Environmental Stewardship

Golf courses can make a positive contribution to the environment.  They can enhance habitat variety, wildlife biodiversity and protect delicate and rare habitats such as dune and heathland.  Well managed courses can filter pollution and help clean moving water that runs through them.  The permanent turf cover can preserve topsoil and reduce the risk of flooding, particularly in urban areas where most of the rain absorbing vegetation has

Golf courses can make a positive contribution to the environment.  They can enhance habitat variety, wildlife biodiversity and protect delicate and rare habitats such as dune and heathland.  Well managed courses can filter pollution and help clean moving water that runs through them.  The permanent turf cover can preserve topsoil and reduce the risk of flooding, particularly in urban areas where most of the rain absorbing vegetation has been replaced with concrete.

However, poorly conceived and managed courses can damage the environment.

The R&A promotes best practice for course development and management to ensure that golf  makes a positive contribution to environmental stewardship.