Conservation & Ecology
has long been a truly sustainable golf club.
Grassland Management
Areas of deep rough are the defining characteristic at Reay Golf Club. They provide visual and strategic interest and a home to a host of wildlife. It is important to note that these grasslands do not occur by accident and take proactive management if they are to be retained as good quality features of the golf course in the long term. If left without appropriate management, any grassland will try to follow the pattern of natural succession, first becoming dominated by the coarser and thicker grasses followed by woody scrub and tree species. The management of any particular grassland is dependent upon the species present and also its relationship to play on the golf course. The grasslands range from young
marram dominated areas interspersed with bare sand through to coarse agricultural style grasslands, with each requiring different management. In general terms, infrequent cutting
followed by collection of all arisings will be sufficient to retain a grassland in its current status, however, if a dense grassland is required to become thinner so as to facilitate speed of play or develop further wildflower and butterfly interest, the club will undertake scarification during the early part of the season in order to stress those competitive broad-leaved grasses in favour of the finer leaved grasses such as the fescues and bents.
Sandside Bay SSSI
In Scotland, there are thirty-two golf courses supporting SSSI designation, with the number exceeding one hundred throughout the UK. Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) are the body responsible for ensuring that all SSSI sites are managed, such that the features and assets for which they were designated are retained in favourable condition in the long term. Reay Golf Club has a strong
relationship with SNH, with a bond of trust formed over many years of working together on the golf course. Potentially
damaging operations, such as the construction of new tees, bunkers etc., application of pesticides or fertilisers or management of rough grassland can only be undertaken under licence from SNH. The Sandside Bay SSSI extends
throughout the northern section of the course incorporating areas to the east and west of Sandside Bay outside its perimeter. In addition to the above, a small pocket of land, known locally as ‘The Sahara’, is situated between the 1st, 3rd and 6th holes which, although separated from the more northerly sand dunes, does form part of the SSSI. Sandside Bay SSSI is so designated for its interesting duneland floral communities and landscape characteristics. The vegetation throughout is largely dominated by marram grass, with tall herb species on the stabilised back slopes of the dunes. Within the lower lying areas of the links, species rich short turf, supporting locally uncommon flora, such as cowslip and curved sedge, is also prevalent. The three burns which enter the SSSI - Isauld Burn, Reay Burn and Sandside Burn -
minority that have led the wider public to believe that golf courses are green deserts”
“It has been the actions of a
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