While golf is often considered to be environmentally friendly, there is now a major drive to make the sport more sustainable.
Golf Ireland has positioned sustainability as one of its key programmes.
Drive the Green is the plan that was launched earlier this year and has the aim of advancing sustainability and climate action through the sport.
The view on Ireland’s golf courses can be mixed. Some take the view that courses are already environmentally friendly with others countering that the active management of the course limits the ecological value of the land.
Ireland’s golf courses cover an estimated 20,000 hectares of land with over half of this estimated as “out of play” landscape available for nature. Just 5% of golf course land is designated intensively maintained such as tee boxes and greens.
Golf Ireland has now set it’s eyes on improving the overall sustainability of the sector with an ambitious and detailed plan which will allow course to map and plan areas for improvement.
The new plan has four key sustainability themes, with fostering nature and conserving resources which places an emphasis on the course.
Action areas here include maximizing the ecological value of courses, responsible grass management and pollution prevention.
Golf course greenkeepers are already dealing with a number of restrictions on the use of pesticides, so the change in practices is already underway.
Golf Ireland is also asking courses to manage their energy use and minimize the use of follis fuels, to optimise water usage and promote the circular use of materials.
While many courses currently rely on diesel or petrol-powered mowers, the transition to hybrid and electric machinery has started with some clubs electing this option when replacing machinery.
Golf Ireland hopes that facilities across Ireland will become more sustainable, popular and profitable by embedding sustainability into their decision-making decisions.
Golf across Ireland will become increasingly recognised as one of the leading sports in sustainability and supported in its drive to deliver positive social and environmental impacts.
The move by Golf Ireland is aligned with the government regulations and policies, allowing golf to take a leading position as sports in Ireland come into line with the government regulations.
There’s lots that golfers can do as well when the go to play golf. Golf Ireland have created a scorecard with 18 actions that individuals can take on.
This is available on the Golf Ireland website and the ideas include easy solution like bringing a your own water bottle and walking rather using a cart, and more impactful ideas like car sharing and playing in sustainable clothing.
While the 18 ideas are good, reading the sustainability scorecard may help golfers to think differently when it comes to developing positive habits.
The Irish initiative is in line with similar moves internationally.
The R&A have acknowledged the initiative with Daniel Lightfoot, Director of Sustainable Golf saying “The R&A is pleased to continue to support the advancement of sustainable golf and best practice in golf course management.
The national action plan, and Golf Ireland’s wider strategy to support the game, aligns with our own aspiration to make sustainable management practices the norm, and secure a thriving future of the game and the communities around golf courses.”
The non-profit GEO Sustainable Golf Foundation also welcomed the developments in Ireland. Founder and Executive Director Jonathan Smith said “We commend Golf Ireland for their leadership in sustainable golf and look forward to supporting the implementation of the national sustainability action plan.
“In doing so we will collectively strengthen the future of the sport, and drive wider positive impacts for nature, climate and communities across the country.”
So far three Cork clubs have signed the Sustainable Golf pledge through the GEO foundation.
Kinsale, Doneraile and Monkstown have all pledged to make differences to help golf become a leader in sustainability, raise awareness and drive positive action among golfers, and playing their part to take action and conserve resources.
Golf Ireland is encouraging to clubs to sign up to the sustainable golf pledge and follow the sustainable golf pathway.
The next stages are to share developments and initiatives and learn from developments in other clubs, and get a spot on the sustainable golf online leaderboard.
