Successful Meetings - November 2008 - (Page 42) Golf Meetings > Green Your Golf half, 44 percent, have increased naturalized areas—by an average of 10 acres. This year, Golf Magazine inaugurated “Green Golf” awards, with 10 properties honored for “a serious emphasis on resource conservation and protection.” “In 2009, we’re looking to introduce a green golf package,” Glickman says. “Our pro shop identified some recycled and biodegradable green golf products, like tees, golf shirts, and golf visors that are all green-friendly. We’re putting a package together that is going to be very specific to that.” PRIORITY : EARTH In addition to solar-power panels that keep the lights on at One of those green courses honored by Golf Magazine is a the resort and power irrigation pumps, Mauna Lani was one of favorite incentive destination for groups: Mauna Lani Resort on the first to use drought-resistant turf grass for its courses that the Kohala Coast of Hawaii’s requires “significantly less fertilizBig Island. The resort is one of er and herbicides.” In addition, the those lucky trailblazers that tough-natured turf allows for was built with environmental brackish water irrigation that is protection in mind so its courspulled up from surrounding areas es will not have to be updated where ocean and fresh water mix. to fit the new green era. Mauna A cross-departmental “Green Lani has made environmental Team,” including members of the stewardship a priority for 25 golf management staff, meets years, including in that manweekly to discuss new environdate, management of its twomental initiatives and prioritize courses with 36 championship goals. holes of golf. The founder’s two “We’re not suggesting that great passions were “conserwe’re perfect, but we have a pretvation and hedonism,” jokes ty good baseline of environmental Mark Glickman, director of efforts that we’re doing,” Glickresort marketing at Mauna man says. Other environmental Lani. initiatives the resort is launching The property hosted the include a new tree-planting proSenior Skins Game, now gram to offset carbon emissions known as the Wendy’s Chamgenerated during travel to the pions Skins Game, for 11 resort. “For a golf event, [going green] years. At Mauna Lani, each group is would mean how you package your “A lot of our holes are conassigned a personal golf profesfood and beverage for a box lunch, sidered the most scenic and sional to assist with whatever is signature holes in the world,” needed—bag transfer and tournaso they aren’t using the heavy cardGlickman says, adding that ment rules and scoring as well as board-stock printed boxes, plastic about 30 percent of business personalized bag tags, yardage bags, or Styrofoam containers.” at the resort is business groups guides, spring water service, and —Cheryl Ferguson, vice president of sales, and meetings. “Golf is definitesignage. The resort also offers Pinehurst Resort ly an appeal for groups here.” pre-planned derby events for Glickman says he’s been groups, including a putting conhearing from an increasing number of planners who have questest, a night game with glow-in-the-dark golf balls, and a threetions about environmental standards on the golf courses. hole team contest—all with an awards ceremony and dinner “Once upon a time the whole green movement was considfollowing the event. ered more of a fad,” he says, “but now it’s obviously a trend.” GOAL IN ONE There is an increasingly profitable reward for resorts that priIs it possible to have a high-class golf event that is green as oritize environmental protection, Glickman says, quoting a well? Travel Monitor report by Chapel Hill, NC-based Yankelovich Cheryl Ferguson, vice president of sales at the well-regarded Inc. that indicated 40 percent of hotel consumers would prefer golf mecca Pinehurst Resort, in North Carolina, thinks so. Pineto support a resort that is environmentally friendly. 42 successfulmeetings.com NOVEMBER 2008 SUCCESSFUL MEETINGS http://www.successfulmeetings.com
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