“We were lucky in that the water management of the course is through recycled rainwater from our lakes, but we increased the size of our irrigation lake to ensure we can cover long, dry spells. One of the small things is to ensure that the sprinkler heads are at an angle to hit their target rather than wasting water on other areas. We have also looked at the type of machinery we use to move from diesel and petrol to electric and hybrid over time. Of course, golf clubs can only afford to replace some of their machinery simultaneously.”
Daniels added: “We have worked alongside the Carmarthenshire nature groups to look at nature on the course, building log houses, helping water voles, putting in bee hives to make our own honey, which we also sell in the clubhouse. We have seen progressive change after starting in 2020, an upward trend is what everyone is looking for.
“Another factor was to look at what we are doing for the local community, what support we are giving charities. There has been a drastic increase in what we have been doing as a club, something the members fully support and give back to the community. We have also looked at participation in golf, group coaching, the number of rounds being played, and what can be done to promote golf in Wales. The GEO Certification ensures we have the best practices in place, while the support from our members has been fantastic.”
The achievement has been welcomed by Wales Golf sustainability lead Dilwyn Griffiths, who commented, “GEO certification is a tremendous gauge of a club moving in the right direction. To have a fifth club in Wales achieving this mark is a sign of how many Welsh golf clubs are putting this on their agendas and moving in the right direction. We are determined to show that golf clubs can be part of the solution when looking for greater natural biodiversity, rather than a problem. Clubs can also reduce some of their overheads, while boosting the environment, so it can be a win-win situation for many Welsh golf clubs.”
