St Andrews, Scotland: Up to £650,000 is being provided by The R&A to fund golf course sustainability projects that are being supported as part of its Golf Course 2030 initiative.

Golf Course 2030 was established by The R&A in 2018 to address the challenges posed by climate change, resource constraints and regulation on golf course conditioning and playability and to provide best practice in sustainability to those working in golf course management.

Seven organisations will receive grant awards over the next four years to run sustainability projects and develop solutions that can be shared with golf course managers, greenkeepers and organisations involved in the maintenance and conditioning of golf facilities around the world.

The projects and organisations being funded are:

• Course condition and playability
• Golf green quality standard (STRI)
• Quality standards for the golf course beyond the greens (University Centre Myerscough)

Resources

• The Greenkeeper/Golf Course Manager Profile (SRUC)
• Education for the Greenkeeping workforce (SRUC)
• Aggregates: availability and alternative products and solutions (STRI)
• Integrated turf management (STRI)
• Integrated management of diseases, weeds and insect pests on European golf courses (STERF)
• Water management: irrigation and drainage for golf courses (STRI and Environmental Protection Group)

Coastal change

• Coastal management studies: links survey, innovative coastal management approaches and helping the golf community play its role in coastal management to secure a sustainable long-term future (Royal HaskoningDHV)
• Demonstration Project for an innovative system of erosion mitigation of coastline at risk (Siskin Asset Management and Subsea Consulting Services)
• Blue carbon audit of coastal golf courses (St Andrews University)

Steve Isaac, Director – Sustainability at The R&A, said: “This marks our initial investment in research, education and communication projects in support of our Golf Course 2030 initiative. We are funding these projects to develop best practice in sustainability and provide solutions to golf course managers that will help to sustain and improve the standard of golf course conditions and playability for the benefit of those who enjoy the sport.

“The results of the projects being funded will contribute significantly towards meeting the aims of Golf Course 2030 and provide insights to the golf industry as we consider how to address the challenges and opportunities presented by a changing climate, resource constraints and regulation on golf course management.”

The results of each project will be published in reports to be made available to the golf industry via The R&A website following their conclusion. More information on each project and its objectives can be found at https://www.randa.org/en/sustainability/golfcourse2030