Carden drives towards a greener future with new golf buggies
With over 52,000 rounds of golf played at Carden Park each year, having a ‘green’ fleet of golf buggies goes a long way to keeping the hotel’s carbon footprint small.
The four-star hotel, golf resort and spa has a new convoy of golf vehicles to help keep its emissions low by utilising advancing technology.
Golf business manager Karen Proctor said: “Upgrading our golf buggy fleet not only ensures we keep our emissions low, it gives our golfers a more comfortable experience.
“We have always opted for the electric versions over petrol as they use less energy and also reduce noise pollution on the course. We had over 52,000 rounds of golf here last year and a large proportion of our players hire out a car so ensuring our vehicles are environmentally friendly and in good condition has a big impact.
In additional to the 62 new electric golf cars, Carden Park has also acquired five other electric vehicles to make travelling around the resort’s 1,000 acre estate more cost-effective. These include a pair of six-seater shuttles for the corporate hospitality team along with a utility vehicle for the housekeeping staff and one for the catering team, as well as a vehicle to deliver refreshments to golfers on the course.
Karen added: “We pride ourselves on providing a first class golfing experience to our guests. Providing high quality buggies and services such as the refreshments vehicle all add to that experience and means golfers keep returning to our fairways.”
Carden Park Hotel, Golf Resort and Spa is set in 1,000 acres of Cheshire countryside, approached by a mile long drive through the 18-hole championship Nicklaus Golf Course, designed by golfing legend Jack Nicklaus and his son Steve. Opened in 1998, the course has six kilometres of cart paths and there are plans for the resorts second championship golf course, the Cheshire Course, to have paths installed by 2013.
The resort also boasts a driving range with 13 covered and eight uncovered bays and is a holder of the prestigious ‘Golf Mark’ from the English Golf Union (EGU), for its junior and beginner friendly golf facilities.
Upgrading its golf buggies is just one of the ways Carden Park is maintaining its green standards, a fact recognised earlier this year when it was awarded a Gold Award from the Green Tourism Business Scheme (GTBS), the highest level that can be achieved.
Where possible local suppliers and contractors are employed and encouraged to share Carden Park’s green practices. So far the resort has been able to shrink its electricity consumption by 5%, which equates to 85 tonnes of CO2, its heating oil consumption by 7.5% and gas consumption by 9.5 %. Water flow to bedrooms has been reduced by 50% and the amount of energy used by the pool ventilation is down by 80%.
Staff now recycle 40% of all waste. As much surplus material as possible, from paper to ink cartridges, is recycled and even the kitchen oil is sent away to be turned into bio fuel.
A prime example of the hotel’s innovative eco-thinking has been the introduction of an on-site glass crusher, which transforms glass waste into sand to be scattered on the two championship golf courses thus improving drainage.
Carden Park offers a variety of corporate golf packages and is currently offering a ‘Spring Saver’ package – with the chance to play a round of golf, with tea, coffee and bacon rolls included, for just £30 per person Monday to Friday (£40 at weekends).
There’s also a ‘Twilight Golf’ offer available throughout May, when a round of golf on one of the championship courses is just £20 per person after 3pm.
For more information go to: cardenpark.co.uk/golf
As well as its outstanding golfing facilities, Carden Park’s hotel boasts 196 luxury bedrooms and suites, award winning restaurants and a sumptuous spa. Plus with a wide variety of onsite activities including the KONG aerial ropes course.
