JUST SUGARS AND CARBOHYDRATES

A golf club in Cambridgeshire claims to be the only one in Europe not to use chemicals on its course.

The owners of New Malton Golf Club also employ their own ecologist and spray sugars and carbohydrates instead of fertilisers and pesticides.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-cambridgeshire-15023042
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TWINS

Separated at birth only by talent.
#billmurray #golfrefugees 
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DRIVING TOWARDS SUSTAINABILITY

The following article was written by guest blogger; Fraser Paterson

©Fraser Paterson, golf and Scottish History writer – often the two intertwine!

The United States is making great strides, enhancing sustainability levels, particularly on two of its’ main golf courses. Highlands Country Club in North Carolina and Broken Sound Club in Florida are among the first to achieve golf’s international sustainability level, GEO Certified. This is a mark recognised by ISEAL, the worldwide association for credibility and effectiveness in this area.

Since achieving GEO Certified status in 2011 Highlands Country Club has undertaken several key projects. These include;

Renovation of the health spa with green building and water, plus water and energy conservation feature

Reduced water consumption and operational costs – by upgrading to a high efficiency variable frequency drive system and moisture meters from Toro, enabling more accurate irrigation

More cultivating of goods and materials on site, or local purchase thereof. This includes a new organic garden. This supplies the restaurant as well as utilising waste from the kitchen

Significant changes in mowing patterns. This increases natural spaces and enhances operational efficiency – including replacing some areas of maintained turf with more beehives, and wildflowers for pollinator species

Greater participation locally to increase awareness of environmental issues and efficiencies

Christian Drake, Assistant Superintendent at Highlands Country Club stated "that becoming GEO Certified has been a huge benefit in multiple aspects”.

Broken Sound Club in Florida have also increased their efforts, by taking on a leadership role in sharing the success of their sustainable operations with other municipalities and golf courses in Florida.

John Crean, General Manager said, “Attaining the prestigious … GEO Certified mark many years ago … (was a testament to their ability to) provide a (facility) that is in harmony with the natural environment and increase the habitat of indigenous species of plant and animal life".

Broken Sound Club is also the largest green space in Boca Raton City. They continue to take on an increasing number of projects to enhance the environment. New projects have included;

The planting of thousands of young trees, thereby varying the structure of the existing woodland

The introduction of more native marginal aquatic plants to enhance filtration   and improve wildlife habitats

An increase in nest boxes, built by the children of members. This has attracted 13 additional species, including painted buntings and barn owls

Collaboration with Florida State on a ten acre wildflower site with beehives.

GEO Certified is a recognised trademark of the Golf Environment Organisation which is recognised by the ISEAL Alliance, the global body for credibility in sustainability standards.

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IS MY GOLF COURSE ORGANIC?

The pesticide chlorpyrifos, used on farms and golf courses, is riskier than previously suspected, says the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

Farmworkers and ground staff are most at risk.

Chlorpyrifos was introduced in 1965. Some pesticides kill insects but are harmless to humans; chlorpyrifos is not among those. At high doses it can kill people, and it has. It can take up to 120 days to break down in soil. It can hurt birds and fish.

Does your golf course still use chlorpyrifos?

Golf Refugees are calling for the industry to introduce ‘organic’ certification for golf courses; where using synthetic fertilizers and pesticides classified as harmful to humans would be restricted or even banned.
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SQUIRREL MONKEY

If you were going to start a new sportswear brand which animal would you use to be your logo?

Golf Refugees have come up with the ‘squirrel monkey’ as they are free spirited and belong in the wild. This sounds like a good marketing line to us.

We’re going to conduct some intense market research this year and ask fans if they’d like to swap Pumas for Squirrel Monkeys?

To compete with established sport brands; here is Squirrel Monkey's business plan.

Obviously we will manufacture in the country with the lowest wages and where garment workers can be kept under control by force when necessary. Use many toxic chemicals including hormone disruptors and have a complete disregard for the environment.

Squirrel Monkey will sponsor leading sport stars to help build a positive brand image and write some PR blah blah in the form of a letter which can be placed in our supply chain factories setting out our ‘values and production standards’ which naturally they can all ignore.

We can’t be fairer than that.
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DON'T SHOOT

H&M, Gap and Puma are some of Cambodia’s biggest garment buyers.

One year ago Cambodian textile workers went on strike asking for a basic salary of $160 per month?

To protect investor interest, the Cambodian government sent in the troops armed with AK 47’s and shot five of the workers.

“Everyone is too afraid to strike now so no one ever considers it, even though it’s only strikes that can find a solution for us” said Chhiv Phanith, a garment worker

The strike was called off soon after the shootings, which occurred on a Friday, with workers beginning to return to factories the next Monday, having secured an increase in their basic salaries to just $100.

In terms of fairness should Puma hold a gun to the heads of their sponsored sport starts to help with negotiations?

Why don’t H&M, Gap, Puma and others just agree to pay their Cambodian garment workers a living wage of $160 per month?
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GOLF WISHES 2015

Instead of making New Year resolutions here are some of our golf wishes for 2015 and beyond;

A percentage of new golf balls and other equipment to be made from recycled materials. Materials that have actually been recycled and not just materials that is recyclable. A new golf ball could be made from 75% virgin and 25% recycled materials.

Unrestricted equipment category for amateur and recreational golfers.

Major golf championships to be awarded to future venues that can provide evidence of annual reductions in both water and synthetic fertilizer usage.

Changes to a tournament week; where professional golfers have less practice time on the course and more time allocated too provide lessons and advice to young golfers.

New alternative formats for golf to be introduced on major tours. We would like to see a street golf event in any major city on the PGA or LPGA tours.

Fashion brands to provide consumers with information regarding chemicals, pollution and wages from producing their clothing.
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