Go local

I just arrived from Hong Kong, where I spent a week renewing friendships from Hong Kong, Singapore and all the way to Switzerland.

As I am now in a much better physical condition than in the last few years, it was a joy to be able to finish a three-day tournament.

But above all, the trip was about renewing friendships in the golfing community where bonds are forever linked no matter how long we have not seen each other.  This is for me what makes the game of golf so special.

I noted the changes in the Hong Kong Golf Club over the last few years.

Management has kept the natural growth of the local grass thriving and has made this an integral part of the golf course. Though money is no object, as they are considered one of the richest courses in the world in terms of both finances and the value of the land, they have decided for the sake of the environment to create a balance between using locally nurtured natural grass and the usual foreign grass planted in majority of modern golf courses today. These types of foreign grass require massive amounts of water, fertilizer and chemicals just to stay alive.

According to Raymond Bunquin, the golf course manager at Eagleridge, Dr. Micha Woodsówho is considered a guru in grass management for golf coursesóconducted the most recent meeting for grass management for golf courses in the Asean region. Woods used to be a strong advocate of using paspalum (foreign grass) but has now changed his stance. At the said meeting, he reversed himself completely and is now advocating the use of local carabao grass (broad leaf carpetgrass) for the fairways and local manilagrass, or what is known as Zoysia, for the greens. According to the studies he has made, it has been found that these types of grasses would be most suitable for the climate and weather conditions in the Asean region.

It may be a good idea for the local golf courses, especially those in the provinces, to look into Dr. Woodís new stance more closely. This may help keep the monthly dues of the members at lower rates and allow the golf course to contribute to being part of the solution of delaying and even possibly reversing global warming.

Going in this direction certainly serves to protect our health. It prevents unnecessary exposure to chemicals of the maintenance crew and caddies who work the course daily and the golfers who enjoy the game.

Having run a golf course in the province for 10 years, I believe that shifting toward this direction would be beneficial to all.