Beedles Lake Golf Club Site Visit | 24th June 2026
Sustainability, Biodiversity and Community
30 Years of Environmental Transformation
The Greener Golf Network’s Site Visit for 2026 was to the remarkable club – Beedles Lake – created from a restored landfill site approximately 30 years ago.
Long term manager Jon Coleman, and Head Greenkeeper Sam Shuttlewood were our hosts for the morning, and they had a tremendous story to tell.
From Landfill to Landscape
- The club covers around 200 acres across two golf courses.
- Includes a 25-acre gravel pit lake, now a significant landscape and ecological feature.
- Located within the Wreake Valley, bordered by both a river and stream corridor.
What was once a challenging brownfield site has become a green space that supports both people and wildlife.
An Environmental Approach
The club’s aim is to manage the site responsibly while balancing recreation, landscape quality and biodiversity.
Key initiatives include:
- Solar panel installation helping reduce energy consumption from the grid.
- EV charging points encouraging sustainable transport.
- LED lighting across facilities to reduce energy use.
- Dedicated wash-down pad for equipment to protect water quality and prevent contamination.
- Continued efforts to minimise environmental impacts from course maintenance.
Sustainable Course Management
Over recent years the club has focused on reducing chemical inputs and encouraging healthier, more resilient turf. This includes:
- Significant reduction in fertiliser inputs.
- Virtually no herbicide use across the site.
- Targeted management practices rather than blanket treatments.
- Working with natural processes wherever possible.
The objective is to provide quality playing surfaces while reducing environmental impact.
Biodiversity Opportunities
The scale and variety of habitats across the site provide important opportunities for wildlife.These include:
- The lake and associated wetland margins.
- River and stream corridors.
- Rough grassland areas.
- Trees, hedgerows and scrub habitats.
- Areas managed specifically for nature alongside golf.
These habitats contribute to biodiversity across the wider Wreake Valley landscape.
Part of the Local Community
Beedles Lake has always aimed to be more than just a golf course. The club has set out to be:
- A local employer.
- A venue for community events and functions.
- A recreational green space enjoyed by members and visitors.
- A club that seeks to make sport accessible and welcoming.
- The philosophy has always been: “Golf for Everyone”
Believing people from all backgrounds and social circumstances should have the opportunity to try and enjoy golf at sensible and affordable prices.
Looking Ahead
Current developments include:
- An indoor padel centre.
- Outdoor padel courts.
- Continued enhancement of our driving range facilities.
- Ongoing development of our multifunctional clubhouse and large function space.
These additions will help broaden participation in sport while supporting the long-term sustainability of the club.
