Environmental responsibility It is a lesson in life that with privilege comes responsibility. We are fortunate that our golf club is situated in ideal golfing country and we are also fully aware of our wider environmental responsibilities. We are custodians of the land and wish to hand it on to the next generation in tip-top condition. The golf course is covered by two Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs) as an increasingly rare example of Breckland heathland and we have signed up to a Higher Level Stewardship Scheme agreement with Natural England. It is home to a wide range of heathland plants, many of which are officially listed as nationally rare species. Many mammals, reptiles, amphibians, invertebrates and birds also share this environment and our intention is to manage the site so that there is plenty of room for golfers and wildlife. The SSSIs are protected in law and we are happy to comply with the requirements. However, this does mean that we are limited in what our greenkeepers can do, particularly when it comes to the
fairways. The application of fertilisers or weedkillers could have an adverse effect on the protected species and there are also restrictions on the use of watering. This means it is unlikely you will ever play off green, lush fairways at Thetford – that is not the natural character of the course. However, the greens and tees have been treated and watered from long before SSSIs were introduced and so they are exempt from those controls. Our reputation for excellent greens has been built over more than a century and over the winter they are as good as any in the country. The resulting conditions are very similar to a links course – but we save you the trouble of driving all the way to the coast to enjoy them! Breckland is a unique environment – and in many respects Thetford is a unique golf course. It is natural and presents conditions that have challenged golfers for more than a century. We are one of the greenest golf clubs in the country – and we want that to continue for many years to come.
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