Where can you add Will Bowden,
Programme Manager for Greenkeeping and Sportsturf, Bridgwater College (Cannington Centre) says that incorporating biodiversity into golf course design and layout will significantly improve the perception of golf’s sustainability
M
any golf courses have the potential to incorporate anywhere between fifty to sixty hectares of
non-playing ‘environmental’ areas into their layout. This would equate to between 25-45% of the average golf course. So, there is significant potential for golf to alter its perception of being an intrusive and often unsustainable sector. But, where can you add Biodiversity?
• To incorporate native and indigenous wildlife and flora
• Enhance the beauty of the landscape • Enhance the character of the landscape
• Enhance the challenge and playability of the golf course
Obtrusive and high impact designs will create there own problems:
• Monostands of turf grass species • High inputs of chemicals and nutrients
meet specific criteria relating to their impact on the surrounding environment. Not least BIGGA, the GCSAA and the EIGCA are all actively promoting the sustainable creation and management of golf facilities. Good examples would be:
• Native plantings/areas: can be incorporated as carries and natural features around watercourses
BIODIVE
Key Points to consider in planning phase of design:
• Integrate wildlife in to plans
• Conduct full appraisal and survey of baseline ecological data across existing site
• Understanding the client’s needs and how these can be achieved, but with minimal negative impact
• Engage local communities and government
A case study of biodiversity.
Having been involved as an Ecological Consultant on numerous golf developments, the following is an example of good practice in relation to a new championship course in Northern Europe. The project’s aim was to create a challenging, championship golf course in an area of outstanding natural beauty. A summary of the key points involved in the planning stage were:
• Enhancement of nature conservation value of existing agricultural and commercial land
• Creation of diverse habitats - woodland, wetland, grassland and heathland
• Retention of existing distinctive landscape character
• Management priorities integrated with design process
• Design and planning agreed by dedicated team involving agronomist, project manager, contractors, architect and ecologist
The stages of planning and construction were:
In this example, biodiversity has been added to a relatively new layout through incorporating extensive native plantings of heather on bunker faces and banks, adding beauty and instant character:
• Walk on and walk off areas surrounding tee complexes
• Out of play margins around the course (corners of the course, buffer strips alongside hedgerows)
• Areas around maintenance facilities
• Margins of existing hazards, e.g. woodlands and water hazards
In recent years, organisations have suggested that new golf establishments
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to sustain intensively manicured land use
• Limited scope for native wildlife (buffer zones, corridors, riparian habitats)
• Lack of character
• The golf course sits at odds with its natural landscape
1. Enhancement of nature conservation
The design team had to study the existing site, topography, slope and natural elevation in relation to the incorporation of a golf course. From the outset, baseline data was gathered highlighting existing flora and fauna communities across the site. From this point accurate planning could then take place ensuring theses sensitive areas would be avoided and, if necessary, compensated for.
2. Creation of diverse habitats
Contingency plans were put in place to replicate any compromised sensitive habitat. Alternative areas were decided upon to compensate for any localised
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