BGL committed to environmentally sustainable golf

Burhill Golf and Leisure, which operates 22 golf courses across seven golf centres and three golf clubs throughout the UK, has announced a collaboration with Open Air Laboratory (OPAL) as part of a continued commitment to environmentally sustainable golf operations.

OPAL is a research and education partnership led by a team based at Imperial College London’s Centre for Environmental Policy and funded by the Big Lottery Fund. The initiative allows people to get hands-on with nature while contributing to important scientific research that ensures local environmental issues are discussed and investigated.

The collaboration with OPAL signals BGL Golf’s dedication to strengthening its existing environmental sustainability. Initially, it will involve OPAL’s free and easy to use surveys to help monitor the biodiversity of BGL courses. Following on BGL plans to investigate ways to more accurately map out areas of fairway and rough.

The aim is to increase the area more suitable for nature without reducing the golfing experience. Greater accuracy in measuring areas of a course will also improve the accuracy of pesticide and fertiliser applications which in turn will improve efficiencies in course maintenance budget.

BGL Golf announced its ambition to become the first multi-course owner in the world to achieve the GEO Certified international sustainability award at each of its venues in 2012, with the accreditation of The Shropshire last year achieving this goal.

Howard Craft (pictured), Ramsdale Park Golf Centre general manager, added, “Every BGL venue is committed to understanding and continually improving the sustainable operations of its golf facilities. The additional knowledge and expertise that this new partnership will provide will prove invaluable to us moving forward. This on-going focus is intended to improve our business and gain credible recognition for our positive contribution to local environments.” More at www.bglgolf.co.uk