We recently had the chance to sit down with renowned golf course architect and BGL preferred supplier, Jonathan Gaunt, to discuss a topic that’s gaining momentum in the world of golf: sustainable golf course design.
As sustainability becomes a core consideration across industries, golf is also making strides to minimise its environmental impact, aligning its practices with ecological principles.
Jonathan shared his insights into what sustainable golf course design really means. From preserving native ecosystems to enhancing biodiversity, he emphasises the importance of creating courses that respect and enhance the natural landscape.
As he explains, “The aim is to cause as little disturbance to the existing landscape as possible. If the finished golf course provides an improved, enhanced, and more biodiverse landscape, then the result is positive.”
1. Prioritising Existing Landscapes and Nature Resources
Jonathan’s approach starts with a comprehensive assessment of the site, not only examining the golf course’s immediate setting but also considering its surroundings.
“We identify what exists over the hedgerow and whether any surrounding habitats can be connected or brought into the site,”
By respecting existing features such as trees, terrain, wetlands, and rock outcrops, Jonathan allows the land to guide the course design.
This approach encourages minimal interference while leveraging natural elements, such as strategically placed water features, that integrate seamlessly into the course.
Rainwater management is another cornerstone of Jonathan’s design philosophy.
He incorporates the use rainwater through harvesting, storing and re-use, creating a self-sustaining irrigation system.
His designs incorporate a network of swales, lagoons, and run-offs, ensuring that every drop of rain is effectively captured, controlled, and recycled.
“The need to keep water use to a minimum is paramount,” Gaunt says.
“Our Irrigation systems are supplied by rainwater through an intensive drainage system, a far more sustainable solution than relying on mains water or boreholes.”
2. Adapting to New Realities in Golf Course Design
Reflecting on how his approach has evolved, Gaunt remarks that sustainability has always been embedded in his practice, tracing back to his early days in the late 1980s.
Trained as a landscape architect, Jonathan approaches golf courses as “drainage systems with a golf course superimposed upon them.”
Today, with increasing environmental awareness and legislative pressure, golf course design must now meet biodiversity net gain of 10%. Jonathan backs this shift, believing it encourages golf courses to be seen as opportunities for enhancing, rather than depleting, landscapes.
He highlighted that if such standards had been required over the past three decades, golf courses would occupy a far more advantageous environmental position.
In recent years, Jonathan has observed a broader trend of water conservation across the industry, accelerated by climate change and increased rainfall.
Notably, some clients report reduced irrigation needs, thanks to careful rainwater harvesting and enhanced drainage systems within Gaunt’s designs.
These systems do more than prevent surface water from rapidly leaving site.
Instead, they control its flow, slowing it down and channelling it into ponds and lagoons for later use.
3. Embracing Construction and Habitat-Friendly Practices
For Jonathan, sustainable design extends beyond the course layout to construction practices. Precision is key: “We make our designs as buildable as possible, with GPS coordination to avoid any on-site changes that waste time, fuel, and materials.”
He issues 3D files compatible with software used directly by machinery operators, significantly reducing the need for travel and site visits.
Another priority is habitat preservation.
Jonathan collaborates closely with ecologists to safeguard valuable habitats on every project.
This collaboration often results in impressive biodiversity outcomes, with some of his projects achieving biodiversity net gain of over 20%.
Furthermore, by advising clients on biodiversity net gain credits, Jonathan’s designs offer golf clubs an opportunity for income through partnerships with local developers, who are eager to offset their environmental impact.
4. The Balance Between Playability and Environmental Sustainability
Jonathan acknowledges the delicate balance between a golf course’s playability and its ecological sustainability.
He argues that there is room to shift toward the environment’s favour, yet the two are not mutually exclusive.
Citing examples of UK links and heathland courses designated as Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), Gaunt demonstrates how golf courses can co-exist with protected landscapes.
“Golf can co-exist with the natural environment,” He notes, “it just means that the course management team needs to be forward thinking and bullish about how much they allow the overlap to occur.”
5. Future Trends in Sustainable Golf Course Design
Jonathan has noticed a “groundswell of opinion” favouring sustainable golf design, a trend he observes is long established in the UK.
Many US architects, inspired by the UK’s historic courses, are now advocating for this approach, seeing it as essential to the future of golf.
However, Jonathan emphasises that true sustainability is more than superficial changes; it requires a genuine commitment to respecting the natural landscape.
Looking to the future, Jonathan envisions sustainability as the path forward for golf.
Advances in golf technology have led to courses pushing unsustainable lengths, often exceeding 8,000 yards.
This trend demands more resources and maintenance, which he views as unsustainable.
Instead, he champions courses that are “playable, exciting, compelling, challenging, memorable, and affordable” even a century after they’re built.
He cites Alister MacKenzie’s Cavendish Golf Club—a 5,800-yard, par-68 course—as an example of sustainable, timeless design.
Key Takeaways for Sustainable Golf Course Design
- Minimising Landscape Disturbances
- Prioritising Water Conservation
- Preserving Habitats and Biodiversity
- Enhancing Construction Efficiency
- Balancing Playability with Sustainability
Jonathan Gaunt’s sustainable approach reflects a philosophy where the environment is as central to course design as the sport itself.
His vision sets a powerful example, demonstrating that golf courses can be beautiful, playable, and ecologically responsible spaces that last for generations.
Through mindful design and innovative practices, his courses serve as blueprints for a future where golf enriches, rather than depletes, the landscapes it occupies.
For those interested in Exploring Jonathan’s project you can find them HERE
