As discussed in last month’s Lean & Green , the Golf Course Environmental Management (GEM) process is composed of five steps with the first and most important step being analysis. This column will focus on the next two steps in the GEM process, documentation and implementation as we continue to explore the unique, internationally-proven continual improvement-based environmental management system. The third and final iteration of the series will explore the final two steps, evaluation and revision.
Golf course managers, especially experienced superintendents, are some of the best observers around. Many of the situations discussed last month in the analysis step of the GEM process good managers do as a matter of their regular days activities. Unfortunately, a lot of them do it all in their heads. Having time to write everything down, keeping reports and other records orderly and up to date and synthesizing the resulting mountain of data into an implementable plan is where most fall short. Some superintendents might have an administrative helper but I believe that to be the exception rather than the rule. Many eighteen-hole golf course operations are lucky to have double digit full-time employee numbers during the growing season! So, how does one document and implement. Let’s explore those topics a little further.
Documentation
Why is it important to write everything down? Having worked for the federal government for many years, paper is where it all comes to fruition. You can’t take credit for much without a written report or a handful of records. Good golf course industry managers must be able to share their success stories, best practices and overall stewardship to their owners, members, customers and regulators. Not only is this a good way to take credit it is also a good way to avoid taking blame. The bottom line is it is not enough just to know how to create a successful golf course environmental management program. There has to be a written record of existing site data, maintenance practices, pesticide applications, and other historical golf course activities. By documenting what we know, we will be able to determine how to make better decisions in the future. Kimberly Erusha, of the USGA, said it well a few years back. “It is fine to tell people that you do a significant amount for the environment while caring for the golf course, but the statement is much more powerful when it is documented in a written format”.
In the classic 1992 Golf Course Management & Construction: Environmental Issues, Balough and Walker state “Establishing a record regarding prevention of adverse environmental impacts and chemical losses not only reduces operational costs, but minimizes exposure to loss of revenues from litigation and unfavorable publicity”. In order to ensure adequate written documentation, the next task is to compile a formal Golf Course Environmental Management, or GEM Plan.
Golf Course Environmental Management (GEM) Plan
A living document, the GEM Plan strives to simplify the maze of environmental issues and concerns for the golf course manager while satisfying the concerns of the community and management. In addition, the GEM Plan will attempt to keep the focus on the ultimate customer, the golfers.
At a minimum, a comprehensive Golf course Environmental Management (GEM) Plan should be include the following components:
• Environmental policy
• Results of the Environmental Compatibility Index checklists
• Map of the golf course property depicting the golf course facilities and the identified environmental challenges along with the driver or requirement, prescribed management approach, objective, and target for each challenge
• Implementation plan with short- and long-term goals and objectives
Implementation
Positive, decisive action is the only true measure of a GEM Plan’s success. By implementing new practices, whether to knowingly improve the course’s environmental compatibility or to just try new ideas to determine their value, superintendents and golfers should both benefit. The golf course superintendent should post for customers and employees alike a map of the property depicting its environmental challenges and immediately begin finding ways to minimize or eliminate any and all potentially negative environmental impacts.
ISO 14001, the international environmental management system standard, requires that “management provide the resources essential to the implementation and control of the environmental management system.” This is especially important as it pertains to awareness, education and training. In addition, based on the aspects identified during the analysis process, any maintenance practice that could possibly negatively impact one of the environmental challenges should be monitored to ensure compliance with the established environmental policy. Measuring performance and documenting all actions taken, especially those based on valuable lessons learned in the field, is paramount to properly implementing the comprehensive GEM Plan.
The final two steps in the GEM process are evaluation and revision. We will cover those topics in the final installment in February.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Bushman is the director of Ecodesigns International, a golf course management consulting firm. Contact him at ecodesigns@satx.rr.com.
