Without appropriate design, implementation and management, features of the golf course can fall significantly short of their potential
the current competitive golfing environment it is vital to the club to keep existing members happy and so they are often reluctant to change the course in any way. Members of course are often highly devoted to their club and have a keen interest regarding what is happening with it. This reluctance to change, along with perhaps insecurities about how to approach change, means that new members may be put off and alienated from the club through its apparent lack of willingness to cater for a wide range of golfing styles. This means there is no scope for the club to expand and indeed, the only direction for the club to go is towards social and economic instability.
What can be done?
It has been discussed earlier how improving the environment is a key factor to developing a sustainable golf club. It is often the case that this can be achieved, quickly and cost effectively with the advice of a golf course ecologist. Large scale changes cannot occur overnight, but a visit from an ecologist provides a wealth of information. Not only about what the course currently has to offer in terms of its wildlife and playability, but also what its potential is to develop in order to meet the needs of the new generation of players. I
mentioned earlier about the need to be sensitive to all styles of play and the team at the STRI provides advice on just this topic. For example, one of our principle concerns is to develop more species rich ‘ecology rough’ on the golf course. This is not only a haven for wildlife, but also provides an interesting and challenging hazard when shaped appropriately. If the design is right the ‘ecology rough’ forms a feature that, whilst a prominent aspect of the hole, is still sympathetic to the style of play of both the more seasoned golfer and also those that are able to hit the ball 300+ yards. It is simple design features such as this that enable a club to develop its environmental and, therefore, a competitive edge which leads to social and economic prosperity. Whichever club you consider, there is always work that can be done. The key is to recognise the need for this work, not only from an ecological point of view but also a sustainability point of view. Once the need is recognised, a willingness to carry out the work and progress forward is vital.
Members often don’t like change and, because of this, greenkeepers and chairmen of greens are often reluctant to inflict any upon them. Education is the key here. Keeping members informed about why work is required is vital to keeping them on your side. There are many ways in which this can be done including postings on club house notice boards, providing monthly updates on the club’s website, or even bringing in outside professional advice to discuss with the members directly the reasons behind the initiatives and the benefits they will bring. Whichever route you decide to take, keeping people educated and informed is vital.
Times are changing
There are new trends emerging within this sector to be considered. I mentioned earlier that part of the reason for ‘pay
and play’ becoming more popular, apart from high membership costs, was the fear of change by traditional golf clubs. But that’s not the whole story. Society golf is increasingly becoming big business. That is, companies taking large groups of their staff members, and often business associates, to hotel and golf complexes for reasons such as networking and team building exercises. These golf facilities provide an all round corporate hospitality package and, in order to attract business, aim to be able to claim their greens as being the fastest playing surfaces in the land. This is deemed to be important in a competitive market but, in reality, it is by no means the be all and end all. The fact is that less than 1% of golfers in Europe play off a handicap of less than 5 and, therefore, whilst firm, true and reasonably fast putting surfaces are important, there should be recognition of other factors. So the question, ‘does ecology have a
role in the modern day golf facility?’ is posed again. This time aimed specifically at the pay and play complexes. The answer must be a resounding yes. A more holistic golfing experience will
increase a golfer’s desire to visit the course, and indeed return to it. The point is, don’t get too hung up on your greens - take time to consider the wider environment.
The message
Providing a stable environment is being increasingly recognised as the key component to developing a sustainable golf club. It is particularly important in today’s increasingly competitive and environmentally aware climate, that clubs realise this fast, and don’t miss the boat. If you require any further information on hedgerow planting, maintenance or general ecology please contact STRI’s Ecology and Environment Unit on 01274 565131 or email
richard.stuttard@
stri.co.uk
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