5
5.1
TECHNICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF GOLF COURSE GOLF COURSE ARCHITECTS The Avalon golf course design has been entrusted to the Golf Course Architects firm Matkovich & Hayes, represented by Mr Peter Matkovich, and assisted by the Agronomist Mr. Michael Wellington. Matkovich and Hayes have been designing and building golf courses for fifteen years and are committed to producing top class golf courses which take into account well‐
being of golfers, protection of the environment and interests of surrounding communities Since 1990, Peter Matkovich has been working as golf course architect and has designed and built numerous golf courses which have pinpointed him as one of the leading designers in South Africa. He has been involved in the design of world renowned golf courses around the world, for example, Pinnacle Point, Arabella Golf Club, Silver Lakes, Umhlali in South Africa and Bel Ombre in Mauritius. Up to now, he has completed over 20No new courses and renovated more than twenty‐one other courses. 5.2
GOLF COURSE DESIGN 5.2.1
Length and Par A standard round of golf consists of playing 18 holes; therefore, most golf courses have adopted the same number of holes. However, some courses may have only 9 holes, hence the course is played twice per round, while others may have 27 or 36 holes; in such cases, players choose two groups of 9 holes at a time, for novelty and renewed enjoyment and also for maintenance reasons. “Par” is a term in golf used to denote the pre‐determined number of strokes that a golfer should require to complete a hole, a round (the sum of the pars of the played holes), or a tournament (the sum of the pars of each round). Pars are the central component of stroke play, the most common kind of play in professional golf tournaments. Almost invariably, holes are assigned par values between three and five strokes. For a casual player from the middle tees, a par‐three hole will range between 90m to 230m from the tee to the pin. Par‐four holes range between 230 to 410m, although tournament players will often encounter par‐four holes as long as 460m or more, as it is not uncommon for short par‐five holes for normal play to be turned into par‐four holes in championship play. Par‐five holes are typically between 410 to 550 m, but in the modern game, holes of over 600 metres are becoming more common in championship play. Other relevant factors in setting the par for the hole include the terrain and obstacles (such as trees, water hazards, hills, or buildings) that may require a golfer to take more (or fewer) shots. Some golf courses feature par‐sixes and, albeit very rarely, par‐sevens, although the latter are not recognized by the United States Golf Association. The site largely determines the character, quality and cost of the golf course. The golf course has been designed according to international level and taking into account the environmental characteristics of the site. The Avalon golf course will be built over an area of 15ha and will comprise of 18 holes over a length of 6200m and will comprise of 72par. The detailed features are given in Table 6‐1 below. Table 6‐1: Hole, Par & Tees Details of Avalon Golf Course Hole Par Pro Tees(m) 1 4 380 2 5 510 3 4 430 4 4 300 5 3 150 6 4 370 7 3 140 8 5 500 9 4 370 OUT 36 3150 10 4 340 11 3 160 12 5 500 13 4 400 14 3 150 15 4 370 16 5 460 17 4 270 18 4 400 IN 36 3050 Total 72 6200 5.2.2
Sod Farm At this stage of the project procurement cycle, it is envisaged that sod or turf for the golf course will be grown in a specialized area known as the sod farm. The sod will usually be harvested some 10 to 18 months after planting, depending on the growing climate. As the site is located within a humid region, it is expected that irrigation at the sod farm will only marginal, and will be effected only during long dry spells. The tentative location of the sod farm at the site is shown on the General Massing Plan enclosed at Annex 4A at the end of Section 4 entitled “Architectural Aspects of Golf Course Service Buildings”. On the farm, the sod will undergo fertilization, watering as necessary, frequent mowing and subsequent vacuuming to remove the clippings. It will be harvested using specialized equipment, precision cut to standardized sizes. Sod will be typically harvested in small square slabs and rolled rectangles – which will be utilized eventually for the development of the tees, greens and fairways. Sod will be grown on site to avoid any long transport which may cause drying out and heat build‐up in the grass. This measure will help in mitigating cost and associated air pollution problem caused by transportation of the sod. Alternatively, the seeding approach may also be adopted. This will be decided by the Agronomist during the implementation of the construction of the golf course. 5.2.3
Turf grass Area The game of golf consists of playing a ball with a club from the teeing ground into the hole at the green by a stroke or successive strokes in accordance with the rules. In order to achieve a high standard of the game, the turf is specifically designed and managed accordingly. Furthermore, aesthetic appeal is important to a golf course. The intensively managed turf grass area consists of the fairways, tees and greens. 5.2.3.1 Tees The 'teeing ground' is the starting place for the hole to be played. It is a rectangular area two club‐lengths in depth, the front and the sides of which are defined by the outside limits of two tee‐markers. The teeing ground is generally as level as feasible, and most are slightly raised from the surrounding fairway. The successful tee will be near enough to the preceding green, clear of overhanging trees, will allow a view of the fairway at the end of the drive, will fit into the landscape discreetly and not deceive the player by false orientation or levels. It is desirable that the upper surface of the tee should possess a subtle gradient scarcely, if at all, visible to the player but strong enough to promote some surface flow of water when there is heavy rain or indeed any need to evacuate excess water, for example after irrigation The most common tee areas, in increasing order of length from the hole, are the ladies' tee, the men's tee, and the championship tee. Other tee‐boxes commonly designated include the junior tee, closer to the hole than the ladies' tee, and the senior tee, generally between the ladies' tee and the men's tee. In tournaments, golfers generally tee off from the box one level further from the "normal" box for their class (men use the championship tee, ladies use the senior or men's tee, and juniors use the ladies' tee). 5.2.3.2 Fairways The fairway is the closely mown area that usually runs between the tee box and putting green of a golf hole, and is the target for golfers on all holes. After the first shot from the tee ("teeing off"), the player hits the ball, from where it came to rest, toward the green. The area between the tee box and the putting green where the grass is cut even and short is called the “fairway” and is generally the most advantageous area from which to hit. The area between the fairway and the out‐of‐bounds markers, and also between the fairway and the green, is the rough, the grass of which is cut higher than that of the fairway and which is generally a disadvantageous area from which to hit. On par‐3 holes, the player is expected to be able to drive the ball to the green on the first shot from the tee box. On holes longer than par 3, players are expected to require at least one additional shot made from the fairway or the rough. “Rough" also refers to areas on a golf course outside of the fairways that generally feature higher, thicker grass or naturally growing (unkept and unmowed) vegetation and does not form part of the managed turf areas. 5.2.3.3 Greens The green, or “putting green”, is the culmination of a golf hole, where the flagstick and hole are located. Getting the golf ball into the hole on the putting green is the object of the game of golf. Greens can vary widely in shape and size, but are most commonly oval or oblong in shape. They can sit level with the fairway or be elevated above the fairway. They can be flat, sloped from one side to the other or contoured all around their surface. The grass of the putting green is cut very short so that a ball can roll for a long distance. The putting green has the shortest turf grass found on a golf course, and that grass should also offer the smoothest surface found on the course. The quality of grass influences the roll of the ball as well as the ability of the player to "take a divot" (effectively, the ability to hit down into the ball, hitting the ball first, then hitting the turf and removing a portion of it as the club continues its arc). Fairways on prestigious tours, like the PGA Tour, are cut low. Mowing heights influence the play of the course. For example, the grass heights at U.S Open events are alternated from one hole to the next in order to make the course more difficult. One example of this is the infamous roughs at U.S Opens, which are often 3‐5 inches high, depending on how close to the fairway or green the section of grass will be. This makes it difficult for a player to recover after a bad shot. The proposed Avalon golf course, comprising of maintained turf grass, will be spread over an area of 14Ha4574m2 say 15Ha, which represents 6.5% of the whole Avalon site of 229Ha9440m2. The maintained turf grass area of 15ha will comprise of the following portions having the respective areas and percentage occupancy of the site is as given in Tale 6‐2 below. Table 6‐2: Occupancy of Tees, Greens and Fairways 5.3
Particulars Areas Percentage Occupancy Tees 1ha 0.4% Greens 1ha 0.4% Fairways 13ha 5.6% Total 15ha 6.5% GOLF COURSE HAZARDS While golf courses often follow the original landscape, some modification is unavoidable. This is increasingly the case as new courses are more likely to be sited on less optimal land. Bunkers and sand traps are almost always artificial, although other hazards may be natural. The hazards are the most feared parts of the golf course because they add strokes to the golfer’s score. There are 3 types of hazards on the golf course: 5.3.1
(i)
Water hazards such as ponds, lakes, and rivers, (ii)
Man‐made hazards such as bunkers (iii)
Natural hazards e.g. dense vegetation Water Hazards In the case of the Avalon project, natural rivers crossing the site will provide a great amount of water hazards on the course, hence no additional water bodies will be constructed on the golf course. 5.3.2
Man‐Made Hazards As explained at sub‐section 5.3 above, sand bunkers are usually constructed on golf course to provide for man‐made hazards. However, in the case of the Avalon project, it is not contemplated, at least at this point of the project development, to have recourse to any such bunkers; the golf course architect has retained the option of making full use of the existing natural features to produce natural hazards – which will therefore constitute a trade‐mark of the Avalon golf course. 5.3.3
Natural Hazards The dense vegetation at the Avalon project site, located along embankments of rivers surrounding the site, and the feeders and natural drains crossing the site will act as natural hazards of the course; therefore, no additional natural hazards will be included in the overall golf design 5.4
GOLF IRRIGATED AREAS Due to excessive rainfall in the region Bois Chéri and Bois Sec, it is foreseen that only tees and greens will be regularly irrigated. Consequently, only an area of 2ha will be regularly irrigated while the landscaped areas, fairways, and roughs will as and when required be irrigated. It is estimated that the natural rainfall pattern prevailing in the area will provide the required water for the exclusive areas of roughs, which together with the tees and greens are spread over a total area of 15Ha. 5.5
ASSOCIATED BUILDINGS AND AMENITIES The Avalon Golf estate project will provide associated amenities comprising of: (a)
1No sales office (b)
1No club house of basement and GF + 1 configuration (c)
1No practice ball booth, (d)
1No half‐way house (e)
Sport amenities such as tennis courts, basket ball, petanque (f)
1No maintenance building encompassing cart areas, and mechanical & electrical utility and support equipment. (g)
Parking area offering 176No parking lots The associated buildings and amenities are more fully detailed at Section 4 entitled “Architectural Aspects of Golf Course Service Buildings” 5.6
ACCESS AND PARKING WITHIN GOLF SITE The site is crossed by several track roads which will have to be tarred, improved and where required widened. A parking area, positioned close to the main entrance, offering a total of 176 parking lots, has been included in the golf estate design. The internal road network will comprise of a combination of 10.0‐metre, 7.0 metre and 6.0metre asphaltic wide roads according to the following hierarchy: (a)
Entrance road: 11.4 metres overall width inclusive of pavement of 0.7 metre width on both sides, a 10.0 metre wide asphaltic concrete roadway section, a concrete drain underneath the pavement (b)
Main internal road: 11.4metre wide inclusive of pavement of 0.7 metres width on both sides, a 7.0metre wide asphaltic concrete section, a concrete drain 700mm wide and finally a 1.5m wide reserve on both sides (c)
Secondary internal road: 9.4metre wide inclusive of pavement of 0.7 metres width on both sides, the 6.0metre wide asphaltic concrete section, a concrete drain 700mm wide and finally a 1.0m wide reserve on both sides The internal road network is shown on the General Massing Plan enclosed at Annex 4A at the end of Section 4. The typical drawings for the entrance approach road, main and secondary roads are enclosed at Annex 5A at the end of Section 5. 5.6.1
Golf Cart paths Buggies and carts will be provided to allow players to move from tees to tees, along the 18‐hole fairways. The cart path included in the golf course will have a concrete surface and will be 2 metres wide. The approximate length when travelling from green to tee will approximately be between 7 and 9km, while the full length cart path will be approximately 10 to 11km. The golf cart paths are shown on the General Massing Plan enclosed at Annex 4A at the end of Section 4. 5.6.2
Access over Water Features Given that the site is crossed by numerous rivers, feeders, natural drains and by one water canal, access for players over those features will have to be provided. For this purpose, different types of bridges have been included in the overall design to allow crossing of rivers, feeders and natural drains. There will be 10No bridges located at strategic places along the water features to allow players to cross and continue the game. The bridges will either be of the vehicular type (appropriate for cars) or golf cart/pedestrian type. Table 5‐3 below gives the bridge allocation and their type. Table 5‐3: Bridge Type Bridge Reference Type Width A Vehicular Bridge 7 metres B Vehicular Bridge 7 metres C Vehicular Bridge 7 metres D Vehicular Bridge 7 metres E Vehicular Bridge 7 metres F Vehicular Bridge 7 metres G Vehicular Bridge 7 metres H Vehicular Bridge 7 metres W Water canal Bridge 3.1 metres X Golf Cart/Pedestrian Bridge 3.1 metres Y Golf Cart/Pedestrian Bridge 3.1 metres Z Golf Cart/Pedestrian Bridge 3.1 metres The location of the above bridges, whether of the vehicular or pedestrian type is clearly shown on the drawing enclosed at Annex 5B at the end of Section 5. 5.6.2.1 Vehicular Bridge Cars will be allowed within the golf course estate along the internal roads. Vehicular bridges have been included in the design to allow cars to cross the water features. The 9No bridges, spread over the site, will be 6 metres wide and will be in reinforced concrete. The typical drawing of the vehicular bridge is enclosed at Annex 5C at the end of this section. 5.6.2.2 Golf Cart Bridge The golf cart bridge, 3.1 metres wide, will allow carts/buggies to cross the rivers, feeders and natural drains For this purpose, they will be light wooden bridges made of timber, having boardwalk/decking type structures on poles. The boardwalk and supporting piles will be reinforced to allow buggies to safely run over them. There will be 3No golf cart bridges spread over the site. The typical drawing of the golf cart bridge is enclosed at Annex 5D at the end of this section. 5.6.2.3 Pedestrian Bridge The pedestrian bridge, 3.1 metres wide, will allow people to cross over. 3No pedestrian bridges have been provided over the site. Typical details of the pedestrian bridge are given on the drawing enclosed at Annex 5D at the end of this section. 5.6.2.4 Survey for Location of Bridge The areas where the bridges will be sited have been duly surveyed to investigate whether it is feasible to locate the bridges at those earmarked locations without jeopardizing safety or affecting the flora. The survey has revealed that it is perfectly environmentally safe to locate these bridges at the selected positions. The survey drawings for the location of the 10No bridges are enclosed at Annex 5E at the end of Section 5. 5.6.2.5 Crossing of Water Canal Access over the water canal which crosses the site and whose alignment will not be altered, will have to be provided. A light timber wooden bridge will be included in the golf design to allow players to safely cross the water canal. The structural details of the bridge for crossing of water canal will be similar to the golf cart and pedestrian bridge. The typical drawing of the proposed bridge crossing the water canal is enclosed at Annex 5D at the end of Section 5. 5.7
FORMAL LANDSCAPING AND NATURAL AREAS The golf course, essentially occupying 14Ha4574m2 say 15Ha or 6.5% of the whole site, will constitute the formal landscaping of the site and will be directly planted with turf. 5.7.1
Natural Areas The various rivers, feeders, natural drains crossing the site will constitute the natural areas of the project. The Forests and Reserves Act stipulates that reserves will have to be respected according to the status of the specific water feature: ƒ
In the case of rivers, a reserve of 16 metres needs to be respected ƒ
In the case of rivulets, a reserve of 8 metres needs to be respected ƒ
In the case of feeders, a reserve of 3 metres needs to be respected The surface water bodies along with their reserves will constitute the natural areas of the site. 5.8
TOTAL SITE AREA The proposed golf course comprising of maintained turf grass will be spread over an area of 14Ha4574m2 say 15Ha, which represents 6.5% of the whole Avalon site of 229Ha9440m2. 5.9
FLOOD CONTROL AND STORM DRAINAGE Events of floods will have minimal impact on the golf course, due to no exposed soil. However, letting water out at a single point from a built‐up area can be very controversial. High speed and large volume drainage at a single point should therefore be avoided on a golf course. An appropriate drainage system will be designed to handle storm water on the golf course site. The whole site will be drained by a network of: (a)
Open stone‐lined dish‐shaped drains running along the roads (b)
Covered concrete drains below footpaths (c)
Open earth drains (d)
Buried pipe drains along the greens Water collected by these drains will be discharged either into soakaways or into existing earth drains, canals or rivers. The pipe drains across the greens will collect also the chemicals which will be sprayed over the greens. They will discharge into dedicated collecting tanks and pits from which irrigation effluent will be retrieved for disposal. 5.10
GOLF COURSE CONSTRUCTION SPECIFICATION 5.10.1 Earthworks and Earth Movement The engineers and architects will ensure that the Avalon golf course is constructed without much modification to the landscape so as to firstly and primarily reduce environmental impacts and secondly to a lesser context reduce costs. However, some minor modification may be required. Nevertheless, at this preliminary stage, it is thus estimated that a volume of 150 000m3 of earth will have to be moved. At construction stage, the contractor and project manager will ensure that all earthmoving materials will be balanced for safety and economic reasons. The grubbed material will be pushed to the lower extremities of the cleared fairway and topsoil will be stockpiled in a windrow at the upper extremities of the cleared area. This will lead to the creation of two berms which will be perpendicular to each other, hence slowing erosion during the shaping bulk earthworks process. All low points, from which water will run, will be protected with silt fence and any erosion in such areas will be rectified immediately after any heavy rain event which may have altered the area. In all instances, a cut‐off drain shall imperatively be shaped above each fairway in and out of the play areas. Such cut‐offs will be sufficiently large to accommodate any expected large amount of water in case of heavy rainfall and will be shaped to blend with the surroundings. Typically the cut‐off drains would be 500mm deep and 1.0metre to 1.5 metres wide. As an additional environmental protection measure, vetiver grass will be planted perpendicular to and along the drains to further reinforce potentially erodible areas. 5.10.2 Sources of Materials No materials for filling will be imported from outside the site. On completion of the shaping, the topsoil will be replaced over the shaped sub‐soil while the grub material will be utilized for the repair out of play areas. If sod will be available, it may be used to protect areas of high erosion and afterwards used to reinforce all tees and greens. The turf grass used will be grown at the on‐site sod farm via stolons/roots. Alternatively, seeding may also be adopted. 5.10.3 Green Construction Type The United States Golf Association (USGA) is an organisation which was formed by a group of leading golf and environmental organizations who eventually developed a set of principles which aims at producing environmental excellence in golf course planning, siting, design, construction, maintenance and facility operations. This organisation has dedicated a significant amount of time and resources focusing on environmental outreach for golf courses. Since the promoter, Lignecaliste Co Ltd, will seek accreditation with USGA for its golf course, it will have to demonstrate that all aspects of green construction have been included where possible in the design, construction and operation. 5.10.4 Use of Non‐Peat Alternatives Peat is usually used as a soil amendment/conditioner to increase soil organic matter in the root zone for turf grass. However, given that the soil of the site has been under sugar cultivation, subjected to regular ploughing and use of fertilizers, no soil amendments/conditioning will be required. Furthermore, since a composting plant will be set up at the golf estate to convert the trimmed grass and other green wastes into compost, the compost produced on‐site will be used as enriching agent for the soil. Compost is known to be good soil amendment/conditioner whose use is on the increase due to accruing associated benefits, both financially and environmentally. Moreover, the use of such compost being an environmental‐friendly product will result in the reduction of chemical fertilizers. This is a positive environmental approach and cost‐saving device. 5.10.5 Artificial Water Bodies As explained at sub‐section 5.3, no artificial constructed water bodies will be included in the golf course playing field given that the site is already crossed by numerous water courses. The existing water courses will enhance the natural aesthetic appeal of the golf course site. 5.11
WATER USE 5.11.1 Water Demand Golf courses are known as being high water demand projects mostly due to the intensive irrigation of turf grass which has to remain green and healthy at all times. Therefore, the amount of water required for irrigation is dependent on the rate of evapotranspiration and the climatic conditions of the area where the golf course is established. The amount of water is also dependent on the turf type to be laid at the golf course. The turf type proposed for the Avalon golf course is Bermuda grass, typically a hybrid type known as Tifway‐419 which requires very little irrigation as compared to traditional turf types. Moreover, given that the Bois Sec/Bois Cheri region receives a high amount of rainfall all year through, the irrigation schedule need not be as aggressive as for other golf courses. It has been estimated that an average volume of 300m3 per day of water will be required for irrigation and 10m3 for domestic use as given in Table 5‐4 below and validated at sub‐section 7.1.1 of Section 7 entitled “Utility Planning”. Table 5‐4‐ Water Demand Amount Of Water Required(m3/Day) Use Irrigation of Golf course 300 Domestic 10 Total 310 Note: The aspects of water resources, water demand and provision have been exhaustedly treated in sub‐sections 7.1.1 and 7.1.2 of Section 7, entitled “Utility Planning”. 5.11.2 Irrigation Water Studies on grass planted in sod farms have established that at this stage of growth, only a fraction of the grass root system is more prone to drought stress. Therefore based on these facts, the optimum irrigation schedule will be as such: ƒ
Irrigation to about 10 cm – 15 cm soil depth for 2 to 3 times per day for the first 4 to 7 days after planting ƒ
Irrigation at least once daily for another 2weeks The number of days in between irrigation will be gradually extended as the grass continues to establish itself as this will force the root system further down into the ground and increase its drought tolerance. The frequency of irrigation will also be dependent on the amount of rainfall. The project site being in a high intensity rainfall area, the required volume of irrigation water has been established to be order of 300m3/day, and an average irrigation application rate of 2mm/day. Note: The aspects of irrigation water demand, irrigation networks and schedules have been exhaustedly described in sub‐sections 7.1.1 and 7.1.2 of Section 7 entitled “Utility Planning”. 5.12
SEWAGE LOAD AND USE OF TREATED WASTEWATER 5.12.1 Estimated Sewage Load The total volume of wastewater generated at the Avalon Golf course project has been estimated to be of the order of 8m3 per day. The wastewater will solely be of the domestic type. 5.12.2 Treatment and Recycling Owing to the small volume of wastewater to be generated daily, it would be not economically viable to install a wastewater treatment plant on site. Furthermore, given that the district of Savanne is not presently sewered, disposal will be done through an on‐site disposal method, comprising of septic tanks and a combination of adsorption pits/leaching fields. Note: The aspects of wastewater estimation, collection, treatment and disposal have been exhaustedly discussed in sub‐section 7.6, Section 7 entitled “Utility Planning” ‐ to which the reader is referred for more details. 5.13
IRRIGATION SYSTEM The design and specification of the irrigation system are generally crucial in determining the ultimate water use efficiency of the project. The proposed preliminary irrigation system has been enclosed at Annex 7A at the end of Section 7 entitled “Utility Planning”. 5.13.1 Type and Configuration The irrigation system will comprise of 2No row block systems having individual valve in head around the greens. For tees, smaller target sprinklers will be used. Typically, at this point in time, it is estimated that 200mm, 160mm and 110mm HDPE and PVC pipes will be used for the irrigation network because this type of material has made its proof in the Mauritian context. The HDPE pipe network will be fitted with self‐
activating sprinklers positioned at intervals on the pipe network. Due to high rainfall prevailing in the region, it is foreseen that irrigation will be limited to tees and greens only. Nevertheless, turf valves will be installed along the fairways for emergencies and grow in. Limiting irrigation to tees and greens would lead to an appreciable reduction in water demand and the use of pesticides and fertilizers ‐ which is therefore a sound environmental measure. The average water demand in South Africa for medium and up‐market course varies between 1000m3 to 1500m3/day. In the case of Avalon golf estate, an estimation of the order of 300m3/day for irrigation has been proposed taking into consideration the high rainfall area of Bois Sec/Bois Cheri. The water demand is thus considered to be much lower compared to South African golf courses, and the other golf courses generally – which is a good environmental practice. 5.13.2 Type of Material The irrigation material made up of HDPE and PVC, similar to what is currently used in golf courses of South Africa, will be used for the project site. No reported problems with the material currently being used has been known to date. Moreover, this type of material has proved to be of long duration, corrosion‐free and perfectly suited to the Mauritian context. 5.13.3 Control system The control system, to be designed at the detailed design stage of the project, will be dependent on the available budget. However, a medium level of control will be applied, through the use of satellites and station per hole. Contemplating the possibility of irrigating only tees and greens, the control system will be kept very simple. Such an approach is considered to be environmentally sound as the associated technical know‐how will be of a relatively lower level – which will be more sustainable in the future. 5.13.4 Pumping Station A small but state‐of‐the‐art pumping station will be put in place to activate the irrigation system and network. It will consist of duty and stand‐by pumps of estimated capacity of 5‐6kW which will provide pressure heads of up to 2.5bars which will be sufficient to activate the self‐activating sprinklers. Note: The whole irrigation system will be subject to review at the detailed design stage of the project. 5.14
TURF GRASS SELECTION 5.14.1 Type of Turfgrass Taking into account the advantages to the environment and the relatively low maintenance, the type of turf grass proposed to be used on the fairways, greens and tees will be the Bermuda grass, with the typical “Tifway‐419” hybrid. 5.14.2 Special Attributes of Bermuda grass – Tifway‐419 Bermuda grass is one of the most widely used turfgrasses in tropical and subtropical regions as it grows best in full‐sun conditions. This species which is native to Africa, produces a rigorous low‐growing turfgrass stand with high density and tolerances to both traffic and drought stress. Extensive research undertaken on Bermuda grass has led to conclude that Bermuda grass is one of the most environmentally‐friendly turf grass utilized on golf courses due to its numerous advantageous characteristics – which for reference and appreciation of the environmental aspects have been listed down below. Table 5‐5 below shows the characteristics of Bermudagrass‐Tifway‐419 compared to other popular turf types. Table 5‐5: Characteristics of different Turf grass used on Golf Courses SPECIES Bermuda Grass Seashore Zoysia Grass paspalum Soil Type Wide Range Wide Range Wide Range Drought Tolerance Good Good Medium Salt tolerance Good Excellent Good Wear Tolerance Good‐Excellent Good‐Excellent Good‐Excellent Nematode Medium ‐Good Good Poor Tolerance Maintenance level Medium Medium High Environment Centipede Grass Acid‐Fertile Medium Poor Poor Poor Poor 5.14.3 Advantages of Bermuda grass The special attributes and advantages which have guided this selection are discussed below. (i)
Drought Resistance and Soil Erosion Bermuda grass is highly drought resistant and can survive in an area that receives less than two hundred and fifty (250) days of rainfall per year. This is due to its rapid establishment and rapid spreading both above ground and below ground. Notwithstanding the fact that the area is relatively wet and humid, this type of grass would still withstand any long spells of absence of rainfall as has been the case recently. Moreover, the site being located in an area of a relatively large amount of rainfall throughout the year, using Bermudagrass as turf will further reduce the amount of water needed to meet the irrigation requirement for the golf course, leading to water conservation, hence providing environmental sustainability. Furthermore, the extensive and deep root system of this grass species, achieved by its vegetable spread ability below ground will drastically reduce the risk of soil erosion. (ii)
Tolerance to Reclaimed Water Bermuda grass is also very tolerant to recycled, grey, and effluent wastewater. Therefore treated effluent from the sewage treatment facilities located on property may be used to irrigate the golf course without causing damage to the turf. Note: Such re‐use of sewage effluent water is not envisaged at present. But this characteristic may be useful in future if and when the promoter decides to recycle the wastewater and use it for irrigation. (iii)
Herbicide Requirements The proposed turf species having a high shoot/root density, it is therefore more able to compete against weeds and other grasses for water and nutrients, hence reducing the dosage of herbicides to be administered during the operational life of the golf course. This leads to an appreciable environmental measure in favour of the development of the golf course (iv)
Pesticide Requirements Bermuda‐ Tifway‐419 is less susceptible to insects and diseases as compared to other turf grasses, hence its use will inevitably bring about a reduction in the dosage of pesticides to be used during the growing period of the turf, as well as during its normal sustainance afterwards. Reduced use of pesticides should at all cost be aimed at, to render the project more environment‐friendly and more sustainable in the future (v)
Fertilizer Requirements Bermuda‐Tifway‐419 has nutrient uptake and utilization mechanisms which provide functional growth and development under very low nutrient imbalance situations. As compared to other turf grasses, this species has a lower nutrient requirement and a higher and more efficient uptake system. This will reduce the amount of fertilizer that will be needed to maintain a healthy turf compared to other species. Bermuda is known to be worthy in terms of low fertilizer requirement and dark green colour. In this respect, low dosage of fertilizer is obviously a sound environmental measure in favour of the project (vi)
Nitrogen Uptake The total yearly use of nitrogen which will be of the order of 300Kg per hectare per year, will be much lower than for other warm season grasses ‐ possibly up to 50% or more, hence reducing significantly the amount of chemicals to be used at the golf course. This is considered to be of high environmental significance. (vii) Soil Versatility Bermuda species is adaptable to a wide range of soil types. This species can survive in heavy to poorly drained soils.
(viii) Aesthetics Bermuda‐Tifway‐419 is soft with a fine and cushioning texture that can help prevent skin abrasions, ankle and knee problems and ‘turf toe’ which are common ailments in golfing. It is extremely traffic‐tolerant, and is of a dark green colour which is appealing to the eye, especially over big areas. Thus, its use will result in a more appealing aesthetic status of the golf course greens, fairways and tees. (ix)
Improved levels of Quality Hybrid Bermuda grass offers improved levels of quality, density and colour, as well as improved tolerances to the stresses of traffic, heat and drought. In addition, they can tolerate mowing heights less than 25mm (1 inch), and they produce few unsightly seed heads. (x)
Seeded Establishment Bermuda‐Tifway‐419 can be established from seed. Seeding rates range is of the order of 5Kg per 100m² (2 pounds per 1000 sq ft), applied with a rotary spreader to promote a uniform average; the amount of seed will be divided into two equal parts which will be applied in two directions across the area. After seeding, the planted area shall be lightly rolled to promote seed‐to‐soil contact, followed by a 6mm layer of top‐dressing such as soil or compost. During the seeded establishment, frequent, light irrigation (about 4 times daily) is recommended for at least 2‐3 weeks. Germination may begin in 5‐14 days and will be complete in 14‐28 days. And finally complete turf cover can be obtained in 4‐6 weeks under optimum growing condition. The possibility of resorting to seeding to establish the Bermuda‐Tifway‐419 constitutes a major advantage in the establishment of the green areas. Importation of cultivators will thus not be necessary obviating the need for quarantine management, which is always somehow cumbersome. Furthermore seeding is more environment–compatible compared to importation and associated quarantine provisions. 5.15
MAINTENANCE FACILITY 5.15.1 Maintenance Building A maintenance building will be constructed at the entrance of the site, away from the club house so as not to disturb the daily operation of the front‐of‐house areas (reception, club house etc). The maintenance building will encompass: ƒ Golf carts parking area for 48 carts ƒ M&E area ƒ Staff changing room, including washroom facilities ƒ Staff mess room, including staff common room and canteen ƒ Chemical storage area ƒ Garden tools store ƒ Flags, markers, signage store ƒ Green keeper’s office Architectural details of the maintenance building are given at sub‐section 4.12, Section 4 entitled “Architectural Aspects of Golf Course Service Buildings” 5.16
TURF MANAGEMENT 5.16.1 Criteria Maintenance of the turf grass at the Avalon golf estate will be through an integrated turfgrass management plan based on the following criteria: ƒ
Use of concept “little and often application” to maximize plant absorption and minimize possible run‐off ƒ
Use of foliar fertilizers i.e. liquid fertilizer substances applied directly to the foliage/leaves of plants for the purpose of delivering an essential nutrient in an immediately available form to the plants and ensuring that the chemicals are absorbed directly by the plants and not released to ground water ƒ
Judicious application of fertilizers so that they remain within the root zone and are not carried in solution either through run‐off or into the ground water ƒ
Utilization of organic fertilizers that enhance bacterial activity within the root zone and result in gradual slow release of nutrient that is taken up by the plant ƒ
Application of any fertilizers will not be carried out prior to anticipated heavy rain or heavy irrigation and it will be ensured that conditions are favourable to their application ƒ
Spraying of pesticides will be carried out on a curative basis only after detection of unacceptable parasite loads. This means that such application will be only sporadic in frequency so that even if environmental impacts were to occur, they would be short‐lived and would not be irreversible ƒ
Whether with fungicides, herbicides or pesticides, the utilization of these substances will only be made with product review to establish the best and shortest acting chemical possible to control specific target The list of fertilizers, herbicides, insecticides and pesticides is given and discussed in the following sub‐sections: 5.16.2 Fertilisers About 300Kg of Nitrogen per hectare per year will be applied using organic and controlled release products which are listed below. Use will be made of the foliar feed product where less than 4Kg of actual nitrogen per hectare will be applied at any one time i.e. “spoon feeding” for maximum nutrient up‐take by the plant and no run‐
off or leaching. This application management of the intended fertilisers results in less environmental impacts insofar as run‐off and any associated leaching are reduced to a minimum. The list of prospective fertilisers is given below; ƒ Marinure (Kelp Extract) ƒ Turf Care KCM The safety data sheets for the above fertilizers have been enclosed at Annex 5F at the end of Section 5. 5.16.3 Chemical Insecticides At this stage of the project procurement cycle, the probable chemical insecticides which will be used are listed in Table 5‐6 below. Table 5‐6: Chemical Insecticides Name Chemical Class Solubility in Water Yearly Application
4 Farmers Alpha Cypermethrin Pyrethroid Forms emulsion Dupont Coragen Insecticide Chlorantranililiprole Slightly soluble 30 litres 15 litres The safety data sheets for the above fertilizers have been enclosed at Annex 5G at the end of Section 5. 5.16.4 Chemical Fungicides Similarly, the probable fungicides which will be used are tabulated below. Table 5‐7: Chemical Fungicides Name Active Ingredient Manufacturer Solubility in Water Yearly Application Daconil Weather Silk Chlorothalonil Syngenta 0.81mg/L at 25oC 40 litres Foliar Fungicide Difenoconazole Syngenta Emulsifiable 30 litres Fore 80WP Ethylene Thiourea DowAgro Sciences Dispersible 15 litres Banner Maxx Propiconazole Syngenta ‐ 12 litres Heritage Maxx Azoxystrobin Syngenta Stable in water 3Kg The manufacturer’s safety data sheets for the above chemical pesticides have been enclosed at Annex 5H at the end of Section 5. 5.16.5 Herbicides It is proposed to utilise the following herbicides in the stated yearly quantities ƒ
Round‐up: 10 litres ƒ
2,4 – D : 15 litres ƒ
Escort : 2Kg ƒ
Servian : 0.5Kg ƒ
Metribuzin: 10 litres It is worth noting that those listed chemicals are commonly used in Mauritius and are quite well‐known to the local suppliers such as Roger Fayd’herbe, BLYCHEM Chemical Ltd, etc. 5.16.6 Environmental Impacts Environmental impacts and mitigative measures of the fertilizers and pesticides have been extensively detailed in the various sub‐sections of Section 8 entitled “Assessment of Environmental Impact Categories”. 5.17
ACCREDITATION There is no obligation for golf courses to subscribe to existing accreditation package or system on the one hand; on the other hand, this accreditation can constitute an added advantage and a good marketing tool, especially on the international level. Consequently, the Avalon golf course will seek accreditation with the United States Golf Association (USGA) as a marketing tool specially when hostering international championships. 5.18
COMPARATIVE STUDY BETWEEN GOLF COURSE AND SUGARCANE APPLICATIONS It has been deemed worthwhile in the EIA study to carry out a comparison between the chemicals which will be used as fungicides, pesticides, fertilizers, and insecticides at the Avalon golf course and the present situation of weedicides application being presently carried out in the sugarcane plantation. 5.18.1 Golf Course Application The golf course application of the chemicals is detailed at sub‐section 5.16 entitled “Turf Management” 5.18.2 Sugarcane Application The average and normal application of weedicides to the sugarcane plantation now existing in the same site is detailed below: Yearly Application: ƒ
1 kg Altrazine ƒ
0.25 kg Velpor (Hexazizone) ƒ
1.5 litres DMA6 (Amine Salt) ƒ
0.2 litres Agrowet – as wetting agent Note: These chemicals are normally spread on all the interlines of the sugarcane 1‐2 weeks after harvest and once a year. Spot Application: ƒ
10 grams Escort (Metsulphuron Methyl) ƒ
0.75 litres Foroxypir (Fluroxypir) ƒ
0.2 litres Agrowet – as wetting agent ƒ
1 kg Round‐up Energy (Glyphosate) Note: These chemicals are normally spread on‐spot directly on the weeds. 5.18.3 Discussion It is not that the site was in a virgin state and would now be occupied by a golf course. The site is already under sugarcane cultivation and which is already subjected to chemicals application as weedicides. This practice has been going on for a considerable number of years. And it can be stated that the practice of application of chemicals over the sugarcane plantations at the site has not adversely impacted upon the quality of the water in the rivers crossing the site. This is validated and proved by the laboratory tests which were carried out on several samples randomly taken from the rivers. The results have been reproduced at sub‐section 3.14 of Section 3 entitled “Site Environmental Characteristics” However, for reference purpose, these quality parameters are reproduced hereafter: (a)
A neutral pH exhibited by the river water (b)
Dissolved Oxygen less than 5mg/L, validating the good water quality of the rivers (c)
Biochemical Oxygen Demand less than 0.5mg/L – validating the good quality water of the rivers and evidencing the fact that the rivers are not polluted It is undeniable that these parameters are indicative of a good‐quality pollutant free water. There is no reason why this situation cannot remain so i.e. sustainable in the future, even though the golf course will be established because all the necessary environmental precautions will be taken (and actually given high incidence and priority) in the implementation programmes of the project both at its constructional and operational phases. 5.19
SOIL MANAGEMENT The Bermuda grass Tifway – 419 tolerates a wide range of soil types, but it grows and develops best in well‐drained soils with pH between 6 and 7. During the Environmental Monitoring of the golf course at its operational phase, composite soil samples will be collected once a year and sent to an accredited laboratory (such as SGS) for nutrient analysis. Bermuda grass requires full sun for best growth. A minimum of 6 hours of full sunlight daily is ideal. Shaded conditions restrict photosynthesis, thus reducing growth. At Avalon, the landscape surrounding the tees, greens and fairways is composed of sugarcane which will not restrict any sunshine onto the turf areas. Hence full growth condition will prevail and full growth potential will be achieved. 5.20
NUTRIENT MANAGEMENT Nitrogen is the nutrient that has the greatest effect on Bermuda grass quality, i.e. the substance that serves best as food to the turf plant. As explained at sub‐section 5.16.2 above, it is estimated that about 300 kg of nitrogen per hectare per year will be the ideal turf application. This will be achieved through the use of slow‐release fertilizer – as such slow‐release fertilizers can and will be applied less frequently than quick‐release fertilizers. A program incorporating the slow‐release nitrogen sources will be developed within the nutrient management strategy at the operational phase of the project. 5.21
IRRIGATION MANAGEMENT Actually growing Bermuda grass Tifway 419 requires on average approximately 20‐
25mm of water per week i.e. between 2‐3 mm per day, depending on evapotranspiration rates prevailing at the site. The irrigation management will incorporate the following tasks and procedures: (i)
(ii)
(iii)
Irrigation will be carried out early in the morning to minimize wind distortion. “Deep” irrigation will be carried out only if absolutely required, and even then will not be more than once or at the worst twice a week – with the aim of promoting root development. The aim will be to achieve a 100 – 150 mm “moistened” depth with each irrigation event. (iv)
(v)
5.22
Morning watering will be adopted (especially during the early morning hours) because such a practice will limit the amount of time the leaf tissue will remain moist, thereby reducing the likelihood of disease development. This approach will automatically mean the less likelihood of using disease treatment chemicals – thereby achieving more environment‐friendly best practice. BUFFER ZONE VEGETATION 5.22.1 Buffer Zone to Fairways As can be seen from the Project Site Plan enclosed at Annex 1A at the end of Section 1 “Project Particulars”, a “rough” area is proposed around all the tees, fairways and greens. The fairways, green and trees will occupy an area of 14.5 Ha (say 15Ha) while the green space (buffer zone) area will be 60Ha. This green space surrounding the in‐play areas is nearly four times than the greens, tees and fairways, and is referred to us “buffer zones”. They will be planted with the “Chiendent Bourrique” type of turf grass. The use of buffer zones and landscaping with mature vegetation is becoming more and more common practice on new course designs – and will therefore be incorporated in the Avalon golf course. These buffer zones have been provided because their functions will contribute towards the environmental protection of the site, specially the existing rivers and feeders. Such functions will be to: (i)
(ii)
(iii)
(iv)
(v)
Act as a filter for nutrients and treatment chemical – preventing them for reaching the water bodies. Control erosion – by intercepting surface runoff and subsurface flow from the in‐play areas of the golf course in order to filter any pollutant before it enters any of the existing water bodies. Preserve the water quality of the rivers and feeders crossing the site Provide necessary cover for the mating, nesting and feeding activities of many small birds and mammals. Minimize the effects of human activities and maximize the protection of the natural reserves (the water bodies) A typical buffer zone is reproduced in the figure below. Figure 5‐1: Typical Buffer Zone 5.22.2 Riparian Buffers Riparian buffers refer to buffer areas adjacent to water bodies – in the Avalon case the rivers with deep embankments and the feeders with less steep embankments. These riparian buffers will perform many valuable environmental functions, including the following: ƒ
Trap and filter nutrients, pesticides, fungicides, fertilizers, insecticides, animal wastes and sediments. ƒ
Stabilize the river and feeder embankments and prevent their erosion ƒ
Provide shade to ensure a cool prevalent water in the water bodies ƒ
Provide habitat for wildlife and for threatened and endangered plants and animals. ƒ
Enhance and provide large woody debris for aquatic habitats ƒ
Provide a food source for aquatic organisms in the water bodies and their banks. In the case of the Avalon golf course project, a 3‐zone riparian buffer system will be adopted, as reproduced in the figure 5‐2 below. Figure 5‐2: Zone Riparian Buffer System The function of the 3 zone buffer system is detailed in Table 5‐8 below Table 5.8 – Function of 3‐Zone Buffer System Zone Proposed Vegetation Anticipated Function 1 “Chiendent Bourrique” type of grass, adjoining the fairway area ƒ
Filter nutrients, pesticides etc ƒ
100‐200mm high mowing (by hand) ƒ
Removes nutrients based in vegetation Managed trees and shrubs ƒ
Provide off‐golf‐course shade ƒ
Periodic harvesting removes nutrients/pesticides stored in vegetation ƒ
Provide protection against erosion ƒ
Trees shade water courses and keep water cool ƒ
Prevent erosion of river banks. 2 3 Undisturbed forestry along river banks As can be observed from the Massing Plan enclosed at Annex 4A at the end of Section 4 entitled “Architectural Aspects of Golf Course Service Buildings”, a minimum set‐
back of 30metres has been respected between the fairways and the water bodies so as to provide enough space for the implementation of the required 3 x 10metre zone buffer system. 5.23
MOWING MANAGEMENT Mowing requirements normally depend upon several factors such as the level of maintenance, the growth rate, the mowing heights etc. Hybrid Bermuda grass – such as the Tifway 419 ‐ will produce high quality turf when mowed at heights between 6 mm to 25 mm. Hybrid Bermuda grass putting greens are often maintained at mowing heights less than 3 mm. It is essential that no more than ⅓ of the leaf blade is removed during a single mowing. A reel mower, as shown in the photograph below, will be required to maintain the Bermuda grass at the mowing heights given above. The blades of the reel mower shall be sharpened regularly because mowing with dull blades will cause tearing and bruising of the leaf tissues – which in turn will create conditions prone to increased disease incidence. Thus this mowing practice will ensure an environmental objective in so far as risks of disease incidence will be minimized. Photograph 5‐4: Reel Mower 5.24
PESTICIDE APPLICATION PROTOCOL An environmental protection protocol will be adopted as practical measures to safeguard the integrity of the water bodies present within the golf course site; its main features are listed below: (i)
An application protocol in terms of volume of fertilizers, herbicides, insecticides to be used will be devised and thereafter strictly adhered to. The quantity of chemicals to be used annually has been listed out at sub‐section 5.16 at the end of Section 5. The “minimum amount” approach will be adopted i.e. only the least possible quantities will be applied, and then only to the tees and greens in the first place and then the fairways if absolutely necessary. The tees, greens and eventually the fairways, which represent an extent of 15Ha i.e. 6% of the site, will be the only portions of the golf course to which chemical fertilizers and insecticides will be sprayed onto. The tees and greens represent less than 1% of the golf course extent (ii)
(iii)
(iv)
(v)
5.25
The application protocol will also vary according to rainfall intensity throughout the year i.e. during wet seasons when rainfall increases, the required amount of chemicals to be used will be decreased; and conversely, during the dry seasons when the amount of rainfall decreases, the volume of chemicals to be applied will be increased because the amount that may be washed out of the fairways by the rain to the rivers will be less. The amount of chemicals to be applied during the wet season will be of the order of 20% of the amount to be applied during the dry season. A vegetative design approach has also been adopted. It means that special types of grass and shrubs will be purposely planted around the greens to act as vegetative buffers. These vegetative strips of 25 metres to 50 metres planted around the fairways will absorb any chemicals i.e. fertilizers, insecticides which may leach or be washed out from the greens. The type of grass to be planted will be the “Chiendent Bourrique”, also known as “Stenotaphrum dimidiatum” whose rhizosphere, which possesses high absorbing capacity, will capture the chemicals hence ensuring that infinite residual amounts of chemicals will find their way into the water bodies or ground water aquifers Furthermore, the greens will be provided with underground drainage pipes which will collect any excess chemicals not absorbed by the turfgrass and channel them to dedicated low points where they will be absorbed by purposely grown plants. The vegetative design recommends that “vetiver” be planted as they have high absorptive capacities and tolerances to chemicals The whole golf turf management protocol will favour a “curative” approach rather than “preventive” approach to turf grass maintenance, meaning that small amounts will be periodically applied to favour the healthy state of the turf rather than resort to the application of a significant volume over a pre‐
determined period of time WATER QUALITY CONTROL OF WATER COURSES WITHIN GOLF COURSE A water quality control protocol will be put in place at the start of the site preparation and construction phase – which will continue into the operational phase of the project. As indicated at sub‐section 3.14.3 entitled “Baseline River Water Quality” of Section 3 “Site Environmental Characteristics”, water samples were taken from three rivers at the site, and duly tested for certain key quality parameters (see Annex 3F at the end of Section 3 for results). These results will act as baseline data and benchmarking of the water quality control protocol, against which future analyses (which will be carried out at a frequency of once a month) will be compared – to either confirm that the water bodies are not being impaired by the activities at the golf course, specially the domestic sewage, the irrigation of the fairways and the application of the chemicals as pesticides, fungicides and fertilizers. The parameters which will duly analysed and tested are inter alia: ƒ
Colour – which is aesthetically undesirable in water courses and may indicate presence of chemicals ƒ
Total Suspended Solids/Turbidity – which may prevent normal aquatic life in streams ƒ
Chlorides – being given that high dosage may be toxic to aquatic life ƒ
Sulphate – which may degrade into objectionable sulphide under certain circumstances, and cause illnesses such as diarrhoea ƒ
Nitrate – which is a indication of the presence of nutrients in the water body ƒ
Dissolved Oxygen – which is a direct indication of the life‐sustaining capacity of the water ƒ
Biochemical Oxygen Demand – which is a measure of pollution in the water ƒ
Chemical Oxygen Demand – which is a measure of total organic and inorganic pollution in the water ƒ
E‐coli – which is an indication of possible faecal contamination by sewerage and domestic effluents ƒ
Coliform organisms –which is an indication of contamination by sewerage and domestic effluents Thus the water quality control protocol will consist of: (a)
Establishing the benchmarking based on the ambient quality of the water in the rivers prior to the implementation of the project (b)
Collect samples in the three main rivers crossing the site and which contribute towards the impounding of the Riviere des Anguilles Dam (c)
Carry out the above‐listed laboratory tests at monthly intervals at an independent laboratory during the site preparation and construction phase of the project to ensure that the construction activities are not impacting on the water quality of the rivers/feeders (d)
Carry out the same test at the same interval during the operational phase of the project (e)
Prepare reports to be submitted to the relevant Authorities during the operational life of the project (f)
Organize site visits of representatives of the relevant Authorities to the golf course and specially the water bodies every six months – to enable visual appreciation of the state of the water quality in the water courses associate with the golf course