Page 28 - Green Master summer 2022

Colourful native camas bulbs are being planted into a rough slope dominated by invasive species. Camas is drought tolerant and an important plant for local indigenous people.
promotes adaptation to drought through use of resilient and firm turf grasses and other landscape adaptations (see https://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=00iq5LfXxTY). In addition to drought preparedness, examine your plans to withstand extreme weather such as flooding and strong winds. Most importantly begin to engage with the local community on the potential for multiple values of golf course lands.
MITIGATION AND ADAPTATION
Climate Change demands that golf courses imagine roles well beyond being sites of recreation. Golf courses can become sites of natural carbon capture and storage. Simplified grassy ecosystems such as fairways and the rough store some carbon but woody ecosystems remove and store much more. Woody ecosystems are also ecologically diverse and resilient. Natural ecosystems in general can act as nature corridors and provide psychological respite for the public at large. By adding wetlands to the ecosystem mix, golf courses become key sites in community water management and up the biodiversity value. Complex landscapes rich in biodiversity are linked to high rates of carbon sequestration and storage and are especially resilient to fires and flooding.
Concerning sequestration and storage, choose an appropriate target in tonnes per hectare of above ground and in-soil carbon based on typical conditions for natural landscapes. Begin by avoiding emissions generated through disturbing soil and clearing natural vegetation. Plants remove CO2 from the atmosphere through photosynthesis, so plant native species, especially trees, in open areas and into degraded stands. Use native species to support natural biodiversity and strengthen resilience to pests and climatic variation. Often some of these already grow on a property and can serve as focal points for expansion of natural habitats. In your planting scheme avoid potential invasive species such as rapidly growing trees from outside your region; regional and provincial agencies provide great advice.
Water features widely diversify habitats and help with water detention during intense storm events and then retain water into droughts. Consider both open ponds and lakes as well as wetlands. Certainly, do not fill in natural wetlands, they play vital roles in subsurface hydrology and biological diversity. Wetlands are especially valuable for sustaining bird, mammal and reptile populations many of which are at risk.
On the biodiversity front, investigate if you have any at-risk species and foster their recovery. You may encounter willing community and government supporters. Your lands may offer sites for keystone and unique species thus adding a natural heritage aspect to your golf course. Even the managed parts of your golf course can be naturalized by planting and encouraging
native species. Those tough spots for maintenance and zones between fairways can be turned into native meadows to provide colour and need only once or twice a year mowing. There is even a program to foster this type of management (see https:// auduboninternational.org/acsp-for- golf/).
A NEW WAY FORWARD
Climate Change demands a different way of thinking and acting for golf courses. Future golf courses will need to meet multiple needs and to look and function like natural environments. Let the rough be rough, the fairways be meadows. Encourage and support native species and retain your water. Honour the golfing pioneers, your score may be higher, but you will be helping the planet. GM
“Many thanks to the staff of Cordova Bay Golf Course, Saanich, British Columbia for encouraging me to turn my presentation into this article,” Richard Hebda.
28 • CGSA • GreenMaster