Renowned Golf Course wins inaugural PGG Wrightson Turf NZGCSA Environment Award

Cape Kidnappers Golf Course has been selected as the first recipient of the newly created PGG Wrightson Turf New Zealand Golf Course Superintendents Association (NZGCSA) Environment Award which recognises New Zealand’s leading golf course in terms of their environmental management practices.

In establishing the award both PGG Wrightson Turf and the NZ Golf Course Superintendents Associationfelt it important to create a vehicle which would encourage golf courses in their environmental management efforts and achievements and recognise the leading golf course for their environmental management stewardship.

In its first year, the award attracted a number of high calibre entries all vying to be recognised as the best golf course in New Zealand for their environmental management practices. The judges for the award were Bill Walmsley (PGG Wrightson Turf), Bob Bradley (life member NZGCSA) and Ian McKendry (NZ Cricket) who were impressed by the high calibre of the entries and the focus they are applying to their environmental management.

Cape Kidnappers Golf Course was announced as the winner of the 2011 PGG Wrightson Turf NZGCSA Environment Award at this year’s New Zealand Turf Conference and Trade Show in Hamilton with the award presented to Steve Marsden, Course Superintendent, at the conference dinner.

Cape Kidnappers Golf Course was opened in 2004 by owner Julian Robertson. It is a public access golf course with 16 staff. The resources available to maintain the golf course and the playability standards achieved are what would be expected for this type of golf course, however the commitment to protecting and restoring the environment is world class. It is fortunate that the architect Tom Doak was sensitive to protecting the natural features on the golf course during construction which has allowed the Course Superintendent Steve Marsden the opportunity to restore native vegetation and improve the wildlife habitat.

“It is staggering to hear of the release of kiwi and pateke, the rare native brown teal, on the golf course” says Bill Walmsley. The initiatives taken by Cape Kidnappers Golf Course to release these iconic  species was made possible by the collaboration of owner Julian Robertson with adjoining land owners in constructing a predator proof fence and establishing what is New Zealand’s largest mainland Sanctuary for some of New Zealand’s most endangered native wildlife. The golf course maintenance team work in closely with the Sanctuary staff to ensure the environment on course compliments work carried out across the wider property, by carrying out pest control, monitoring water quality in old farm dams and restoring habitat for native species, removing invasive species like Blackberry, Pink Ragwort, Boxthorn. A large part of the property not used for golf is being returned to native habitat. 

This commitment to the environment is carried through to all aspects of day-to-day golf course management, with careful thought given to the pesticides used, how energy and water can be conserved, and to maintaining perennial grass species to keep out Poa annua. The browntop fairways are commendably free of Poa annua, and the cut rough is being converted to fine fescue to improve Poa annua control there.

Waste is recycled, and wood from on-site is split for firewood and used for heating where possible. The pesticide filling and washdown pad is fully contained and the waste is taken away for processing. Likewise, the machinery washdown where sediments are filtered and oil removed.

The golf course has created its own environment charter that guides its maintenance policies. To verify that their environmental policy is world class they became the first golf course in New Zealand to gain certification with Audubon International as a designated Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary. Part of this certification is highlighted by the impressive work Cape Kidnappers have made to communicate the work they have done through course signage, local newspapers and interactive school visits.

“There are many golf courses throughout the country that carry out maintenance of their courses with a focus on the environment, so for our maintenance operation to be acknowledged with this award is terrific” says Steve Marsden, Course Superintendent at Cape Kidnappers.

We also congratulate the 2011 runner-up, Arrowtown Golf Club.

Arrowtown Golf Club which employs two full time staff was a commendable runner-up in this year’s award. What the golf course superintendent Rick Machray has done with minimal resources is very impressive.

The course was in great condition when visited by the award’s judges, with a sound renovation and maintenance programme and a conscious effort being made to achieve great turf with minimal inputs. The team at Arrowtown Golf Club are striving to manage for the desirable perennial species and are doing so successfully. Reducing the area of mown fairway and rough has helped to reduce water and energy use, as has a variable speed drive pump. Extensive but careful use of spot spraying for weeds and diseases has reduced pesticide usage. Overall boom spraying is only done where necessary.

Even though the course is in a rural area, as much waste as possible is recycled, including chemical containers and waste oil etc. Wasteful packaging is minimised by ordering in bulk.

The judges were impressed with the removal of wildling trees and broom, both on the golf course and adjoining DOC land. Replanting matagouri to re-establish it in new areas is a standout achievement. The aim is to return to a natural Central Otago landscape. Where this work has been completed the natural beauty of the Central Otago schist rock outcrops and matagouri plants truly enhance the golf course.

The club is committed to monitoring their environmental performance and recently undertook an environmental risk assessment through the NZSTI.

PGG Wrightson Turf and NZGCSA encourage all golf courses to enter next year. The award is judged on what is done within the budget and resources of the club, so clubs large and small are on the same footing. Simply entering the competition is an opportunity for all golf courses to look objectively at their environmental management programmes and to strengthen areas they may be weak in. Entries open in February of each year and application forms can be found on both the PGG Wrightson Turf and NZGCSA websites at this time.