The R&A, in collaboration with the Yorkshire Union of Golf Clubs, hosted an informative and engaging seminar on sustainable golf at Sandburn Hall earlier this month, during which the importance of environmental resilience in the face of climate change was highlighted.
Held on November 5, a total of 95 delegates attended the event, comprising 75% greenkeepers and 25% club officials and volunteers. The seminar provided practical insights into key sustainability topics, including strategic course planning, sustainable drainage systems, water management, and biodiversity enhancement. Delegates were equipped with actionable strategies to improve the sustainability and resilience of their golf courses.
The day concluded with an engaging Q&A session, where attendees sought tailored advice for their specific challenges. This interactive segment was a standout feature, allowing greenkeepers and officials to connect directly with experts and apply learnings to their own clubs.
The response from attendees was overwhelmingly positive, underscoring the value of knowledge-sharing events that address the evolving challenges facing the golf industry.
“The Yorkshire Union is proud to work with The R&A Sustainable Agronomy Team and to afford our joint support to affiliated clubs, and greenkeepers, in Yorkshire,” commented Jonathan Plaxton, Honorary Secretary of the Yorkshire Union of Golf Clubs. “. In the last four years we have reached in excess of 100 clubs and almost 500 staff and volunteers who have greatly appreciated access to this resource.”
Alistair Beggs, Head of Agronomy at The R&A, added: “Yorkshire Union is a very proactive group of golf clubs in terms of understanding the sustainable challenges golf poses and we’re very much looking forward to maintaining a close working relationship with them in the years ahead.”
Given the success of this year’s seminar, discussions are already underway to host a similar event in 2025, further reinforcing The R&A’s commitment to promoting sustainability across golf courses worldwide.
For more information on The R&A’s sustainability initiatives, visit www.randa.org.