Golf Facility: Hørsholm Golf Prepared by: Ole Riger-Kusk Date: October 2017 Executive Summary Hørsholm Golf is located approx. 20 km north of Copenhagen. The first 9 holes were established in 1992 at the same time as a 9-hole par-3 course. The course was expanded by 9 holes in 1995 and in 1999 further 9 holes were established so that the course now has 27 holes and a 9 hole par-3 course. The course is established on previously intensively cultivated farmland. Several greens were reconstructed in 2005 as the club wishes red fescue to be the primary variety of grass. This work was initiated by Chris Haspell, one of the driving forces behind the "Sons of the Golf", aimed at reintroducing the classic way of managing golf courses as previously used in Scotland. This work has resulted in a very low consumption of pesticides for a number of years just as the consumption of fertilizers and water is very low. A low environmental impact is therefore a natural part of the golf course's DNA. The course has for a number of years used sheep for maintaining the course. The experience is that sheep result in a good rough and that the amount undesirable plants, especially clover and dandelions, are effectively reduced. In addition golfers see sheep as an element that increases the experience of the course. Several beehives are places on the course. Finally lickstones for deer are also placed a number of places for increasing the biodiversity of the course. Overall, the course has been one of the pioneers in introducing classic maintenance of golf courses with the result that the environmental impact is extremely low, especially pesticides, fertilizers and water. Since the last certification in 2011, many actions have been completed to reduce the environmental impact from maintaining the golf course. Possible projects are collected in an action plan, which currently comprises a total of 60 projects. Every year, projects are selected from the action plan to be implemented during the next year. Since the last certification, both smaller
projects like setting up of beehives and owl boxes and introduction of a new waste sorting system and other major projects such as establishing a major earth bank and replacing the oil burner in the clubhouse with a heat pump has been implemented. Therefore a persistent and structured reduction of the environmental impact from the maintaining of the course is taking place. Nature The area on which the course is established is former farmland. The landscape is moderately hilly and very open with scattered trees and shrubs. The soil is primarily clay soil. There are several smaller lakes on the course. Establishment of the course has led to the introduction of valuable new habitats compared to the former conditions as biotopes on the course are connected well and efficiently to biotopes around the course which therefore form a whole. The municipality of Hørsholm has also conducted a very thorough review of the lakes on the course, which emphasizes the good relationship between the golf course and the municipality. This forms the basis for the development and management of the course. There are some hares on the course. There are currently 430 bird cages for starlings, meadows and owls. A strategy for amount and composition of birds on the course is developed. Members of the Danish Ornithological Society (DOF) are monitoring the bird cages and they found that there are inhabitants in a very large percentage of bird cages. Collaboration with DOF includes the maintenance of bird cages and counting of the number and types of birds on the course. In 2011 cooperation with the municipality of Hørsholm was launched concerning taking care of and development of the lakes on the course.
This cooperation continues with regular combined assessments of the lakes. The care of the lakes is adjusted according to the recommendations from the municipality. Since the last certification an embankment has been established to protect the golf course against noise from roads near the track. This embankment is partly shaped like a beetle embankment with a very varied flower mix which promotes biodiversity on and around the course. The composition of grass species is promoted using very limited amounts of fertilizer. The consumption of fertilizer is further limited as semi-rough and rough is not fertilized at all. In Denmark, according to an order adopted by the Parliament, restrictions have been imposed concerning consumption of pesticides on golf courses. In Hørsholm only a very limited amount of herbicides are used to control clover. No fungicides have been used for many years. Consumption of pesticides on the course is therefore much lower than the maximum consumption according to the executive order. Weed control is either controlled mechanically or by use of sheep (rough). All areas including the area for washing machines are designed according to Danish legislation, so the risk of contamination from these areas is minimized. Only very limited amounts of fertilizer and pesticides are used, so the risk for contamination of lakes and groundwater from these substances are limited. Wastewater from the clubhouse is lead to the municipal waste water system. Wastewater from maintenance facility is lead to an approved percolate system. Surface water is discarded according to municipal guidelines. Testes using organic hydraulic oils have been conducted, but the tests proved that the oils could not be used in the machines at the club. Products like fuel, pesticides and fertilizers are stored according to Danish legislation. Overall, there is a very small risk that the golf course poses a risk of pollution of surface water, groundwater and soil.
Resources Water for irrigating the course is obtained from the club's own drilling. Only greens and tees are watered. Fairways and rough are therefore not watered. Part of the strategy for maintaining the grass composition is implemented by limiting the use of water and by implementing the adopted watering strategy. In addition, the irrigation is carried out in such a way that evaporation is minimized, so that the consumption of water is very low (typically 4,000-7,500 m 3 / year). Drinking water derives from a private waterworks. Consumption of water is not recorded daily. Such registration could be used when optimizing the irrigation strategy. It is therefore recommended that meters be set up for a close recording of the consumption of water for watering, although consumption is very low. Since the last certification, the golf course has been reviewed for a project conducted by the University of Copenhagen. The purpose has been to find measures to reduce the impact from operating the course. The report contains assessments of the extent of greenhouse gas emissions from activities in the club. Based on these assessments measures have been taken to reduce the club's greenhouse gas emissions. The proposals are part of the club's action plan and will be implemented when the club has funds and time for doing it. A heat pump has been installed for heating the clubhouse. Light bulbs in clubhouse and greenhouse have been replaced by low-energy light bulbs wherever possible. It is recommended to consider the purchase of hybrid mowers also to reduce noise from the use especially in the earlier morning hours. Setting up submeters on the electrical system can help targeting the effort concerning reducing the consumption of electricity. It is therefore recommended to set up a relevant number of submeters. In addition, it is recommended to implement the most relevant actions mentioned in the reports prepared.
The club has a procurement policy that states that the club will, as far as possible, conduct local procurement and apply eco-labeled products, if possible. Reuse of materials is largely carried out. This include, for example grass clippings, which are composted and recycled to the course. The extent of paper used is restricted as much as possible as much of information from the club is only sent as mails. Employees are encouraged not to print documents and instead use tablets and mobile phones. It is recommended to increase use the electronic media for communication and to continuously explore the possibilities for local shopping including ecolabeled products. Finally, it is recommended to continue to include environmental impact when purchasing machines including mowers. Community Open-house events are held where schoolchildren and other interested parties can visit the golf club and see how the course is constructed and maintained. At one of these events, visitors were invited to help build insect houses. Golfers are encouraged to participate in maintaining the golf course i.e. maintenance of bird cages on the course. The club largely uses mails and other electronic options for information on, among other things, environmental conditions on the course and measures to further reduce the impact. To further expand the scope of contacts with the community, it is advisable to investigate the possibilities of connecting school classes to activities on the course. Activities could be playing the course and/or activities concerning the environment on the course i.e. like the very fine initiative construction insect houses.
Conclusion Hørsholm Golf has completed an impressive job reducing the use of pesticides, fertilizers and water when managing the course. This has resulted in very limited use of pesticides on the golf course for a number of years just as consumption of water and fertilizer is very low. This work should also be given high priority in the future. Since the course was first certified in 2011 work has been implemented assessing and limiting the environmental impact from managing the course. This work has focused on energy consumption primarily in club houses. A series of reports have been prepared indicating possibilities in the form of concrete actions such as procurement of a heat pump which has been implemented. It is recommended that this work be prioritized in the future. There is good cooperation with the municipality determining managing the lakes on the course and linking biotopes on the course with biotopes in the surrounding environment, which has resulted in that the nature on the course relates to biotopes around the course.