Arbutus Ridge Goes Green

Arbutus Ridge Golf Club (ARGC), just north of Victoria, is continuing its commitment to environmentally sustainable practices, and socially responsible management with the following key initiatives:

1. Receiving Certification in Environmental Planning from the Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary Program for Golf Courses (ACSP), April 2008.
2. Formation of a staff “Greening Committee.”
3. Becoming one of only five golf courses in Canada to officially measure their Carbon Footprint.

The Audubon Certificate in Environmental Planning has been over a year in the making, and is the first step in a much larger plan to achieve a Designation in Environmental Planning. Only seven golf courses in BC have achieved this Designation to date. By joining and participating in the ACSP, Arbutus Ridge Golf Club will be involved in projects that enhance habitat for wildlife and preserve natural resources for the benefit of the local community. These projects may include: placing nesting boxes for cavity-nesting birds such as bluebirds and swallows, utilizing integrated pest management techniques, conserving water, and maintaining food and cover for wildlife.
 
A sample of current initiatives include reducing paper waste by reusing single sided paper, scanning rather than printing, use of the company intranet to distribute information, and using the low-ink setting on copiers. The use of bio-degradable garbage bags and switching to oxygenic and enzyme-based cleaning products are other recent initiatives. The course is also proud to use only trans fat free 100% vegetable oil for frying and all used oil is donated to the Cowichan Bio-Diesel Cooperative. The reduction of paper napkins and to-go coffee cups, composting off-site, and purchasing local food when possible are other examples. “We are fortunate to have a team that is passionate about reducing our environmental footprint. It’s very motivational and certainly aligns with my personal belief system” says Jason Lowe, General Manager at Arbutus Ridge Golf Club.
 
Arbutus Ridge is one of only five courses across Canada that have registered to measure their Carbon Footprint through a partnership with the National Golf Course Owner’s Association (NGCOA) using the GHG Par “0” program. “Undertaking the process of measuring our Carbon Footprint with this pilot project will allow us to understand exactly what our impact is, and help identify ways of reducing it. We are proud to be the pioneers in the golf industry” said Lowe.