Sustainability

Golf Course 2030 symposium set for Royal Mid Surrey

The R&A

05 Oct 22

3 mins

Around 100 attendees from across Europe will gather at Royal Mid Surrey Golf Club for a Golf Course 2030 (GC2030) Symposium to explore key areas of sustainable golf course management.

The R&A is delivering the first GC2030 event of its kind in conjunction with England Golf at the London venue on Thursday 6 October with the initial gathering to act as a model for future events for the industry to attend in 2023 and beyond. GC2030, an industry programme established in 2019, explores the key sustainability themes of sustainable agronomy, resource use for golf course management, biodiversity and nature in golf, and golf’s climate action and adaptation.

New phase

The symposium marks a new phase in the programme by bringing research and practical resources to the golf course industry for use. Key stakeholders attending from Great Britain and Ireland and across Europe will include national associations; industry bodies for greenkeeping and club management; trade representation; and regional groups who support sustainability in golf. Those who manage and operate golf courses – including club managers, greenkeepers, and committees – have been invited to attend from across England. R&A Greenkeeping Scholars will also join the event to network, discuss and learn alongside industry leaders.

Around 100 attendees from across Europe will gather at Royal Mid Surrey Golf Club for a Golf Course 2030 (GC2030) Symposium.

Key stakeholders together

Arlette Anderson, Director of Sustainable Golf at The R&A, said, “Golf Course 2030’s aim is to deliver leadership, practical publications and guidance from The R&A, aided by a wide range of experts in sustainability. “This symposium brings together key stakeholders from across the UK and Europe to share a first look at the project outcomes. Importantly, we have worked with England Golf to invite people managing golf courses and clubs to make for an engaging learning and networking opportunity. “This event marks a new stage in Golf Course 2030 with a range of practical and innovative resources being shared with the industry over the coming months.” The event will focus on sustainable agronomy and resources for golf courses with inputs from The R&A’s Sustainable Agronomy Service and Championship Agronomy experts, along with GC2030 researchers from the Sports Turf Research Institute (STRI) and Myerscough College.

Agenda

Topics on the agenda include integrated turf management, water and golf course quality standards, with the outcomes from various projects shared. The R&A will share the key priorities for sustainable golf courses and GC2030 as it expands priorities in Europe and globally. England Golf will also share their sustainability strategy working with GC2030, with Royal Mid Surrey among many clubs who have achieved recognition for their focus on sustainability and range of excellent practices. The British and International Golf Greenkeepers’ Association (BIGGA) will also outline how greenkeepers play a critical role in sustainable golf course management. The symposium runs from 8.45am to 4pm and the full agenda can be viewed here.