| PERSPECTIVE |
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(May 31, 2002) -
It might be surprising to hear the Arbor Day Foundation is involved in golf course development. But the tree organization is getting into the game many think is not good for the environment. The new Arbor Links course, adjacent to Arbor Day Farm in Nebraska City, is scheduled to open in three weeks. Statewide's Perry Stoner gives us a look at the new course and explains why the Arbor Day Foundation is involved in the venture. |
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Transcript of Perspective
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Transcript of Arbor Links
[REPORTER PERRY STONER] - Intro:
IT MIGHT BE SURPRISING TO HEAR THE ARBOR DAY FOUNDATION IS INVOLVED IN GOLF COURSE DEVELOPMENT. BUT THE TREE ORGANIZATION IS GETTING INTO THE GAME MANY THINK IS NOT GOOD FOR THE ENVIRONMENT. THE NEW ARBOR LINKS COURSE, ADJACENT TO ARBOR DAY FARM IN NEBRASKA CITY, IS SCHEDULED TO OPEN IN THREE WEEKS. STATEWIDE'S PERRY STONER GIVES US A LOOK AT THE NEW COURSE AND EXPLAINS WHY THE ARBOR DAY FOUNDATION IS INVOLVED IN THE VENTURE.
[PERRY STONER]
THE FUTURE OF GOLF MAY LIE IN THE ROLLING HILLS OF SOUTHEAST NEBRASKA.
OVER A YEAR AGO THESE FIELDS JUST OUTSIDE NEBRASKA CITY LOOKED LIKE MOST IN THIS PART OF THE STATE. DEVELOPERS OFTEN CHANGE THE LANDSCAPE TO FIT THEIR DESIRES. AT ARBORLINKS, THEY ADJUSTED THEIR DESIRES TO THE LAND.
[STEVE MERKEL/LANDSCAPES UNLIMITED]
It is our intent on the entire project to utilize the land with minimal disruption, to utilize the land with it flows to our advantage for drainage, to minimize erosion during the construction process
[STONER ]
BY LATE LAST SUMMER FIELDS STARTED LOOKING MORE LIKE A GOLF COURSE.
WORKERS SEEDED TEE BOXES BY HAND. SANDTRAPS, SOMETHING GOLFERS PREFER NOT BE PART OF THEIR LANDSCAPE, TOOK SHAPE. THIS SPRING, LEADING UP TO OPENING DAY, WORKERS QUICKLY ADDED THE FINAL TOUCHES. BUT STEVE MERKEL EXPLAINS MOST OF THE TREES THAT GROW AND STREAMS THAT FLOW, REMAIN.
[STEVE MERKEL]
We had to remove trees to build tee, but (3330) rest of trees we worked around and minimal earth moving, saved a lot of time and effort of removing earth to build hole." With the creek here it can be used as part of the golf course it can be used in designed to increase challenge, it can be functional use of utilizing the water and make nice design features.
[STONER]
ONE OF THE BIGGEST NAMES IN GOLF IS INVOLVED IN THE PROJECT. ARNOLD PALMER'S, PALMER COURSE DESIGN COMPANY LENDS ITS EXPERTISE IN COURSE DEVELOPMENT AND UNDERSTANDS THE AIM OF THE PROJECT. AT ARBORLINKS, DESIGNERS AND DEVELOPERS WORKED WITH THE ENVIRONMENT AND ENVIRONMENTALISTS. THE LAST TWO HOLES OF THE COURSE ARE ON LAND OWNED BY THE ARBOR DAY FARM. THE FOUNDATION WILL OPERATE THE COURSE.
[JOHN ROSENOW/PRESIDENT ARBOR DAY FOUNDATION]
We too often have preconceived notions about us and them. The Arbor Day Foundation works hard to find win-win solutions.
[STONER]
THE FARM'S EXISTING WETLAND IS INCORPORATED INTO THE COURSE, ALONG WITH MANY TREES. THE FOUNDATION WELCOMES BEING PART OF THE DEVELOPMENT AS A WAY TO FURTHER ITS MISSION.
[ROSENOW]
we want to take advantage of the people being on our property, to give them as much as we can, demonstrations on how conservation practices and tree planting can be practically implemented to improve the environment.
[STONER]
AS GOLFERS MAKE THEIR WAY AROUND THE COURSE, THEY'LL HAVE A PRINTED GUIDE ABOUT THE ENVIRONMENT AROUND THEM.
[Rosenow]
The golf course guide will have the conservation story of each hole, each hole will have a tree theme of some sort. Willow Wallow will have the use of Willow trees in very wet areas. Oak Savannah will have the establishment of a native grass and wildflowers and scattered oaks as native to this country.
[STONER]
ARBOR LINKS ISN'T JUST ABOUT TREES. IT'S ALSO ABOUT HOW THE GRASS GROWS.
[Merkel]
outside of intermediate is our primary rough and that is a fine leaf fescues the major attributes are the reduced amount of water and the fertilizer and pesticide use will be reduced. "We made an effort here to develop our turf system to be friendly for playing and friendly for the amount of water and pesticide and fertilizer inputs needed here.
[STONER]
THOSE CRITICAL OF GOLF COURSES OFTEN SAY THEY USE TOO MUCH WATER AND HARMFUL CHEMICALS. ARBORLINKS WILL CAPTURE AND CLEAN WATER.
[Merkel]
Our design was to collect as much storm water and supplement that with well water. 5754 we empty all the water in a shallow wetlands area to filter sediment and pesticides from the water before it gets in the main irrigation lake.
[STONER]
ANOTHER UNIQUE FEATURE AT ARBORLINKS IS THE GREENS. BUT HERE IT IS BELOW THE SURFACE WHERE THE DIFFERENCE LIES. ONE TYPE OF GREEN HAS A SUBSURFACE MIXTURE OF SAND AND PEAT. THE OTHER TYPE USES ONLY SAND. MERKEL SAYS THEY'LL USE THE GREENS, LIKE THE REST OF THE COURSE, TO LEARN MORE ABOUT ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT.
[Merkel]
Our intention over time is to monitor and evaluate the amount of products that are leeches through system it may be determined that the green itself is using all the products or that some is leeching through the system.
[STONER]
LINCOLN BASED GOLF COURSE DEVELOPERS, LANDSCAPES UNLIMITED, IS WORKING WITH UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA RESEARCHERS. THE TRUFGRASS SCIENCE TEAM RECOMMENDED TYPES OF GRASSES TO PLANT AT ARBORLINKS. THEY STUDY WHAT WILL BE PUT INTO PRACTICE ON THE COURSE.
[CLINT MEYER/RESEARCH TECHNOLOGIST]
This structure is called the Risotron and we have different...different plots with different treatments within them and we grow the grass to see how well it establishes in each of the different treatments.
[PROF. BOB SHEARMAN/AGRONOMY & HORTICULTURE]
We are looking at what can we do through various approaches, using different grasses, different management techniques to reduce the amount of water, water conservation and also reduce the amount of use of fertilizers and pesticides.
[STONER]
THE MEAD RESEARCH FACILITY HAS THE EQUIVILENT OF AN 18 HOLE COURSE IN GREENS. HERE THEY STUDY GRASS FROM THE BOTTOM UP.
[Meyer]
We go down now and look at the underground part of the Risotron, we'll be able to look at the viewing boxes and look at the rooting structure and view the data boxes we'll be directly underneath that section there.
[Shearman]
We are saying if we can produce the same quality of turf with less inputs, its going to be better for the environment for the economy in an overall management scheme.
[Merkel]
over time we are going to operate this golf course like other golf courses. We are going to use fertilizers and pesticides, but we'd like to say that we will do evaluating and monitoring to see what some of the effects are.
[STONER]
EXISTING RESEARCH SHOWS GOLF COURSES MAY NOT DESERVE THEIR BAD REPUTATION.
[Shearman]
All these issues whether its agriculture or turf grass home lawn golf courses are all subject to best management practices so there is room for research and for us to do better in our practices but the idea that a golf course is a polluting environment is not necessarily true and there is a good deal of evidence to show that that isn't the case.
[STONER]
MERKEL SAYS THEY CHANGED SOME LANDSCAPE WHILE BUILDING ARBORLINKS. WHERE THEY DISTURBED TABLE CREEK, THEY'RE NOW PLANTING FOR APPEARANCE AND EROSION CONTROL. THE NEW VEGETATION WILL HELP THE COURSE IN THE LONG RUN.
[Merkel]
We haven't seen the water above the stones but we probably haven't seen a typical Nebraska thunderstorm yet. The intent is to think the water could get to the willows and encroach onto the fairway at some point.
[STONER]
WHEN GOLFERS GOT A CHANCE TO PUT THE COURSE THROUGH A DRESS REHEARSAL, THEY FOUND A CHALLENGE.
[CHAD COSE/LINCOLN]
Its tough, a lot of the doglegs are right angle, not a smooth dog leg left or right. Its tough, it will be beautiful once its ready to go.
[STONER]
THE CHALLENGE OF THE GAME IS THERE EVEN THOUGH THE COURSE IS BUILT INTO THE NATURAL SURROUNDINGS.
[COSE]
They've done well, a lot of the tree lines are still in here, made the course go through and stick with the tree lines a lot of the native grasses still on the bunkers with taller grass. I think it will blend in perfectly and beautifully.
[STONER]
LANDSCAPES UNLIMITED'S OWNER GOT ON THE COURSE FOR A ROUND RECENTLY. HE SAYS ARBORLINKS IS A UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY.
[BILL KUBLY/CEO, LANDSCAPES UNLIMITED]
Most golf courses today are built within a housing development, so you're limited to what you can do, here we had an open piece of property and we were able to move the holes around to where we wanted, there's no housing here so its rare to have a golf course like this and we did a good job of fitting it into nature or the Palmer Company did, they really did the design.
[STONER]
WITH OPENING DAY APPROACHING, WORKERS SCRAMBLE TO GET THE COURSE READY. GOLF DEVELOPERS KNOW DEALING WITH MOTHER NATURE IS OFTEN THE MOST DIFFICULT PART OF THE JOB.
[Merkel]
Hole 1 was third to last hole grassed last fall and it was late getting finished. 48 13 Throughout the spring here we had such a dry winter. The entire left side of this hole didn't make it.
[STONER]
AS ARBORLINKS MATURES NEW TREES WILL BLEND WITH THOSE LEFT UNDISTURBED. GOLFERS WILL HAVE A CHANCE TO LEARN ABOUT NATURE WHILE THEY PLAY A GAME THEY LOVE.
[Rosenow]
For the millions of people who play golf, this is the opportunity to be in nature, and if that can truly become an educational activity, something as basic as learning the kinds of tree species around them, learn what is being done to enhance wildlife habitat, the kinds of things that can be done at homes and yards and such,
[Merkel]
Over the years the golf industry has been highly criticized with what they do to the land and criticized for some of the practices they use to try to develop fine turf grass.
I think we have a good group of people working together to monitor the environment and to see what those effects are on this property in particular and what programs we can develop to help other courses in their environmental stewardship practices.
[STONER]
THIS NEW COURSE BLENDS INTO ONE OF NEBRASKA'S HISTORIC AREAS. IN THE FUTURE, IT MAY MAKE CONSERVATION PART OF THE GAME OF GOLF. REPORTING FOR STATEWIDE THIS IS PERRY STONER.