Enviro Blog: Innovation Goals

This post is a part of the TRF 4100 environmental blog assignment

Olds College is a leader in innovation and the 3-hole golf course should reflect this. There are many opportunities to improve the efficiency and sustainability of our practices in the turf industry. We hope to explore these areas of innovation and show others our results.

Power Usage

The amount of money spent on electricity is substantial at golf courses. The majority of expenses come from running the pumphouse on the course. Is there any way we can decrease the amount of money spent on electricity? We believe there is.

First, let's look inside the maintenance shop. A light switch can easily be left on when nobody is in the shop. This is a waste of electricity.  Normal light switches could be swapped for motion sensor lights. Updating heating systems to more efficient appliances can greatly reduce the power used. Something as simple as ensuring windows and doors are closed can also reduce the power used for heating. Still using incandescent light bulbs? Try switching to the new eco-friendly bulbs that are available that need far less electricity to run. What about old air compressors? Hearing the constant hum of air compressors running in the shop is not uncommon. Either updating to new compressors or only plugging them in when necessary might stop the constant hum.

Now for out on the course. Probably the main drain on power is the pumphouse. Research should be done into how you pay for your power. Some provinces provide discounts for irrigation pumps. By putting a separate meter on your pumphouse, you could pay less for the power that is used. There is also the potential for experimenting with solar and wind power. Solar panels can be added to the pumphouse to help power the pumps and reduce electricity consumption from the grid.

Composting

Neighbouring the location of the 3-hole course is the Olds College Composting Program. This site uses compost from all over campus and the town of Olds to create high quality compost. The use of compost on golf courses is increasing, and people are beginning to wonder where it can be applied.

The 3-hole course can contribute to the composting program. Clippings from mowers and branches can be sent to the compost facility to be used. This eliminates the need for a "bone yard" or organic waste dump on the course.

The course can also benefit from the composting program. Experiments can be performed to find out if compost is an effective amendment to golf course soils. Topdressing the rough and fairways on the course could provide valuable nutrients and organic matter to the soil. Because compost can be extremely variable, green applications of compost will be avoided.

Equipment

With the advent of electric and hybrid cars, maintenance equipment is beginning to utilize this same technology. Companies such as Toro, John Deere, and Jacobsen are now offering electric and hybrid versions of their equipment. The course would be a perfect place to demo this equipment and run experiments to compare the efficiency between them. Which is best for the environment? Which uses the least fuel?

There is also a biodiesel plant on campus that creates biodiesel out of seed and oil. Diesel equipment could be powered using biodiesel as a fuel source. Research could be performed on the efficacy of this fuel source and whether it is reliable.

Pesticides

The use of pesticides remains a hotly debated topic. Many are calling for their ban as professionals who use the products point out their safety when used properly. Right now, many courses do not have adequate means of storing pesticides and rinsing equipment. This provides and opportunity for the 3-hole course to be a leader in innovation.

There are many self-contained wash bays coming onto the market. By purchasing one of these, the Olds course can monitor its use and provide data on just how useful it is. One such product available is the ESD waste 2 water wash pads. They also provide small storage sheds that meet all requirements of the Alberta government for pesticide storage. The course can provide an example to visiting superintendents and demonstrate the usefulness of these items.

Enviro Blog: Water Management

This post is a part of the TRF 4100 environmental blog assignment

Fresh water is an increasingly important commodity in our world. As fresh water sources become less available, societies are striving to increase our water efficiency and reduce pollution that goes into our rivers and lakes. Golf courses are often viewed as an unnecessary drain on our fresh water, and courses that used to rely on fresh water as an irrigation source are forced to find other means of irrigation. Wherever we get our water from, it is important to evaluate how we in the golf industry can reduce the water we use. There are several ways the Olds College 3-hole golf course can do this.

Equipment Wash Area

Every golf course has some designated area for rinsing and cleaning machines. Removing grass clipping from mowers and reels reduces wear on these machines and makes sure there ready to use for the next employee. However, a lot of water can be used during this process. We want to find a way to reduce or recycle this water and stop it from entering our environment and water ways. Many new systems of water recycling for golf courses are coming onto the market. They offer methods of removing grass clippings from equipment and putting the water through a microbial bath to eliminate toxins.

The company ESD Waste2Water offers some exciting innovations for wash pads and mixing areas.

Irrigation Water

The irrigation water to be used on the 3-hole development will be coming from the neighboring Olds College wetlands. This is an exciting project to see the efficacy of man-made wetlands and their use in filtering water. Water will enter the wetlands and be put through a series of canals to filter the water. The water will then flow to a holding pond and will be available for use on the 3-hole course. This is just another way we will be practicing environmental stewardship and water recycling.

Best Management Practices

The following BMPs will be implemented for the 3-hole course and are practiced and recorded regularly:

• Water will be tested monthly. Areas to be tested are any water entrance points and exit points on the site, as well as any major holding ponds.
• If water pH is high, the use of acid injection and sulphur burning can be used to lower pH.
• In the case of high salts, a program of gypsum applications timed with rainfall will be introduced to reduce salts and improve turf health.
• In the case of algae forming on the water and a reduction in oxygen in the water, a fountain can be added to improve aeration in the water.
• The use of variable frequency drive pumps will be used. This allows for effective management of the amount of water that is pumped onto the course and reduces irrigation system wear.
• Irrigation audits can be performed regularly by the Olds College students to test the efficacy of rotors and nozzles on the course.

What to Do Next? There's Always Something...

There are alot of projects on the go at Capilano. I will try to start making some posts of these projects and their progression. The first is some work that was done behind the 8th green. This area used to be treed and would create excess shade on the green leading to disease problems. The trees were removed last winter and have been replaced with an attractive mounded area. Trees and small shrubs have now been planted and the area may be used as a nursery for trees. There is still more work to be done in the future, but right now it looks amazing.

Installing irrigation to water the sod that would be planted

 

 

 A progression of the mounds being formed

The final product

Adventures in Irrigation

One thing I've noticed about golf courses is that every course's irrigation system is different. In many ways they are the same, but everyone runs into different problems as old technology is replaced by new technology. This often creates interesting combinations of equipment and very unique situations.

Capilano G&CC has by far the most unique irrigation system I have come across yet. There is no pumphouse. Instead, all the water comes from two lakes found on the mountain above the course. These lakes are fed by a stream that comes down from the mountain. There is enough pressure from gravity to provide enough pressure to run the irrigation system. Six pressure reducing valves on the course reduce the massive pressure that builds as the water is in the pipe. It is truly unique and the story of it's initial construction is as interesting as the rest of the history of the golf course.

This video was filmed as the irrigation technician and I went to open the line that allows water to flow from the mountain stream to the lakes below. After driving a fair way up the mountain and taking a hike through the forest, we finally arrived at our destination.