Sustaining Golf's Playing Quality
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Following last year’s successful event Invitation Thursday 11 September 2014 Seminar Sustaining golf’s playing quality Opening day of the KLM Open (European Tour Event) Kennemer Golfclub, Zandvoort, The Netherlands Come and visit the Dutch Open on Friday! “The institutions and companies that manage golf, and profit from it, must take a lead and direct it strongly towards a more sustainable pathway”Richard Holland, Chief Conservation Officer at WWF A lot is happening in the European Golf Industry. The challenge to guarantee golf’s playing quality in a clean environment, is bringing organisations and initiatives, in and outside of golf, together. The sector is accepting its social and environmental responsibility and showing lea- dership. The European discussion is gaining momentum. Sustainable Golf is the key issue to be addressed. How can the sector come together and develop a European strategy to balance optimal playing quality with a clean environment? 11 september 2014 Sustaining golf’s playing quality Seminar Programme 11:00 Registration and Lunch 12:00 Opening Symposium and Welcome by Programme Chairman Marieke van Rhijn Boardmember Netherlands Golf Federation (Sustainable Golf) and Dutch Turfgrass Research Foundation Part 1 - Speakers 14:00 Tea Break Part 2 - Speakers Presentations and discussion 17:00 Drinks Click here to register Seminar Sustaining golf’s playing quality Thursday 11 September 2014 Speakers “A scientific collaboration and the development and integration of turfgrass research programmes for the Nordic and Northern European Area” Maria Strandberg (director, STERF) Bruno Hedlund (chairman, STERF) Pieter Aalders (chairman, DTRF) DTRF and STERF have a common interest in promoting high quality turf on golf courses and sports fields, while also guaranteeing that ecosystem protection and enhancement are fully integrated into facility planning, design, construction and management. The DTRF and STERF collaboration will strengthen the strategy of ensuring that turfgrass research and development focuses on internationally important key areas where a concerted research and industrial effort is required. Together we will inspire the golf and turfgrass industry to directly support and get involved in relevant research that has a practical application for the sustainable development and management of golf courses and sports facilities. “Playing politics with playing quality” Steve Isaac (The R&A) Golf is one of few sports that is not played on a standardised playing surface, meaning that, providing you have a hole, a teeing ground, a club and a ball, it can, theoretically, be played anywhere! This can make it difficult to discuss minimum playing requirements. How to address the issue of golf’s playing quality in discussions with organisations outside golf? ”The perception of playing quality” Anne-Mette Dahl Jensen (Forest & Landscape, LIFE, University of Copenhagen) Each golf player perceives playing quality in a unique way and it is defined by many different factors on the course. A golf player’s definition of playing quality might depend upon skills, what the eyes see, and may additionally vary according to geography. Different golf institutions and grass researchers use their own definition of playing quality, usually based on a different set of parameters. But is it actually based on the player’s opinion?” “Water management, key to sustainable playing quality” Demie Moore, Wageningen University Seminar Sustaining golf’s playing quality Thursday 11 September 2014 “The common business sense of ‘Going Green’” Ian Ouwerkerk, MSc Wageningen University, Facility Director Burggolf Burggolf, the largest golfcourse operator in The Netherlands is going green. The International, Burggolf’s latest prestigious golf course development near Amsterdam received the GEO certificate during the Deloitte Ladies Open in May 2014. The other eight Burggolf courses are heading towards GEO-certification. “Maximizing funding support for your turfgrass research program.’ The topic will cover how the Alberta Turfgrass Research Foundation took control of funding the research program and how this support helped us in attaining a large government grant for research. Jim Ross, Research Manager, Canadian Turfgrass Research Foundation “Developing a European strategy for Sustainable Golf” Richard Heath, General Secretary, EGA Sustainable Golf Committee “The role of accredited sustainability standards and certification in improving the industry’s performance and profile” Jonathan Smith, GEO “Presentations and discussion on the development of evidence-based strategies on water quality and pesticide-use’’ European and national legislation is being developed in various European countries. This affects the development and management of sports fields and golf courses. A pro-active, evidence-based approach is necessary to protect the interests of golf and to become a constructive and responsible social partner in the discussions. What is the responsibility of National Golf Federations and how do they work for the golf sector together with other organizations to protect golf’s interests and develop a sustainable national and European strategy for golf? Marc Verneirt, Vlaamse Vereniging voor Golf Maria Strandberg, Swedish Golf Federation and STERF Marieke van Rhijn, Board member NGF and DTRF John Moverley, Chairman Amenity Forum UK Prof. Martin Bocksch, Deutscher Golf Verband David Gomez, Spanish Golf Federation Torben Kastrup Petersen, Dansk Golf Union Seminar Sustaining golf’s playing quality Thursday 11 September 2014 Recommendations for this event: “For the last four years sustainability has been a major focus of the KLM Open tournament organization and our partners KLM, Deloitte and ABN AMRO. This focus has resulted in the KLM Open being named the most Sustainable Golf Tournament* in Europe the last two years running. With small concerted steps you can achieve more than you think. I wish you a productive discussion on this interesting subject and hope you will get as enthusiastic about sustainability as we are.” Daan Slooter, Tournament Director KLM Open “The DTRF has done an excellent job in bringing together organizations from outside of golf to discuss the game’s environmental sustainability. This will be a most valuable and stimulating event.” Steve Isaac, Director – Golf Course Management, The R&A “The sustainability movement affects not only golf organizations, but the whole golf community - golf courses, staff, the greenkeeping industry and players as well. For example, more restrictive policies on water use can result in dry, fast and difficult fairways - which can be good; but total bans on the use of pesticides may result in disease pressure that affects the quality of greens. The NGF feels a great responsibility to work together with golf facilities to address the challenges and engage the golfer in these important issues.” Jeroen Stevens, Director – Netherlands Golf Federation “The only way forward for a strong golf industry is to demonstrate environmental, social and economic sustainability in partnership with all stakeholders actively involved.” Lodewijk Klootwijk, Director EGCOA “Sustainably managed golf facilities can provide an important social, environmental and economic resource. To fulfill this, the golf sector needs concerted and collective solutions, underpinned by robust, applied science.” Maria Strandberg, Director STERF (Scandinavian Turfgrass and Environment Research Foundation) “Sustainable golf course management requires coordinated research and dissemination of new knowledge throughout Europe.” Trygve Aamlid, vice- chairman STERF ‘’Promoting sustainable and affordable golf that is both challenging and fun for all ages and categories of golfers should be at the forefront for all golfing organizations. I wish you a productive meeting.” Laurence Pithie, Turf Master One ‘’The European golf industry has a unique opportunity to show leadership in sustainability.’’ Christopher Boyd, Biodiversity unit, DG Environment, European Commission ‘’The institutions and companies that manage golf, and profit from it, must take a lead and direct it strongly towards a more sustainable pathway.’’ Richard Holland, Chief Conservation Officer at WWF (World Wide Fund for Nature) * Sustainable Golf Index Seminar Sustaining golf’s playing quality Thursday 11 September 2014 Registration Click here to register The number of visitors for the event is limited. Seminar fee € 89,- p.p. including parking fee and voucher for second round KLM Open. Location Hotel NH Zandvoort Burgemeester van Alphenstraat 63 2041 KG Zandvoort (The Netherlands) KLM Open The European Tour – KLM Open event is taking place from 11 - 14 September at the Kennemer Golf & Country Club, Zandvoort, nearby the seminar location. Attendees can purchase passes at a reduced rate for the second round on Friday 12th September (see registration form). Questions? Dutch Turfgrass Research Foundation [email protected] For information on travel and accommodation please contact Thorben Kaldenberg ([email protected]) DTRF Secretariat Danzigerkade 8, 1013 AP Amsterdam, The Netherlands Phone: 0031-6-24636640, E-mail: [email protected] www.turfgrass-sciences.com - www.sportgrassen.nl DTRF PARTNERS SPONSORS DTRF EVENT ORGANIZED IN COLLABORATION WITH ® Seminar Sustaining golf’s playing quality Thursday 11 September 2014 About DTRF The mission of the Dutch Turfgrass Research Foundation (founded 2013) is to unlock some of the mysteries of turfgrass systems and establish