Successful Meetings - November 2008 - (Page 44) Golf Meetings > Green Your Golf For one thing, Mont Tremblant has returned areas of its courshurst also won top honors for environmentally friendly golf from es back to naturalized area, Ward says, reducing water conGolf Magazine. sumption and fertilizer use. In fact, most planners are more concerned with the environ“These areas are what we consider out-of-play near the mental practices for their event than with those of the facilities beginning of the hole,” Ward explains. overall, she says, so it’s likely that a group would make the golf This year, Mont Tremblant activity green, with the course influhas begun to work toward certiencing the group. Some “industry fication in the Audubon Society leaders” also have corporate social program, a lengthy process that responsibility requirements that may take three years. mandate green quotas for events, “We have to show what she adds. we’re doing to limit the use of “They’re happy to know we’ve water, the use of pesticides, implemented many green initiatives and those [naturalized] areas on our courses, but a lot of planners also enable us not to treat for are looking at green things they can clover or weeds anymore,” he do for their specific event,” Fergusays. “You have to show that son says. “For a golf event, this you’re promoting water quality, would mean how you package your so what we’re doing there is food and beverage for a box lunch, creating bands of vegetation so they aren’t using the heavy cardaround our water bodies to stop board-stock printed boxes, plastic the potential flow of fertilizer. bags, or Styrofoam containers.” We’re also creating habitats, Groups make up about 55 perlike birdhouses or duck houses. cent of business at Pinehurst and The last [Audubon requirement] many groups use the putting green is education. So we have to for a teambuilding exercise communicate with the citizens designed by Pinehurst that gives of the town about what we’re attendees a chance to send a golf “There’s no point for us being in doing and what the benefits ball crashing through a pane of bad shape when the golfer can go are.” glass, she says. across the street to a manicured Mont Tremblant has added a Pinehurst also offers “rehydration filtration system to the areas stations” on the courses where golf course . . . the reality is you where equipment is cleaned to golfers can fill up their reusable still have to offer the conditions break down oils, gas, and pestiwater bottles, an ideal opportunity people expect.” cides before they enter the for branded attendee gifts that are —Eric Ward, golf manager, water system. environmentally conscious, she Mont Tremblant Moving beyond these relaadds. The resort works with vendors tively easy to achieve objecto offer biodegradable and bamboo tives may be more difficult. While products like bio-friendly hergolf tees, and even a biodegradable golf ball. Planners should bicides and pesticides exist, competition from cheaper and look for these little ways to make their golf events greener, Fermore powerful chemical products is still pushing them out of the guson says, as they go a long way toward making a big impact market, says Ward. He and his team attend yearly seminars on on environmental initiatives. golf course management products, and he says greener prodSMALL STEPS=BIG CHANGE ucts are becoming more available as the industry reaches a tipGolf course managers are looking for low-hanging fruit as well. ping point in market adoption. Eric Ward, head of the greens at Mont Tremblant Ski Resort in “The problem with these products right now is how reliable Quebec, Canada, and a Certified Golf Course Superintendent they are [at this stage],” he says. “When you have the other (CGCS), says the resort is doing what it can to be environmentools out there that you know are working, it’s hard to say you’re tally friendly while remaining competitive with other courses. not going to treat and [instead choose to] go with a new prod- 44 successfulmeetings.com NOVEMBER 2008 SUCCESSFUL MEETINGS http://www.successfulmeetings.com
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