The Greener Golf Network Annual Conference

We held our 5th conference on 18^th February 2025, hosted at Ullesthorpe Court golf club. This year’s focus was on Practical Sustainability and how golf courses can manage their resources effectively and efficiently to positively contribute to the natural environment.

Over 70 people attended, representing 21 golf clubs from Leicestershire and from counties across England, as far afield as Sussex. Other participants included representatives from England Golf, the RSPB and water and other industries.

We had an excellent line up of speakers:

Phil Buck, a director of sustainability at Copt Heath GC in Warwickshire gave a fascinating talk about all the work his club is doing, focussing on water and energy conservation.

Dr Marie Athorn from the RSPB  led a lively interactive session on how to design a golf course for wildlife.

an excellent  panel of enthusiastic and knowledgeable local green keepers answered questions about their work and how it is changing due to climate change.

project updates including water voles, Biodiversity Net Gain, Leicestershire and Rutland Wildlife Trust, Severn Trent.

Among the key messages from the speakers were:

• Communicate environmental initiatives and benefits clearly to get the support of golf course members and committees
• Embed sustainability in course management policy.
• Involve local environmental groups and communities  (especially children) in the biodiversity potential of golf courses.
• Change attitudes and perceptions of what a golf course should look like (weeds in rough; reduced grass cutting in winter)
• Show how biodiversity development in golf courses can help generate income (e.g. through Biodiversity Net Gain).

The slide presentations on the water vole project, the nature recovery pilot project led by the trust, the Severn Trent biodiversity programme, and the Copt Heath GC developments, can all be found on the website here. (Go to RESOURCES and choose LIBRARY from the drop-down menu).