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Lately, there has been an upswing of golf courses becoming greener and eco-friendly in ways you would not have thought of.

Using Recycled Materials

Newly planned and existing golf clubs have opted for composite materials when building or upgrading their grounds. Manufacturers such as Kafka Granite not only supply recycled materials for golf clubs but practice sustainability within their manufacturing processes too.

Recycled materials being used on a golf course include sanitary wear, flooring, and countertops in the clubhouse and pathways on the course. Fencing and pillars made up of recycled plastic and timber are used in parking areas and around the clubhouse if needed.

The kitchen and bar within the clubhouse are also doing their part for the planet by avoiding palm oil and other unsustainable ingredients. Plastic straws, cutlery, and many more catering items are now being replaced with paper, bamboo or hemp products.

On And Off The Green

Most groundsmen have switched to a greywater system for irrigation on the green and at times they allow grass to die and regenerate in the colder months. This process saves on power and water.

Drought-resistant grasses and grasses that are more tolerant of saltare now being planted on golf courses aiding in the conservation of water too. Some golfing clubs are starting to adopt pesticide-free treatments for their grass and plants, to encourage healthier eco-systems. These significant changes allow the fauna and flora to flourish on the course, which adds to their natural beauty and allure.Even the endangered species of bees are returning, which is a huge relief.

Most groundsmen will only plant plants and trees that do not need regular watering to flourish. Plants and trees not indigenous to the area are quickly removed and disposed of. This eco-friendly way of keeping the greens neat is also a cost-saving exercise, which means a win-win for all.

Solar-powered garden lights are utilized to light up pathways to and from the clubhouse, while all lighting bulbs on the premises are energy-saving bulbs.

Golfing Equipment And Gear

Did you know that you could rent solar-powered golf carts? Harnessing the power of solar energy is now being introduced to the golfing world and it is about time! There is no reason to be using fossil fuels outside when the sun is available all day to do the same job without the harmful effects of fuel.

Biodegradable golf tees and balls are being used instead of the old school plastic and nylon gear. Recycled timber tees are perfect for the course and are just as good as the plastic variation.

There are ways golfers can contribute to the green movement too. Ask your club what they are currently doing to assist with the green movement and encourage them to do more. When out on the green, appreciate the wildlife and try not disturbing them, if possible. And if you see a brown patch of grass or notice the water looking a little browner, instead of complaining – be more appreciative.

Our environment as it exists today has monumental issues, and positive action/solutions to effectively engage the problem is called Environmental Education. This helps individuals to develop a deeper understanding of environmental issues and have the skills to make informed and responsible decisions. Environmental education creates awareness about critical thinking and enhances their own problem-solving and decision-making skills.

The components of environmental education are:

• Sensitivity and awareness about the environment and its various challenges
• Comprehension of the problems posed
• Concern and motivation for the situation, its improvement and upkeep
• Skills to identify and help resolve environmental challenges.

Global warming, acid rain, and other polluting activities in which we engage are major hiccups that are affecting our environment adversely. Environmental education and protection including the conservation of natural resources are crucial for the benefit of both the environment and humans.

Future strategy

People who are environmentally educated and understand the earth’s ability to sustain human and other life take measures and are involved in their community to help maintain our natural resources so that people can create and enjoy a high-quality life for themselves and future generations.

1. A robust future strategy would include developing a curriculum that would bring about a useful, productive, responsible, and environmentally literate 21st-century citizens. For the same, we need to demolish the walls between academic disciplines and other areas of environmental study to allow for integration.
2. The curriculum needs to be developed in such a way that a lifelong sustainable process is created for creative problem-solving skills, scientific and social literacy, ethical awareness and sensitivity for the relationship between humans and the environment. Therefore, education can act as a pivotal point in protecting the environment.
3. Diverse communities can be educated about how they could save the environment by imparting knowledge on how to protect the environment. This needs to be executed at an individual, organizational and societal levels that is helpful to both the environment and humans.
4. Proper aids are required to educate and resolve the main environmental problems like acid rain, ozone depletion, climate changes, global warming, etc. These aids include the use of audio-visual programs, seminars, training programs, environmental awareness campaign, etc.
5. The awareness about the environment needs to be taught from a very early stage. Even as a toddler and with the beginning of the formal education, this awareness about saving Mother Earth and environment need to be formally introduced at the school levels itself.
6. Of course, parents and homes are a child’s first educators. Early education about nurturing and protecting the environment, avoiding polluting agents and using biodegradables should be considered as part of the societal curriculum. Conducting environmental awareness program in schools and societies will help people to become aware of environmental issues and take actions accordingly.
7. Armed with appropriate ecological knowledge, children from the earliest ages learn to be good stewards of our environment. Environmental education teaches kids to be better-informed members of their community.
8. Supporting sustainable change requires supporting systems change. For best preparations, schools need to make sure their students spend their time not just learning information but learning how to think. Building bridges with the real world need to start at the workplace.

9Future strategy and informed decisions are always based upon the Government policies as they give the right tangent to the initiative of both the individuals and communities.

10. People and Nature can thrive together when there is a combination of smarter decisions, stronger communities, and daily actions that improve the well being of the planet.
11. Along with partners, societies and schools can systematically stitch together and elevate the work currently in place in the field of environmental education. As a result, over time, there is improved ecological literacy across the globe.
12. Environment education sticks for a lifetime as against traditional classroom learning. Additionally, it fuels interest in science and sparks curiosity making kids better learners in all subjects including math and the language arts.
13. Environment education is also at the center of improving health and wellness, as outdoor activities improve children’s mental and physical health, boost self-esteem, leadership and character and enhances social justice by levelling the playing field across genders and ethnicities.
14. Individuals can be future focused on the right path to save the environment by forming the power of critical judgment. Any algorithm, formula or rule cannot resolve the matter as the power of delivery of judgement cannot ask for reasons for our choices. This is the sole reserve of the individual.

Conclusion

By individual and cooperative actions environmentally literate citizens will help in creating an ecologically and economically sustainable environment. Proper environment education holds the key to play a pivotal role in saving the environment for posterity. Education increases our awareness of ecological issues that take place in everyday life.

Contributor Bio – The blog is presented by Sharda University. Sharda University is one of the largest universities in Delhi National Capital Region (NCR) offering 216 varied programmes.