Water management and nature restoration were central to a recent forum exploring how golf can prepare for growing environmental pressures.
The hot, dry summer experienced across much of the UK has brought water management and course resilience into sharp focus for golf clubs.
As managers consider what they have learned and where investment may be needed, a recent European forum highlighted both the risks facing the game and the contribution clubs can make.
The European Sustainable Golf Forum, hosted by the European Golf Association (EGA) at Bernardus Golf during Solheim Cup week, brought together more than 80 representatives from over 30 countries. National federations, professional tours and environmental organisations joined government representatives to discuss practical responses to the challenges ahead.
Richard Holland, formerly of WWF and Wetlands International, was a key facilitator. A member of the advisory groups of the GEO Sustainable Golf Foundation and Dutch Golf Federation, he welcomed progress while stressing the urgency of further action.
“It is encouraging to see the golf sector’s work in sustainability start to accelerate and deepen, given the pace and scale of the nature and climate crises we face,” he said.
“Without action, golf is at risk of going extinct in various regions. With effective action, golf can contribute in a meaningful way to biodiversity conservation, better land and water management, and towards a net positive impact on climate.”
For club managers, those concerns reach into investment planning and the long-term viability of their facilities. Water availability influences what greenkeeping teams can maintain, while improvements to irrigation or storage require funding and support from those responsible for the club’s finances.
The UK’s record-breaking summer has provided fresh impetus for those conversations. The Met Office identified it as the warmest on record, with very dry conditions affecting many areas. Reviewing the season with the course manager can help establish where the greatest pressures arose and which changes would improve the club’s ability to cope with similar conditions.
The forum addressed water stewardship and sustainable turfgrass management, alongside nature protection, evolving regulation and credible environmental communication. Delegates also heard about forthcoming resources, including a Sustainable Golf Knowledge Centre and a joint R&A and GEO Sustainable Golf Foundation review.
EGA General Secretary Michael Thannhäuser explained why sharing knowledge across the sport was central to its approach.
“Sustainability is one of the most important topics facing golf, both now and for the future. As the representative body for European golf, the EGA has an important role to play in helping national federations work together, share knowledge and respond to the environmental challenges facing the game,” he said.
“Through this Forum, we want to support more sustainable approaches to turfgrass and water management, nature restoration and practical action across the sport. By working together, European golf can help shape a more resilient future for the game, while making a positive contribution to the landscapes and communities around us.”
That wider contribution offers managers a way to engage members in the work taking place on their courses. Explaining habitat restoration or changes to maintenance practices can build understanding of how the club cares for its land, particularly where the results alter the appearance of familiar areas.
Holland highlighted the opportunity golf has to encourage that interest.
“Among all sports, golf has a unique opportunity to bring people into contact with their local environment, enabling the sport to build understanding and support to safeguard the natural world,” he said.
Key takeaways
- Review the summer with your course manager to identify vulnerabilities and inform future investment.
- Draw on shared research and guidance to support decisions about water management and course resilience.
- Help members understand environmental work by explaining its purpose and showing progress on their own course.
