| Often we come across new ways of thinking, | | | | and forbs are basic habitat components as |
| some exceptionally brilliant and others | | | | they provide shelter and food. The plants |
| fairly pedestrian by comparison. Howver, it | | | | have to be chosen considering the drainage, |
| is always worth looking at new ideas but one | | | | the amount of sun, the soil structure, and |
| thing stands out with most golf courses and | | | | the already existing vegetation. A |
| that is how you tend to feel a little closer | | | | combination of ornamental plants, berries, |
| to nature when you are playing a few rounds. | | | | nuts and seeds is the ideal one. It is |
| Golf courses are the one sport where most | | | | important to know that native species of |
| countries agree on this one factor. I'll | | | | plants are less expensive to maintain, |
| leave it you to decide whether it should stay | | | | because they are naturally resistant to pests |
| that way... | | | | and diseases and they require less fertilizer |
| | | | and water. |
| Golf is the sporting activity that has one of | | | | |
| the most intimate interactions with the | | | | The turf used on golf courses is often |
| environment. There are over 25,000 golf | | | | expensive and difficult to maintain. |
| courses in the world. Golf courses account | | | | Therefore, it should be replaced with prairie |
| for millions of ha of land all over the | | | | grasses and wildflowers in out-of-play areas, |
| world. In our times of urban sprawl, these | | | | on hills or along ponds. The drought |
| green spaces should satisfy the needs of | | | | tolerance of these plants can greatly reduce |
| golfers and also accommodate wildlife. Golf | | | | the use of water and fertilizer. Even if |
| courses can become a proper habitat for | | | | creating a naturalistic landscape requires |
| desirable and sensitive wildlife species. | | | | higher costs until established, it is a good |
| This also represents a great advantage for | | | | business, as the cost savings will be |
| the golf players as it improves the | | | | substantial over time. |
| educational and aesthetic aspects of the golf | | | | |
| course. | | | | The use of pesticides can be replaced by some |
| | | | natural methods for managing against pests. |
| Habitats that can be found on a golf course | | | | Hanging bat boxes will encourage bats to |
| vary greatly; there are: ponds, streams, | | | | reside on the golf course. They consume |
| grasslands, wetlands, savanna woods, mature | | | | thousands of insects every night, and this |
| forests, etc. | | | | way you'll get rid of mosquitoes, leafhoppers |
| | | | and moths. The birds also consume insects |
| In the United States reports show that golf | | | | that are harmful to the plants, which live on |
| courses have already had an important role in | | | | bark, leaves and branches. |
| conserving some important species, such as | | | | |
| the tree swallow, Eastern bluebird, purple | | | | Here are some examples of ideas to be |
| martin, osprey and red-cockaded woodpecker. | | | | considered in order to increase the |
| | | | biodiversity of a golf course: |
| A wide variety of rare species have also been | | | | |
| recorded on different golf courses in | | | | -Erection of different style bird boxes, |
| England, such as the sand crocus, the pasque | | | | depending on the species that can be found in |
| flower, the sand lizard and the natterjack | | | | the area. |
| toad. The Royal St George's GC in Kent | | | | |
| provided a habitat for 11 orchid species. | | | | -erect bat boxes |
| | | | |
| In my opinion, any golf course has something | | | | -ensurance of sufficient regeneration within |
| to offer when it comes to wildlife | | | | woodlands |
| conservation. Actually, all courses have some | | | | |
| wildlife, but the goal is to use their full | | | | -introduce wildflowers into new woodlands |
| habitat potential. The wildlife that can be | | | | |
| found on a course depends upon its soil, | | | | -try to reduce cutting intensity where |
| vegetation, climate, topography and so on. | | | | possible |
| With the help of a professional biologist, | | | | |
| the golf course manager can identify | | | | -avoid disturbance by vehicles and people in |
| strategies that will lead to creating a more | | | | sensitive areas of the course |
| naturalistic landscape. | | | | |
| | | | -control the coverage of bracken if |
| Lately, golf course management includes | | | | threatening to more interesting habitats |
| creating naturalistic landscapes. And this is | | | | |
| not only due to ecological concerns, but also | | | | -design natural locations such as prairies |
| because this represents a cost-effective | | | | and wetlands |
| solution on the long run. This is because the | | | | |
| more naturalistic courses require smaller | | | | There are many people who oppose golf courses |
| quantities of pesticides, herbicides and | | | | for environmental reasons. In theory, the |
| water and therefore they can be maintained | | | | large areas of land occupied by golf courses |
| with less effort than the conventional golf | | | | could be a natural habitat. The reality is |
| courses. | | | | that it would have most probably been used |
| | | | for urbanization or agriculture. The habitat |
| There are some important steps to be followed | | | | loss is a misconception. Therefore, both |
| in a habitat enhancement plan. A good | | | | ecologists and golf players should be happy |
| selection of plants for the golf course is | | | | with wildlife-friendly setting on the golf |
| very important; the trees, shrubs, grasses | | | | course. |