ZerO Waste Golf is a Mantric Phrase

In many cultures mantras are used, like computer icons, to represent complex ideas, or as a gateway to a state of awareness about a particular topic. A mantra is a reduction of the complexities of the concept. It works like this; A complex concept is reduced to a library, and then to a book, and then to a paragraph, a sentence, a phrase, a word, a sound. At this point, the sound represents the whole library. The beauty of a real mantra is that it works to represent whichever facet of the topic the individual is open to at any particular time, and that it continues to represent the idea as the individual grows into a more comprehensive awareness in time.

While our experience with the phrase "ZerO Waste Golf" is somewhat limited, we find that the mantric quality of the phrase seems to resonate with a wide audience. The phrase initiates discussion as to its meaning time after time. It's easy to find common ground in any discussion of the meaning of the phrase, as it allows for a great deal of positive creativity in the argument.

It is my belief that zero waste will become the global standard for environmental policy making. It is already the official policy statement of the United States. Governments already know that the term zero waste gives them infinite latitude on defining the policy, without being too specific, and that works for them to maintain nonspecific regulatory control over the variety of potential definitions. The biggest problem with zero waste as a widly defined concept is in finding a specific action or demonstration that can be used to illustrate the policy.

Zero Waste Golf is the type of specific action and demonstration that governing authorities can use to promote their goals for waste management awareness and actions to their constituents. It could be anticipated that different countries, cultures, regions or communities will have a variety of specific environmental problems or opportunities that are more important to that community than to others. ZerO Waste Golf has the flexibility to address those specifics, and should, as to serve the community's particular needs.

The greatest opportunity for individual golf courses, acting in their communities, as well as for the golf industry in general, is to be the entity that introduces the zero waste mantra, and its library of possible meanings, to their communities, regions, countries and world. The golf industry, in step with, or in anticipation of toughening governmental restrictions, could become the world leader in zero waste consciousness. This type of leadership will help to overcome the perception of golf courses as the environmentally harmful havens of the rich minority. When the golf course, and the golf industry inspires the communities it serves to make positive environmental changes in its waste management protocols, the golf course opens itself to the community in a way that overcomes the perception that golf courses are only for the rich or elite.

Report :ZerO Waste Golf after two years of operation

I'm happy to report that ZerO Waste Golf is turning out to be a great success as we begin our third year of operation.!

We were really hoping that our environmental demonstrations would inspire others in our community to join our efforts to divert food wastes and compostables from the landfill. We have hosted so many interested groups, businesses, students, scientists and others who came from as far away as New York to see our first in the nation operation. Now, we are really starting to see change in our community. Restaurants and institutions are really starting to get the idea about diverting their compostables from the landfill. In the past weeks, we have hosted 2 groups of restaurant and business owners who want to go zero waste in their operations. When they asked for advice from our waste management authority, they were referred to us , because of our experiences in the past couple of years.

When they realized, after dealing with us at Dairy Creek Golf Course, that all our local golf courses were lacking in proper waste and recycle containers, our regional waste management authority applied for and was granted a $100,000 dollar grant from the state of California with the purpose of purchasing some beautiful waste and recycling containers for each tee area on every course in the county. How wonderful, that our little demonstration has started to produce its fruits.

The US golf industry are getting to know that we're serious and they're starting to offer us support and funding for some of the scientific testing we're doing with California Polytechnic State University. Recently, we were contacted by interested golf developers about traveling to China to speak and to share information about the zero waste golf methods and trends that are developing around the country.

We operate the composting, vermiculture, and compost tea brewing with minimal labor. We have three volunteers who operate the whole deal in exchange for some free rounds of golf. There doesn't seem to be a lack of waiting volunteers who will do this duty for free golf, so we feel that the operation will continue well into the future, even as staff come or go throughout the years to come.

This blog, although it has been a while since I updated it, continues, day after day to spread the message about ZerO Waste Golf to interested persons around the globe. While it's not an astounding number, the blog averages 50 pageviews per day, day after day. The  most interesting thing about the blog readership is that 40 or more out of the 50 per day come from Norway. Every day it's the same...ZerO Waste Golf is very popular in Norway. Thank you, Norwegians!

This has been a very enjoyable project so far. Environmental leadership is very rewarding when your work starts making a difference. Thank you everyone.