Project: SSDM Golf Course Environmental Management Survey 2011

Timeframe: February 2012

In April 2011 Sports Surface Design and Management developed a survey aimed at gauging the current attitudes relating to the environmental management of New Zealand golf courses. The survey captured an overview of the following areas:

1. The current attitudes towards the environmental management of golf courses in New Zealand, from the perspective of the golf course superintendent and also the player
2. The key limiting factors that golf clubs believe to be responsible for compromising their ability to manage the course in a more sustainable and environmentally sensitive manner
3. The challenges and limitations facing New Zealand golf courses in terms of the availablity of resources, time and support
4. The level of awareness and emphasis placed upon environmental issues
5. Opinion on what is sustainable best practice and what factors are key to achieving this 

Key points:

• There is approximately a total “unmanaged” land area of 11,250 ha within all the 18 hole golf courses in New Zealand.
• 63% of respondents stated that they do not have a budgetary allowance with which to charge environmental projects to.
• Whilst 60% of superintendents questioned said they had a passion for the environment only 11% believed that their membership would like to see New Zealand golf courses be more environmentally aware.
• Browntop was the dominant turfgrass species of respondent’s greens, it was also considered the most “sustainable” turfgrass species by respondents.
• 92% of respondents believed that a stimpmeter reading of 9-10ft was sustainable.
• 91% of respondents are applying 10-20 annual applications of pesticide to their greens as part of a preventative programme.
• 50% of respondents stated that issues relating drainage on the golf course caused them most stress.

Click here to download a full summary of the SSDM Golf Course Environmental Management Survey 2011. The survey was sent out to over 250 courses, with a 24% response rate.