Golf Courses: Should we encourage wildlife on them?

Often we come across new ways of thinking, some exceptionally brilliant and others fairly pedestrian by comparison. Howver, it is always worth looking at new ideas but one thing stands out with most golf courses and that is how you tend to feel a little closer to nature when you are playing a few rounds. Golf courses are the one sport where most countries agree on this one factor. I’ll leave it you to decide whether it should stay that way…

Golf is the sporting activity that has one of the most intimate interactions with the environment. There are over 25,000 golf courses in the world. Golf courses account for millions of ha of land all over the world. In our times of urban sprawl, these green spaces should satisfy the needs of golfers and also accommodate wildlife. Golf courses can become a proper habitat for desirable and sensitive wildlife species. This also represents a great advantage for the golf players as it improves the educational and aesthetic aspects of the golf course.

Habitats that can be found on a golf course vary greatly; there are: ponds, streams, grasslands, wetlands, savanna woods, mature forests, etc.

In the United States reports show that golf courses have already had an important role in conserving some important species, such as the tree swallow, Eastern bluebird, purple martin, osprey and red-cockaded woodpecker.

A wide variety of rare species have also been recorded on different golf courses in England, such as the sand crocus, the pasque flower, the sand lizard and the natterjack toad. The Royal St George’s GC in Kent provided a habitat for 11 orchid species.

In my opinion, any golf course has something to offer when it comes to wildlife conservation. Actually, all courses have some wildlife, but the goal is to use their full habitat potential. The wildlife that can be found on a course depends upon its soil, vegetation, climate, topography and so on. With the help of a professional biologist, the golf course manager can identify strategies that will lead to creating a more naturalistic landscape.

Lately, golf course management includes creating naturalistic landscapes. And this is not only due to ecological concerns, but also because this represents a cost-effective solution on the long run. This is because the more naturalistic courses require smaller quantities of pesticides, herbicides and water and therefore they can be maintained with less effort than the conventional golf courses.

There are some important steps to be followed in a habitat enhancement plan. A good selection of plants for the golf course is very important; the trees, shrubs, grasses and forbs are basic habitat components as they provide shelter and food. The plants have to be chosen considering the drainage, the amount of sun, the soil structure, and the already existing vegetation. A combination of ornamental plants, berries, nuts and seeds is the ideal one. It is important to know that native species of plants are less expensive to maintain, because they are naturally resistant to pests and diseases and they require less fertilizer and water.

The turf used on golf courses is often expensive and difficult to maintain. Therefore, it should be replaced with prairie grasses and wildflowers in out-of-play areas, on hills or along ponds. The drought tolerance of these plants can greatly reduce the use of water and fertilizer. Even if creating a naturalistic landscape requires higher costs until established, it is a good business, as the cost savings will be substantial over time.

The use of pesticides can be replaced by some natural methods for managing against pests. Hanging bat boxes will encourage bats to reside on the golf course. They consume thousands of insects every night, and this way you’ll get rid of mosquitoes, leafhoppers and moths. The birds also consume insects that are harmful to the plants, which live on bark, leaves and branches.

Here are some examples of ideas to be considered in order to increase the biodiversity of a golf course:

-Erection of different style bird boxes, depending on the species that can be found in the area. -erect bat boxes -ensurance of sufficient regeneration within woodlands -introduce wildflowers into new woodlands -try to reduce cutting intensity where possible -avoid disturbance by vehicles and people in sensitive areas of the course -control the coverage of bracken if threatening to more interesting habitats -design natural locations such as prairies and wetlands

There are many people who oppose golf courses for environmental reasons. In theory, the large areas of land occupied by golf courses could be a natural habitat. The reality is that it would have most probably been used for urbanization or agriculture. The habitat loss is a misconception. Therefore, both ecologists and golf players should be happy with wildlife-friendly setting on the golf course.

Author – Chip Enrunn – Chip often writes for and with <strong>Golf Schools</strong> where there is far more information, news and resources. If that link is inactive, you can paste this link into your browser – http://golfing-schools.com

About the Author

Author – Chip Enrunn – Chip often writes for and with Golf Schools where there is far more information, news and resources. If that link is inactive, you can paste this link into your browser – http://golfing-schools.com

How Car Leasing Works

Car leasing is nothing different to paying for the usage of a truck, a van, or any vehicle in that matter, within a specific duration of time. Most people may think that it is similar to car rentals, but it has one major difference. You can rent a car for a week, a day or even a few hours, but for a car lease, it typically requires at least a year of usage period.

When thinking of getting a car lease, just like anything else nowadays, the first thing that you have to consider is the price. You have to negotiate for a good deal and you should have an idea of what exactly the pros and cons of such the agreement you are entering into.

Your car lease advantage is only as good as the dealer you?re talking to. As soon as you had a common say on the price of the car lease, the dealer sells your chosen car to the leasing company at your agreed price. Then the leasing company lets you have the car based on the price you?ve given. You will then shell out the total amount of the leases in staggered payments every month.

The dealer is simply an agent for the car leasing entity. This way you would save yourself from the hassle of scouting for a leasing company on your own. The dealer speaks in your behalf. For this particular kind of work, a dealer is given a reasonable commission in each of the purchaser he endorses. Just keep in mind that as soon as you inked a contract agreement, then the accord is between you and the leasing company. The dealer?s work ends there. Any concerns regarding the car you lease should go directly to the leasing company?s attention.

Big giants in the car industry, like Ford and General Motors usually have a number of car leasing businesses acting as subsidiaries. These kinds of companies usually employ the most dealers. Banks and other leasing and loaning institutions commonly hire dealers as well.

When you lease a car, on top of your monthly obligations, you still need to have pay for corresponding insurance fees, applicable taxes plus licensing fees. A leasing contract contains these information along with the stipulation that you will use the car for a specified number of year or months. There is also a pledge that you will maintain and keep the car in good running condition.

On the end of your leasing period, you are obligated to return the car to the leasing company. The usual wear and tear is forgivable, but more than that, you must pay for the damage and any additional fees when you used your car longer than the time specified in the contract. You are also given the option to buy the car you leased or use it as a trade in for a brand new car.

Just like purchasing a car, you need to shop for the vehicle you want to lease. You wouldn?t want just any other car. Getting a car lease is also an investment on your part. It is but appropriate to give it a long thought. Talk to several dealers; compare prices and the benefits of each company. Always have extensive discussion with your dealers. Asking questions is a good thing. Let the dealer explain to you the liabilities in instances of accident or loss of the car. After all your doubts are cleared then you can go ahead and lease the car you want. Choose a car that suits your lifestyle and drive it as if it is your own.

Christopher M. Luck has an extensive background in dealing exclusively with the car leasing agencies as well as companies and is now offering his free professional car leasing secrets to the public. If you are at all interested in Christopher’s personal advice, tips, or secrets on leasing you can visit his automotive blog.

Las Vegas Golf Courses

If you are looking forward to a golf vacation, the golf courses in Las Vegas could be the answer. In fact, there are not many places in the world where one could play golf after the sundown. But here in Las Vegas, night golf is gaining popularity. More and more golf courses are making arrangements for night games, to allow players a chance to escape the brutal heat of a Las Vegas day.

Sprawling over vast acres of green in and around Las Vegas, more than 50 golf courses are visible. A few resorts have even more than one golf course as an ?added? attraction for their customers, so that they don?t have to wait for too long. Most of the golf courses in and around Las Vegas also provide the facility of online advance booking. The charges range from twenty dollars to a few hundred. But most of them do not charge less than a hundred US dollars for one booking.

A number of Las Vegas golf courses are highly regarded for their beauty and playability. Golf Digest has even nationally ranked some of them. These particular golf courses are well known for their clubhouses and superb amenities. There are golf courses in Las Vegas that have an elevation of almost 3,000 feet. A few of these golf courses also provide spectacular views of Red Rock Canyon and the Las Vegas Valley.

In fact, Las Vegas is home to some of the most expensive golf courses of the world. The world?s best-known golf course designers have designed these courses. The best thing is that Las Vegas has several such golf courses where you can spend a couple of hours on the greens and get back to the other things that demand your attention, if you are really short on time.

Las Vegas Golf provides detailed information on Las Vegas Golf, Las Vegas Golf Courses, Las Vegas Golf Packages, Las Vegas Golf Resorts and more. Las Vegas Golf is affliated with Best Shows in Las Vegas.

Arizona Golf Courses

Arizona is a place of seamless splendor and beauty. It?s a cool and perfect place for golf lovers with its unparalleled golf courses. This is all because of the beauty of the courses; they attract a great number of tourists – especially the golf lovers – to make it their destination for a fun filled leisure and passionate golf vacation.

The courses are very well maintained with quality-manicured greens and dry patches. These courses are also well taken care of according to the players of all skill sets. The courses are made for everyone from a professional golf player to an amateur. From traditionally styled golf course to the most contemporary styles, you can find them in Arizona. The strategically designed golf course makes the playing more complex yet interesting and you hardly even realize when it turns from bright sunny daylight to cold darkness with your golf stick in hand.

The green palm trees and stretches of green-carpeted grass make the scene picture perfect. You can also avail good deals in golf resorts, which makes your golfing more convenient. With the finest accommodation and food, sightseeing options and access to other recreational activities in Arizona the vacation becomes more relaxing and enjoying. The deals also get you access to the best of golf courses to enjoy your vacation at the fullest. There are many golf courses, which means more variety to select from.

The wonderful courses are still the main reason why Arizona is known as a hub of golfers. So if golfing is your passion opt for Arizona golf courses for a passionate vacation.

Arizona Golf Courses provides detailed information on Arizona Golf, Arizona Golf Courses, Arizona Golf Vacations, Arizona Golf Resorts and more. Arizona Golf Courses is affiliated with Scotland Golf Tours.

Scandalous Behavior: What Happens At The Afterparty, Stays At The Afterparty!

Musicians work hard. They write for days. They rehearse like fiends. Drag heavy gear here and there. Sweat like pigs on stage. Put marathon hours in at the recording studio. Work their fingers to the bone…well, at least into some pretty gnarly calluses. But, musicians also like to play hard: booze, drugs, groupies, and trashed hotel rooms are actually more occupational hazards that rock ‘n’ roll myths.

No matter how disciplined an artist needs to be for his or her music, they will always need to blow off steam in some way or another. Some hit the gym, run, partake in extreme sports, do yoga, pursue their spirituality, web surf, build custom guitars, restore classic cars…you name it. All of these outlets help musicians to handle the enormous flow of energy so necessary to channel the creative process. Still, other musicians prefer a more debaucherous form of escapism. They drink until they puke, get stoned and eat a case of Cheetos, or sleep with all of their friends’ sisters.

This wild lifestyle, albeit a music clich?, may feel terrific at the moment, but many musicians clearly forget that the days of offstage antics circling around the buzz of the band, like whispers in the wind, are long gone. These days, fans carry camera phones to gigs, friends videotape your band’s every move, and everybody’s a blogger. The afterparty, once simply a chance to blow off steam with loved ones and lovers of your music alike, has now gone from the innocent scandal of, “Oh my God, did you hear what happened after the gig Saturday?” to a website monitoring every second of debased insanity with pictures, video, and descriptive essays.

This new unexpected publicity may increase the number of crazed partiers at your next gig, but what happens when the entertainment attorney you’ve been courting, the A&R guy you’ve been hoping to hear back from, or the manager you’ve been telling how serious you are about your music, pops on the internet and finds your drummer passed out in the pool, your bassist vomiting in someone’s bushes and your guitarist naked in a stranger’s bed with cheerleaders of questionable age?

The following are a few tips that may help you to throw a terrific afterparty without the ramifications hurting your career in the long run:

1.) Pick A Designated Partygoer—As much as this thought may send shivers through the spine of any wild-at-heart musician, it’s a good idea to have someone at your afterparty keeping an eye on those who’ve sold their souls for rock ‘n’ roll…or at least Jack Daniels. Whether you rotate it from gig to gig, or find a friend of the band (girlfriend, manager, a bandmate’s brother, etc.) who’ll stay sober enough to make sure that no one does anything stupid…and if they do, that it won’t be “caught on tape.” Playing Band Hall Monitor is truly a thankless job for anyone who parties hardy, so maybe free admission to the gig and some cool band swag as compensation would be a nice way to say “Thank You for being our assigned killjoy tonight!”

2.) Set Some Guidelines For Your Band And Fans—I know it sounds like Big Brother is busting up your raging good time but when you’re talking about your career, it’s better to be safe than sorry. Have a chat with your band explaining that extreme behavior needs to be controlled at parties where fans are recording events. Post on your web site, and your fan club or have a Pow Wow at the gig and explain to your people that, while you love all of the cool photos and videos they take of the band at the gig, there has to be a few rules for what can be shot offstage. Be honest. Let your friends/fans know that you love partying with them but that the band’s reputation is an important ingredient for its success and that it’s vital that certain memories be enjoyed by partygoers only and not preserved in cyberspace for the world to see.

3.) Monitor Your Websites And Web Communities—Again, better safe than sorry. It’s always a good idea to visit your forums, message boards, photo galleries, fan clubs, blogs and online communities to see what the latest scoop on your band is. It’s also wise to retain approval privilege on anything posted on each of your band sites. Let people post all of the drunken, naked pictures they want, and then pick and choose which images you want to represent your band. The same applies to comments and posts. Remember fans are important and priceless but it’s ultimately your image to preserve to the industry and the world and your web presence is how you represent yourself to everyone interested in you from fans to labels and everything in between.

4.) Dial Your Scandalous Behavior Back A Bit—It’s all well and good for your drummer to sleep with your girlfriend’s mom on his own time, but at band functions make sure that the behavior is kept professional. In our modern society, the lines between reality and publicity have become so blurred that a simple kegger in your singer’s garage can get more coverage than a Grammy Pre-Show Special. Sadly, that may simply mean changing the standards of band partying to those that you exhibit at gigs. Throw private parties and have orgies in your grandma’s bathtub, but when it’s music related you’re, in a sense, at work and should act accordingly.

I realize that telling musicians not to party, is like telling a dog not to lick its private parts and if, after reading this, you feel that the thrill of the over-the-edge rock ‘n’ roll afterparty is completely ruined, don’t change your major to math just yet. Remember, doors lock, parties can be invitation only, cameras turn off, and bloggers can be taught to use discretion. You can still live like Jim Morrison at Scott Weiland’s toga party; just do your best to keep it off the internet. While a little scandal is titillating, a lot of scandal just says to a label, “Sure. We’ll take your money and then we’ll blow it all on Tequila and show up to the studio three hours late every day.” Show the industry you’re serious, put on a professional face, and give your website the appearance of a band that’s fun and responsible. Then, have a private party, invite the Dallas Cowboy Cheerleaders, a donkey, the drug dealer next door, and your guitarist’s horny aunt and throw a party that would make the cast of Half Baked blush. After all, you’ve got to fight for your right to party…in secret…with the digital cameras unplugged.

About the Author

Sheena Metal is a radio host, producer, promoter, music supervisor, consultant, columnist, journalist and musician. Her syndicated radio program, Music Highway Radio, airs on over 700 affiliates to more than 126 million listeners. Her musicians’ assistance program, Music Highway, boasts over 10,000 members. She currently promotes numerous live shows weekly in the Los Angeles Area, where she resides. For more info: http://www.sheena-metal.com.