Sustainability – is golf under threat?

Golf under threat

How golf businesses can play a leading role in sustainability for people and the planet.

Golf courses

in urban areas are under increased pressure to demonstrate their environmental and community value.

With the planet’ s urban population set to double to 8.5 billion by 2050, demand for land is on the rise, with golf courses already under close scrutiny of regulators and policymakers.

A new feature from Syngenta Golf, ‘Golf Under Threat’ , explores the conflicting demands

for more housing and green spaces, and highlights how golf businesses have an opportunity to play a leading role in sustainability for people and the planet.

Here in Europe, many courses are now looking to their out-of-play areas to enhance ecological diversity, such as the Environmental Golf Course of the Year 2022, The Grove, close to north London.

Following the principals of the pioneering Syngenta Operation Pollinator initiative, golf courses have shown they can be a green oasis for biodiversity in an urban environment or surrounded by a monoculture of intensive agriculture.

Enhancing the ecological assets of out of play areas, they can make the golf course more attractive for both biodiversity and golfers – without impacting on playing areas in any way. It positively enhances the whole playing experience for the 200+ clubs involved with the initiative.

This year, Farleigh Golf Club in Surrey won England Golf’ s Sustainability Project of the Year award for its Operation Pollinator habitat creation around the magnificent course. Swathes of naturalistic planting frame the holes and approaches to the club with stunning wildflowers that have proven highlypopularwithclubmembersandthelocalpollinator populations.

It’ s also happening in the US, where at Bethpage State Park, host to the world-famous 2024 Ryder Cup, golfers have learned how owls, red-tailed hawks and other species are encouraged to nest just off the hallowed fairways.

Bethpage State Park Director of Agronomy Andrew Wilson explains how the park has become ahavenforwildlifebyhiringanecologistandputting QR codes on park signs to educate visitors.

Mark Birchmore, Syngenta Global Head of Marketing,TurfandLandscape,whocommissioned the feature, said: “Golf courses are often an easy target, but in reality, they play a critical role in providing a green space for golfers and non-golfers, preserving wildlife habitats, and they are already implementing sustainable best practice.

“As the debate around urban land use intensifies, golf businesses should take the opportunity to communicate their contribution to society and their long-term environmental value.

“Enhancing connections with local communities and stakeholders can help show that golf, collectively, has a key role to play in balancing long-term demands of people, profit and the planet. ”

• Want to learn how your club can take a leading role in sustainability? Read more online at: growinggolf.shorthandstories.com/golf-under-threat