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Sentosa’s carbon neutral target

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Sentosa’s carbon neutral target: Sentosa Golf Club, regarded as one of the world’s most sustainable sporting venues, has today announced a commitment to become the world’s first ever carbon neutral golf club by 2022.

The announcement comes during Sentosa Golf Club’s hosting of the HSBC Women’s World Championship, dubbed ‘Asia’s Major’, where 69 of the world’s best players are set to battle it out on The Tanjong.

Sentosa's carbon neutral target

Sentosa’s carbon neutral target

Contributions from golf rounds over the next 12 months will be set aside to support the purchase of certified carbon offsets through regional Forestry or Blue Carbon projects, that will sequester atmospheric carbon while defending against deforestation and fostering conservation of forests, mangroves and reefs.

Sentosa Golf Club is also aiming to join the United Nations’ Race to Zero (carbon emissions) campaign following its pledge to neutralise the Club’s carbon footprint by 2022.

This latest goal builds on the Club’s various carbon mitigation measures over the past few years, including achieving Singapore’s Green Mark (Platinum) certification through enhancing the energy efficiency of its clubhouse, the first in the region to introduce lithium battery golf carts and increasing the efficiency of its irrigation system by deploying some 1,200 water saving sprinklers across the golf courses.

The Club has already undertaken the important first step of establishing its carbon footprint against the Green House Gas Protocol, in conjunction with Sentosa Development Corporation’s (SDC) island-wide carbon profiling efforts and GEO Foundation, the international non-profit dedicated entirely to inspiring, supporting, and recognising sustainable golf.

Moving ahead, the Club will further realise its carbon neutral goal by stepping up its efforts to pursue solutions that will make club operations and grounds maintenance more carbon efficient, including golf equipment and maintenance fleet electrification initiatives and renewable energy sources.

Sentosa Golf Club’s commitment is aligned with SDC’s goals towards sustainability. SDC announced in March 2021 that Sentosa Island would be transformed into a carbon neutral destination by 2030 as a key goal in its sustainability plan, bringing on board some 200 businesses within Sentosa to work towards the collective aspiration of island carbon neutrality.

Having become the first golf club in the world to join the United Nation’s Sports for Climate Action Initiative last year, Andrew Johnston, General Manager / Director of Agronomy and Resident Golf Course Designer at Sentosa Golf Club, commented on the latest pledge saying: “We are excited to set the aspiration to become the first golf club in the world to go carbon neutral. Since joining the United Nation’s Sports for Climate Action initiative in 2020 it has been our goal to become carbon neutral and hopefully inspire others around the world to follow suit.

“The Club is also proud to be aligned with Sentosa Island’s recent commitment to become a carbon neutral destination by 2030 and we are looking forward to working closely with SDC and other businesses on the Island to achieve this goal. Our vision is to deliver a world-class facility of exceptional quality, and our commitment to carbon neutrality will safeguard the Club’s long-term future and allow us to be a model for sustainability in golf worldwide.”

Thien Kwee Eng, Chief Executive Officer at Sentosa Development Corporation, added “Sentosa Development Corporation is excited by Sentosa Golf Club’s commitment to become the world’s first carbon neutral golf club. Golf can act as a catalyst in the fight against climate change and it is great to see one of Singapore’s premier golf clubs leading the way in reducing carbon emissions. The Club’s sustainability agenda is closely linked to that of the Island’s, and we are looking forward to working alongside the Club as we progress towards achieving Sentosa’s goal to be carbon neutral by 2030.”

This announcement is the latest in a long list of sustainable initiatives and commitments made by Sentosa Golf Club since the launch of its newest environmental campaign, GAME ON, at the 2020 SMBC Singapore Open. The campaign is designed to help educate and illustrate to the wider golfing community how important modern sustainable practices are for the betterment of the environment, acting as inspiration for golf clubs around the world to make changes to reduce their own carbon footprint.

Sentosa Golf Club intends to continue developing its sustainable initiatives in 2021 by installing two food and horticultural waste digesters to limit carbon emissions by grinding down waste on-site and reusing it as fertiliser on its two championship courses.

The Club also continues to explore alternative energy solutions such as solar, as well as other sustainable food produce options, whilst its collaboration with GEO Foundation aims to pioneer new innovative practices and report credible results to share with other golfing organisations around the world.

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BIGGA & Syngenta to host major industry event

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BIGGA & Syngenta to host major industry event: This summer will see the return of BIGGA’s popular Continue to Learn Extra webinar series and kicking off the programme of learning is a talk with industry expert Glenn Kirby about the high levels of leatherjackets and chafer grubs that have caused tremendous damage to many courses during the early part of 2021.

A recent social media survey by BIGGA Partner Syngenta found that during 2020 just 1% of UK golf courses reported no damage due to these insects. Hidden below the surface of the nation’s golf courses, leatherjackets are threatening the enjoyment and economic viability of the sport. Of the 400 course managers who responded to the survey, almost all reported that their course was negatively impacted by an infestation of the larvae of craneflies – also known as leatherjackets – and chafer grubs.

BIGGA & Syngenta to host major industry event

BIGGA & Syngenta to host major industry event

On 13 May BIGGA will be hosting an important industry event, when Syngenta Technical Manager Glenn Kirby will explain the reasons behind the damage and why it is important for the golfing industry to unite to support golf club teams during this distressing time.

Extensive damage to sports turf is caused by the larvae feeding on the turfgrass, while predators can also cause significant and widespread damage as they hunt for these larvae. The impact on a golf course can be serious, with increased costs as greenkeeping teams battle against the damage and the potential for large losses in revenue as golfers choose to play at courses that have been unaffected by the pests. However, unaffected courses are increasingly in the minority.

Alongside the webinar, BIGGA and Syngenta will be distributing a white paper to the golf industry that will provide an in-depth study of the situation including its causes, impact and potential solutions and will also be encouraging golf’s leading bodies to share this information to a wide audience.

This Continue to Learn Extra webinar is free to attend for anyone involved in golf club our course management. You can register for this vital industry event online now on the BIGGA website.

Syngenta’s Glenn Kirby said: “My goal when I started investigating the problem of leatherjackets was to get all golf courses to zero damage, as that’s what is being expected of course managers. But it has become increasingly clear to me that we are going to have to adjust our expectations. We all want perfect surfaces year-round, but without additional tools in our armoury I suspect that may not be a realistic goal.”

The ‘Managing the Leatherjacket Challenge’ webinar kicks off a summer of online learning for BIGGA members, with other webinars being hosted from May until September 2021. Taking a leading role will be management expert Tyler Bloom, while other topics for discussion will include golf course ecology, Women and Girls’ Golf Week and representatives of the European Institute for Golf Course Architects discussing ways of making golf courses more appealing to a wider audience. Head to the BIGGA website for more information.

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Kubota’s photo competition returns

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Kubota’s photo competition returns: The #MyKubota photo competition is back, and Kubota UK is inviting all Kubota operators to take part, with the chance to win a £200 retail voucher and a number of runner-up prizes.

Running from the 3rd to the 31st of May, operators are invited to submit an image of their Kubota machine to the Kubota UK Twitter or Facebook page, using the hashtag #MyKubota, along with a few words on why their Kubota is their machine of choice.

Kubota’s photo competition returns

Kubota’s photo competition returns

Crucially, this year’s #MyKubota competition will be judged by a group of independent panellists, so entrants are encouraged to be as ambitious and creative as they like. But please make you follow all relevant safety guidelines, when getting that shot.

The lucky winner will be presented with a £200 retail voucher, while eight runners-up will receive an exclusive collection of Kubota merchandise.

David Hart, managing director of Kubota UK, said: “#MyKubota is a great opportunity for Kubota users of every stripe to show off and celebrate their machines alongside the entire Kubota community. Having such a diverse and versatile portfolio within agriculture, ground care and construction machinery, used in diverse environments and situations, we are looking forward to seeing what our customers come up with.”

To stay up-to-date with the competition, follow Kubota UK’s Twitter page at twitter.com/KubotaUK, or like the Facebook page at facebook.com/KubotaUK

For the latest industry news visit turfmatters.co.uk/news

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Nip bugs in the bud

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Nip bugs in the bud: A host of bugs usually appear in April to prey on trees and shrubs but the recent cold snap early in the month may have proved a stay of execution for some species.

“The dip in temperatures most likely pushed things back a little,” says Dr Jon Banks, Research Lab Manager at Bartlett Tree Experts, “but plenty of undesirable things will be coming out very soon.”

Nip bugs in the bud

Nip bugs in the bud

Our treasured conker trees grow fearful this time of year of what may be about to hit them – the horse chestnut leaf miner.

These tiny moths emerge from leaf litter just as horse chestnuts burst into leaf, feeding off the fresh green foliage to leave unsightly trails and brown, crinkly remains.

The trees can even drop their foliage mid-season, giving up the ghost for the year in the hope of a better climate next time round.

Leaf miner, and another blight affecting the same species – horse chestnut bleeding canker – spread alarm across the UK when they first struck some 15 years ago but things are improving, Dr Banks notes.

While leaf miner is endemic now, arborists, landscapers and grounds managers are finding ways to combat the condition, he says.

“The moths typically emerge just after the tree’s leaves have expanded. Disposing of leaf litter can help reduce or prevent outbreaks and while no licence is currently available specifically for treating horse chestnut leaf miner, spraying with a broad-spectrum systemic insecticide, such as synthetic pyrethroid (trade names include Decis and Bandu) designed for amenity trees, is proven to be effective,” he explains.

“Tightly focusing the spray using a lance targets the treatment liquids where they are most needed,” he says. “Ideally, apply the liquid until just before run-off occurs as that ensures maximum adhesion to leaves.”

Turning his attention to larger specimens, Dr Banks adds that Bartlett Tree Experts have developed tailored management services, using spray equipment designed to safely deliver plant protection products efficiently and effectively to the canopy.

“Leaf miners have three generations during the summer so follow-up spraying is critical, he states. “Two treatments usually are applied. The first, in April or May, lasts three to four weeks, then it’s time for the second application. However, a third spray will provide better coverage for the full season.”

Lance spraying also delivers ecological benefits, Dr Banks believes. “We’re not just spraying for our own sakes. Losing leaves mid-season deprives wildlife of habitat and the less spray that falls where it is not needed or where it may cause harm, such as any nearby water, the better.”

Spring is a time when clients realise their trees are not in full health, or are dead and yell for advice, he says. “It’s a good time to look at trees as often we can see branch structure very well but also gain an idea of what’s coming into leaf, depending on the species.”

The good news about horse chestnut bleeding canker, which is caused by the pseudomonas bacteria, is that more trees may be tolerating the disease due to system induced resistance, he adds – because wholesale loss of our conker trees would deprive new generations of children of a favourite pastime.

https://www.bartlett.com/resources/horse-chestnut-lead-miner.pdf

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Just the job

With 6 Bar pressure ceiling, the Berthoud Cosmos 18 Pro is tailor-made for treating trees using its giant telescopic lances, extendable to 2.4m or 3.6m and made in light, robust, rigid composite materials.

Highly chemically resistant and mechanically tough they come with hose, quick connect adaptor and profiled handle.

Check the website for calibration formulae and nozzle-to-target distances.

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EcoSward liner at Cavendish

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EcoSward liner at Cavendish: Cavendish Golf Club in Buxton, England, has completed the first phase of a multi-year course renovation, including the construction of several new bunkers in an attempt to return the course more closely to Alister MacKenzie’s original design.

And, although the bunkers echo MacKenzie’s work in their positioning, they are built using up to the minute construction techniques – including the EcoSward bunker liner from EcoBunker.

EcoSward liner at Cavendish

EcoSward liner at Cavendish

“We gave the choice of bunker liner a lot of thought,” says architect Jonathan Gaunt, who is supervising the work (and who is also a member of the club). “We considered a rubber crumb product, but eventually discarded it, as we thought it was not appropriate for the landscape, and it is very expensive. I used another product at Whittington Heath in Lichfield, and it worked very well there, but it needs heavy machinery to manoeuvre it into place, and Cavendish isn’t a site that such machines can really access.”

Gaunt knew EcoBunker CEO and inventor Richard Allen well, and had used the company’s EcoSward liner at Caddington Golf Club (in fact, the liner’s debut). EcoSward, which is made from recycled artificial grass, is renowned as perhaps the toughest of all textile-based liner systems. It is completely resistant to burrowing animals – an important consideration in an environment like Cavendish, which is bordered by moorland, and comes in metre wide, 5m long strips, which are stuck together with adhesive to produce a single surface with no joints that sand could penetrate.

The Cavendish work also incorporates selective woodland management, taking out lower quality species such as sycamores thus focusing attention on oaks, beech and specimen pines. Gaunt says that clearing on the left side of the eleventh hole has enabled the fairway to be moved right to the edge of a ravine, with spectacular results.

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