Review of the 2011 Golf Environment Awards
8th January, 2012 by Emma Williams
The 2011 Golf Environment Awards attracted participation from golf clubs all across the UK, with, according to the STRI, which runs the competition, “many inspirational entries”. This demonstrates not only that the awareness of the awards is growing, but that a significant number of golf clubs are currently working on projects that make a real difference to the environment and their local surroundings.
The awards highlight the ‘greener’ golf clubs in the UKand showcase the creative projects they are implementing that both enhance their golf course and have a positive impact on the environment. The winner of the ‘Overall Achievement Award’, Loch Lomond Golf Club, validates how environmental sustainability and outstanding aesthetics can work together hand-in-hand. The club has achieved exemplary results in each of the key performance areas; nature conservation, waste management, water management and turfgrass management.
On learning that his club had won the award, David Cole, the golf course and estate manager atLoch Lomond, commented: “The team at Loch Lomond Golf Club is thrilled to receive this most prestigious award. It’s great to be recognised by STRI for our efforts in achieving best practice in the environment and to receive the overall UK award makes us very proud. The club aspires to be at the forefront of environment management and this award is testament to the sheer commitment and passion shown by the entire team towards achieving this goal.”
The ‘Conservation Greenkeeper of the Year Award’ was, once again, a very competitive category but the winner, Antony Wainwright, the assistant head greenkeeper at Turton Golf Club, stood out from the rest due to his passion to develop an effective environmental management plan and his successful engagement of the club’s members to help achieve their objectives. Antony commented: “This award helps to raise the profile of Turton Golf Club within the golfing industry and the local community. I believe all golf clubs should play a vital role in helping to reverse the trend of our declining species and important habitats and I’m extremely happy that the Golf Environment Awards recognises some of the ecological achievements made by golf clubs throughout the UK.”
“All entries to the 2011 awards were of the highest quality and it is regrettable that only ten prizes can be awarded,” commented a spokeswoman for the STRI. “Each of this year’s ten winners has achieved outstanding results in each of the respective categories and provides an excellent example of how to manage effective and sustainable projects that improve both environmental and ecological areas across their courses.”
Award Winners
Overall Achievement Award
Loch Lomond Golf Club
Conservation Greenkeeper of the Year Award
Antony Wainwright, Turton Golf Club
Scottish Regional Award
Royal Aberdeen Golf Club
Northern Regional Award
Wilmslow Golf Club
Welsh Regional Award
Bull Bay Golf Club
Southern Regional Award
Thorpeness Golf Club
Nature Conservation Award
The Manchester Golf Club
Turfgrass Management Award
Aldeburgh Golf Club
Waste Management Award
New Malton Golf Club
Water Management Award
Lymm Golf Club