Denver Golf values include Stewardship, Teamwork, Accountability, Ambition, Respect, Satisfaction, Integrity and Quality. Our Bee Friendly Campaign focuses on Stewardship, and how we are conducting our business in an environmentally friendly way. We want to make sure our customers know we are completing our mission of delivering a complete golf experience while providing our community with excellent customer service, programs to grow the game for future generations, and outstanding course conditions, while remaining stewards of the environment. How do we do this?
RECYCLING
Did you know we recycle on the golf course? Things changed a little after Covid and we are more careful about our staff handling waste and recyclables. To help manage a cleaner recycling stream, in late Summer of 2021 we will be placing “Aluminum Only” recycling bins on the course and clubhouse. We will continue to use single stream recycling for all other materials.Recycling fun facts:
- Only 14% of aluminum cans are recycled in Colorado and 46% in the US. COLORADO WE CAN DO BETTER! Denver Golf gets greener with the aluminum can recycling program. Beginning August 2021, all of the Denver courses will implement aluminum only recycling bins available to guests on the course and in the clubhouse.
- Did you know that aluminum is infinitely recyclable?
- Even though Denver Golf participates in single stream recycling, often aluminum gets commingled with trash and cannot be recycled. Aluminum only bins helps our customers help the planet by keeping a clean recycling stream.
Help us more effectively capture and recycle aluminum today! Please place only aluminum cans in our new bins and we will take it from there.
WATER CONSERVATION
We offer almost 1,000 acres of green space for Denver. We pride ourselves on managing this resource to make turf healthy while conserving water. Denver Golf courses use approximately 20% less water than bluegrass lawns. We have also transitioned many grass areas in the rough to water conservation areas using other native grasses that require little to no watering.
POGO Soil Monitoring – All Denver courses have this system installed except Kennedy. The POGO program shows the percent of moisture in greens so our maintenance staff can hand water dry spots making for a better putting surface and helping with our overall water conservation.
BEE KEEPING PROGRAM
Golf courses are natural habitats for pollinators. With our bee keeping program, we currently we have honeybee hives at Willis Case and Wellshire. We are excited to continue to grow our hives each year and develop plantings that help not only our bee colonies but also other pollinators. Thank you to Devin and the Bee Mindful Organization for all your help and support.
GARDENING PROGRAM
In 2017, the food garden at Harvard Gulch brought in about 500 pounds of food that was donated to local food banks. Each year we hope for an even better yield as they develop plantings that are as delicious as they are beautiful. Wellshire and Willis Case have turned out-of-the-way play areas into conservation areas by planting pumpkins and squash. Each year, Wellshire donates their pumpkin harvest to Denver Park’s and Recreation (DPR) children’s social enrichment program. This donation reduces the cost for Recreation from having to purchase pumpkins, and creates a great synergy within DPR departments to support each other and give back to our community.
ENERGY CONSERVATION
In 2011, Denver Golf did a comprehensive lighting retrofit from T-12 to T-8 bulbs, installing approximately 500 energy-efficient bulbs. LED lights were installed in Willis Case, City Park and Wellshire pro shops. LED parking lot and outdoor lights were installed at City Park and Overland and Harvard Gulch. In 2018 Aqua golf installed all new lights that provide more energy efficient lighting for the mini golf course and the range as well as provide golfers better lighting at night.
WASTE REDUCTION
As part of our Bee Friendly initiative, we made the decision to remove the on-course water jugs and replaced them with water fill stations in each clubhouse/restaurant areas as well as in permanent on-course bathrooms. This was done for a few reasons:
- To reduce waste of paper cups
- Create more sanitary drinking water conditions (Reduces bacteria growth & tepid water conditions that occure with on-course jugs.)
- Eliminate safety risks to employees (Water jugs can weigh up to 80 pounds to lift for an employee.)
Bring your reusable containers and fill up before you play or at the turn and help us create a better environment for you and our employees.
COLORADO GOLF’S ECONOMIC AND ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STUDY
Learn how golf is affecting Colorado from and economic and environmentl perspective. Read the 2022 Report provided by the Colorado Golf Coalition.