Marshalling his troops - Pitchcare

We must ask questions like: Why is it
that, whilst many golf clubs are feeling
the pressure of reducing visitor and
member numbers, others are increasing
their membership fees and maintaining
good levels of recruitment?
What is it that keeps golfers returning
for more? If the industry we all work in
and love is based on offering a luxury
commodity that, during hard times, is
possible to do without, how then, does a
golf club become a perceived necessity
- one that golfers cannot do without,
one that is just ‘too good to miss’?
How does an individual golf club
become ‘too good to miss’?
Firstly, we must understand what it is
that sets one golf club apart from the
next. Does success depend upon, for
example, the age of the club, its
tradition, the length of the course, turf
quality? It surely has to be a
combination of all these factors. But,
there is one overriding element here
that is all too often overlooked, and that
is the landscape into which the course
is fitted.
The landscape can make or break a
golf course - it will inspire or frustrate.
There are golf courses that just don’t
gel, creating an atmosphere of tension
rather than calmness. The landscape
should inspire, it should offer beauty
and a sense of wellbeing.
We all accept that the greens are the
priority, and rightly so, but we should
give greater recognition to the
contribution that the environment
plays. We need to move away from the
idea that this is a golf course and not a
nature reserve, as it is both, and the
environment contributes so much to
retention of golfing interest.
Consider just how much time is spent
actually connecting with the ball and
playing the putting surfaces? Probably
less than 10% of the round? The
remaining 90% is spent walking and
ideally enjoying the beauty of the
surroundings. The landscape can help
golfers take that short break out from
the intensity of play and give them a
chance to refocus and recharge for just
a short lived moment, before focusing
back to the reality of what lies ahead. It
is, therefore, incredibly important to
give time to managing these out of play
areas, to get the birds singing and
create that feeling of calm serenity that
comes from some of the more informed
and proactive golf courses.
Not convinced yet! Consider the
different elements of sustainability.
These are normally recognised as
environmental, social and economic.
These three elements make up the
definition, and all are important if
long-term sustainability is to be
assured.
However, not all elements need
assume equal importance, nor are they
equally important. The environment is
the basic foundation upon which social
and economic sustainability can be
sourced. Developing a strong social and
economic infrastructure depends so
much on a strong environmental
foundation, and it is difficult to see the
model of sustainability working any
other way.
Why is biodiversity important to golf?
We all appreciate the subliminal or
conscious feeling of well being that
comes from a course sat within
beautiful surroundings. Most golfers
are not interested in naming the vast
diversity of wildlife that can be found.
The movement of insects, like
dragonflies and butterflies, the singing
of birds like the skylark and the
occasional sighting of a deer, all adds
up to a memorable golfing experience,
and one that is worth coming back for.
‘The course that is just too good to
miss’.
Of course, by developing the
woodland margin by planting low
growing trees, you will optimise habitat
for birds, so encouraging even more.
Leaving areas of longer grass will
ensure a food source.
All businesses, including golf,
depend so much on, and benefit from,
biodiversity. Biodiversity is responsible
for regulating the life support systems
on which we all depend.
In golf, biodiversity is also important
for our individual health and general
well being, and those golf clubs that
There are golf courses that just don’t gel,
creating an atmosphere of tension rather than
calmness. The landscape should inspire, it
should offer beauty and a sense of wellbeing