Sustainable Golf Course Management Available on DVD-CD in U.K.

The Sports Turf Research Institute has launched "Sustainable Golf Course Management," a combined DVD and CD-ROM package to stimulate awareness of the ecological and environmental impact of golf in today’s society. The production of both items has been sponsored by Ransomes Jacobsen.

The DVD is a television-quality, 30-minute presentation showing the positive side of the golf industry and is aimed at players, the general public and those in the golf sector to raise awareness of the importance of golf courses within the landscape. It will also give recognition to the ecological and environmental management practices that are taking place on golf courses throughout the United Kingdom.

It features a series of interviews with proprietors, course managers, greenkeepers and golf officials with contributions from other related organizations, including English Nature, Committed to Green Foundation, STRI, Scottish Golf Environment Group and BIGGA.

The hour-long CD-ROM takes an in-depth look at specific ecological management issues and provides practical advice and guidance to operators and managers of golf courses. Best practice is at the heart of the content, which comprises interviews with greenkeepers who have tackled and solved specific eco- and enviro-related problems.

All major golf course habitats are represented, including dune and other grasslands, woodlands and trees, heathland and heather, water features, hedgerows and deadwood. A section has been devoted to environmental legislation, protected sites and species.

The package has been prepared by Bob Taylor and Lee Penrose, ecological and environmental consultants at the STRI. For a copy, contact STRI at http://www.stri.co.uk.