Golf’s sustainability drive rightly puts the majority of its focus on changing the way courses operate, but there are several things the club golfer can do to reduce their footprint and help secure their club – and the sport’s – future.
We spoke with Owen James, Sustainability Manager at England Golf, and asked for some tips.
REPAIR ANY PITCH MARKS YOU ENCOUNTER
“It is basic golf etiquette, and can easily be underestimated, but a massive amount of resources and labour goes into repairing pitchmarks,” James said.
“Repairing them yourself is a very sustainable thing to do – it means less of the greenkeepers’ time is required, less money, less fertiliser.
“That time and money can be spent on other areas of the golf course.”
COMMUNICATE WITH YOUR CLUB
“I would strongly advise golfers to talk to their club and the green staff,” he said.
“Golfers need to be able to share their opinions and share their point of view, but also they need to be told what is happening at the club and why it’s happening.
“I think there are a lot of instances of golf clubs saying, ‘this is what is happening’, but the ‘why’ it’s happening isn’t necessarily made clear.
“Opening that channel of communication can be beneficial to all.”
TIME TO SET UP A CARPOOL
“Things as simple as carpooling to the golf club can have a big impact,” James said.
“Imagine you are playing in a four-ball and you all come in separate cars. That’s near enough four times the emissions necessary. It needs some forward thinking and planning but will make a difference.”
BRING A REUSABLE WATER BOTTLE
“Plastic is clearly an issue to the environment, but look at this from a waste management perspective,” James says.
“I don’t think members realise that when they buy a bottle of water from the club and put it in bins on the course, the golf club has to pay for the waste to be taken away and sorted.
“The more expensive the waste management becomes, the more expensive your membership will become. So by taking part and buying a reusable bottle, there is less plastic going into bins at the clubs, there are fewer emissions and less cost to the club. It’s all money that can be spent on other things.”
LOOK OUT FOR WILDLIFE AND HABITATS
“For me, golfers need to be looking at the habitats on their golf course,” James said.
“Look out for bird life and report it back to the club – help them record it. It shouldn’t be solely on the greenkeepers. Get involved and start the conversation.
“It can help the club understand what wildlife there is on the course and how they can best support it.”
SUPPORT THE CLUB
“When you’re off the course, be sure to utilise the club facilities,” James says.
“Make sure you are supporting the club, whether it’s buying a meal or just a few drinks after your round. It helps make sure the golf club, which is paying to keep the lights and heating on, is supported financially.
“The environment is one of the first considerations around sustainability, but the economic side is massively important too. By supporting your club you’re helping them deal with their costs and it helps safeguard against membership fees going through the roof.”
And there you have it – six simple ways golfers can help their clubs become more sustainable. We urge all club golfers to heed this advice and help secure the future of their course and the sport they love.
Sustainability is key to the survival of golf, and Booth Golf & Leisure is committed to help secure the sport’s future. It is time for everyone to embrace the changes that are necessary. If you would like to book a consultation with us to find out if we can provide you with sustainable water sources and much more, please call us on 01706 530 930. Stay tuned for more interviews with Owen.
