name behind it.

But, green is expensive. The true test...when businesses sacrifice profits for the sake of prinicple.

More important for golfers...a change in the perception that courses  waste water and pollute the environment with fertilizers. In that regard, this is good.

[Mike_Young]

This ecology 'stuff' is fairly important.
Everybody wants a free pr ride on the Green Bus.
That thing reads like a press release, but at least Marriott is doing something, and the Audibon Society is putting its name behind it.

But, green is expensive. The true test...when businesses sacrifice profits for the sake of prinicple.

More important for golfers...a change in the perception that courses  waste water and pollute the environment with fertilizers. In that regard, this is good.

Wayne,
there is a lot of hype and PR involved with such an effort  but never think this has anything to do with the Audbon society

"What the Program Isn’t: Audubon International is not related in any way to the National Audubon Society. There are more than 500 Audubon groups operating in the U.S.. Many of them are affiliates with, or are chapters of the National Audubon Society, but quite a few, such as Audubon International, are completely independent. "

[Adam Russell]

Wayne- Green is upfront expensive, but you only have to look at the profits from the partnerships of Ford and Nike with William McDonough to understand that green does not sacrifice profits. It is the biggest myth out there.

Audubon International or the Audubon Society has no business in the realm of golf course architecture or maintenance. They protect and preserve NATURAL ecosystems- which golf courses aren't.

The bar has to be set higher than it is right now for golf courses and their construction. There needs to be more acceptance and willingness to design in a sustainable way than currently exists.

[Mike_Young]

Adam,
Audubon Intl IS  there for golf courses whether defined as natural ecosystems or not....and golf courses can work for the betterment whter allied with Audubon Intl or not....AND I think very soon you will see some LEED directed golf projects.....w/o sounding selfpromoting I have seen what a course such as Cateechee can do for the water and environment on 400 acres.....it can work...check out this link   http://www.gcsaa.org/gcm/2000/feb00/02southern.html 
the supt has done a great job and would have done it whether Audubon or not.

[Adam Russell]

Mike- I agree with you whole-heart, especially about LEED and having/not having Audubon. I just think the society's honor serves as a stopping point. You get the award, and the course is suddenly upper echelon environmentally, and the need to explore better and unique options for a course diminishes, in most instances. I think public perception views the honor as something to strive for, whereas I think it should be the bare minimum starting point. I think there will come a point where the public will need to see a golf course built that serves all the playability principles of golf while at the same time improving the land through the entire design process, not just from the back end. On a personal note, what you did at Cateechee is something that is genuinely exciting to see as a student from a current designer. It shows that the principles can work. I wish you would toot your horn more; it needs to be heard. Congrats on the article - it should be required study on this board.

[Mike_Young]

Mike- I agree with you whole-heart, especially about LEED and having/not having Audubon. I just think the society's honor serves as a stopping point. You get the award, and the course is suddenly upper echelon environmentally, and the need to explore better and unique options for a course diminishes, in most instances. I think public perception views the honor as something to strive for, whereas I think it should be the bare minimum starting point. I think there will come a point where the public will need to see a golf course built that serves all the playability principles of golf while at the same time improving the land through the entire design process, not just from the back end. On a personal note, what you did at Cateechee is something that is genuinely exciting to see as a student from a current designer. It shows that the principles can work. I wish you would toot your horn more; it needs to be heard. Congrats on the article - it should be required study on this board.

Adam,
what you say about the course getting the award and then stopping holds some merit.....there are two levels for golf projects:
the Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary Program  http://www.auduboninternational.org/programs/acss/    which any course can apply to and begin at a cost of about $150.

And the Audubon Signature Series   http://www.auduboninternational.org/programs/signature/   which has to be started before construction ad cost around $10000 to apply.

they are two entirely different programs but in the public eye both probably carry the same PR value ..and so it goes....

[Adam Russell]

That's about how I figured it worked. After reading the article, I felt like such a fool. I'm this LEED touting arch. student from little 'ole Washington-Wilkes, and Cateechee's thirty minutes from my door- and I've never played it. Idiot...

[Tiger_Bernhardt]

Marroitt and getting it lololololol go to Peoble Beach and tell me how they have not damaged one of the shrines of the game. I am so humored by this post

[Wayne_Freedman]

Mike,

Thanks for the clarification.

At least Audubon International has a program for golfers.

http://www.golfandenvironment.org/golfer/greengolfchallenge.htm

[Doug Siebert]

We'll see how far this eco-stuff goes when someone suggests that "hey, you could save a lot of electricity by encouraging your golfers to walk rather than take carts."   

Actually carts would be a great way for courses to go "green", but not in the way you think -- install solar panels on the roof of the maintenance shed to generate electricity for the golf carts.  Even better, in some states (California and New Jersey being more forward thinking in this regard) the laws are very attractive in terms of state incentives and utility requirements.  In California (not sure about NJ) the utility is required to buy power at tiered rates.  So you can get on a plan that charges you more for electricity during peak hours, like late summer afternoons, you get more for the power you feed back to the utility at that time.  Built a maintenance shed with a SW facing roof, and voila, you're generating the most power at the exact time the grid needs it most (and you make the most money)  Then you buy your power from the utility to recharge the carts in the middle of the night, when power is used the least and therefore is the cheapest.

Not that I wouldn't love an excuse to ban carts except for those with a certificate from their doctor, but "green" won't fly for that, I'm afraid 

[Jason McNamara]

But, green is expensive. The true test...when businesses sacrifice profits for the sake of prinicple.

That's what I was getting at with the cart example.

Actually carts would be a great way for courses to go "green", but not in the way you think -- install solar panels on the roof of the maintenance shed to generate electricity for the golf carts. 

Cool idea.  Maybe the present cap ex is what's keeping people from doing this now?  Subsidies or not, if that market cleared every course between El Paso and Bakersfield would be moving over already.  Well, give it five years.

You'd still run into a problem with the folks who'll want you to reduce your requirements rather than simply find lower-emission substitutes, but I guess you can't please everyone.

[Peter Pallotta]

Adam,
Audubon Intl IS  there for golf courses whether defined as natural ecosystems or not....and golf courses can work for the betterment whter allied with Audubon Intl or not....AND I think very soon you will see some LEED directed golf projects.....w/o sounding selfpromoting I have seen what a course such as Cateechee can do for the water and environment on 400 acres.....it can work...check out this link   http://www.gcsaa.org/gcm/2000/feb00/02southern.html 
the supt has done a great job and would have done it whether Audubon or not.

Mike - thanks for that link, and congratulations on your part in what sounds like a very good and worthwhile and practical approach to a very important issue.   

Peter

[Ryan Farrow]

Mike, from what I understand someone was paid to study the wildlife and their movement. Then they (obviously) proposed a buffer around the streams since they were the most environmentally sensitive parts of the site and a good route for animal life to move.

Question: what was the nature of the site? Was it completely forested? Was the site used to connect larger patches of habitat? How did you handle your routing in regards to the proposed "buffers" and habitat corridors?

[Adam Clayman]

This sniffs of someone who wants browny points for telling the truth.

Knowing the make-up of Mar's origins, I suppose telling the truth does warrant a press release.