Sports

Sunday May 11, 2008

Keeping our courses clean

PUNCH SHOT
By JOE CARLOS


Discarded cigarette butts pose a serious environmental issue and smoking is prohibited in some open recreation parks, picnic pavilions and football fields.

LITTERING in golf course is becoming a serious problem. Things like empty golf ball sleeves and water bottles can be found scattered in rough areas and sometimes on fairways but smokers are the biggest culprits with their discarded cigarette butts that be found practically anywhere on the course, especially at and around tee boxes and around the greens.

Smokers are generally unaware of the damage that is caused to the environment relating to discarded cigarette butts. According to recent statistics, there are an estimated 7.5 million smokers in the United Kingdom and if one person smokes just 10 sticks a day, this equates to 75 million discarded cigarette butts. On a weekly basis, this means a mind boggling 22 thousand tons of butts!

The Stubbi is a mobile ashtray that has been well received by smokers and non-smokers alike.

Cigarette littering is a serious environmental issue and this has forced many governments to proclaim a smoking ban inside public buildings. In many cities in the United States, smoking is also prohibited in open recreation places like parks, picnic pavilions and football fields.

Some municipal councils in America have attempted to ban smoking in public golf courses but have reduced the ban at tee boxes and greens, allowing golfers to smoke on fairways. While this sounds reasonable especially with the issue of “second-hand smoke”, it still does not solve the issue of cigarette butt littering.

Some golf clubs in Indonesia and Thailand installed ashtrays at tee boxes and even inside the motorized carts.

Herman Tan, the general Manager of Tropicana Golf & Country Club, said that cigarette butt littering was becoming a serious issue at their club. Banning smoking on the course did come across his mind but he thinks it may not reach that extent as yet.

“The problem for us would be enforcement,” said Tan. “We cannot afford to employ 18 marshals to watch golfers on every hole. But we are certainly looking at various options that would help towards reducing cigarette litter on the course”

One of the options is to install ashtrays at tee boxes and erect signages requesting that golfers refrain from smoking on the fairways. Kota Permai GCC’s Ding Meng Sieng shared the same view. “Enforcement would be the issue. We are however moving towards prohibiting smoking on the fairways.”

The first club in the Klang Valley to ban smoking on fairways and greens is the 27-hole Kelab Golf Perkhidmatan Awam, located at Bukit Kiara. In fact they allow smoking only at designated teeboxes. This ban came into effect since March 2008.

Said general manager Captain Sharuddin Shariff: “Cigarette butt littering was a serious issue here. We’ve seen cigarettes burning on greens and bunkers seem to be favourite ashtrays for golfers.

Capt Sharuddin said that initially there were warning signages that smoking on the course was hazardous as the greens were being sprayed with insecticides and herbicides regularly. “It becomes hazardous when a golfer places his still-lit cigarette on the green while he makes his putt. I’ve known of smokers complaining of stinging sensations on their lips after a round of golf.”

According to Captain Sharuddin, there has been a marked decrease in cigarette butt littering ever since the ban took effect in March. “I don’t see any more butts inside bunkers or lying around the greens. This is definitely a good sign.”

KGPA also installed ashtrays at the designated tee boxes while the starters at the three nines will usually remind golfers of the smoking ban on fairways and greens. The course marshals keep a closer eye on the golfers and will not hesitate to tell a golfer to stop smoking if he does it outside designated areas.

“We usually let the golfer off with a first warning, followed by a reprimand. But we will not hesitate to eject a golfer off the course if he continues to ignore the smoking ban. So far it’s working but it’s still early days. Education and enforcement are the key elements in this issue but we expect the smokers to be responsible citizens as well,” said Captain Sharuddin.

Stubbi: The golfer's cigarette pouch

Meanwhile, there is a new product available that encourages smokers to preserve the environment. It is called the Stubbi Pocket Ashtray, which has been welcomed by smokers and non-smokers alike since its launch in 2002.

The Stubbi anti-litter pouch contains a fireproof lining which safely and hygienically extinguishes cigarettes while at the same time storing them for disposal later on.

Users simply drop the lighted cigarette butt into the pouch, allowing it to extinguish within seconds. Stubbi claims it is completely safe and nothing should fall out into users’ pockets. It is free from aromas normally associated with conventional ashtrays.

Apparently, there is no need to stub out the lighted butt; just open the pouch and drop it inside. The Stubbi can store up to seven butts before disposal is required and it can be used time and time again.

Stubbi’s South East Asian managing director Garry Colman said that cigarette littering is a serious environmental issue both on and off the golf course. Stubbi’s main customers in the UK and Europe are in fact local councils. These councils spend thousands of pounds each year trying to keep the streets of Britain free from cigarette litter.

Stubbi is endorsed by the British Environmental Agency and the Keep Britain Tidy Campaign. Stubbi are looking forward to working with local governments and environmental agencies within the Asean region.

Garry said he is a smoker and an avid golfer and was as guilty as the next person when it came to littering the streets and golf courses with cigarette butts. But since 2003 he is proud that he has not dropped a single butt on the streets or the golf course. This effort alone has reduced cigarette litter in the environment by approximately 45,000 butts.

Stubbi commenced trading in Malaysia towards the end of February 2008 and have already gained support within and outside the golf fraternity. Stubbis are not just for golfers but for anyone who smokes. Stubbi intends to work with retailers, wholesalers, the corporate sector with large workforces and of course golf courses.

They can be contacted at 603-2116 5647. For more information, visit their website at www.stubbisea.com.

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