Muskoka Highlands Golf Links Environmental Philosophy
Here at Muskoka Highlands we are true to our game's roots on the Scottish Highlands. We believe in working with Mother Nature to provide good quality natural playing conditions. This means we use an integrated approach to provide the best possible growing conditions for the turf and only treat a pest problem when absolutely necessary.
We are also concerned about water use and have allowed our out-of-play areas to do what they do best - naturalize. We do not irrigate our fairways or rough - period! We store whatever water Mother Nature gives us during the winter months and this plus rain during the growing season is all the water we use to irrigate the golf course. Water in the tributaries and surrounding bodies of water are strictly for our feather, fur, and fin-wearing neighbors.
Another main focus at Muskoka Highlands is our on-going partnership with Audubon International. We are currently in the process of becoming a Certified Sanctuary within the Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary Program (ACSP). In addition to pesticide and water use reduction, ACSP is concerned with the promotion and protection of wildlife and natural habitats that the golf course supplies.
We will be making a conscious effort every year to continue to maintain our property in a sustainable manner to provide a healthy place for you and your family to enjoy. You may see changes on the golf course as we continuously improve this process and hope that you enjoy the fact that our staff here at Muskoka Highlands Golf Links is taking a positive approach in making this a better community and environment.
Sincerely,
Nicholas Bell
Golf Course Superintendent
A proposed Canadian Charter of Freshwater Rights and Responsibilities
The hope of the participants of the Summit is that we will get the federal government to adopt the charter. The Charter has seven articles including:
Article 1. The ecosystem is the primary “user” of water.
Article 2. Water is a public trust, and the distribution of water for consumptive use must be done for the equal benefit and well-being of all Canadians.
Article 3. All Canadians have both a right to sufficient potable water for their basic needs and a shared responsibility to ensure that all Canadians have ready access to potable water.
Article 4. All Canadians have a responsibility to future generations to conserve freshwater and to prevent or reverse the degradation of water resources.
Article 5. All Canadians have an ongoing responsibility to monitor the state of freshwater using scientifically validated procedures.
Article 6. Monitoring data must be analyzed, interpreted and reported in a timely fashion without interference from special interest groups, or shifting political ideologies.
Article 7. Traditional knowledge acquired from cultural traditions, resource management practices and oral histories of Aboriginal peoples of Canada must be considered an integral part of water policy development.
Muskoka Highlands Golf Links endorses this Charter of Freshwater Rights.
Don MacKay
President
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