The winners of the 2017 Golf Environment Awards (GEA) were announced at the Hotel Du Vin, Harrogate, on January 18 2017, in a ceremony hosted by STRI Group.
Environmental Golf Course of the Year 2017 – Greetham Valley Golf Club
Greetham Valley Golf Club astounded the judges with their outstanding team effort to create a sustainable golf course. Adi Porter, course manager of the 45-hole course has been the driving power to implement a number of ecological initiatives around the site along with the use of holistic greenkeeping techniques in the day-to-day management of the beautiful playing surfaces.
Conservation Greenkeeper of the Year 2017 – Edward Ainsworth (Avro Golf Club)
Edward impressed with his vivacious passion for wildlife conservation, not only on the 9-hole course that he manages, but within the wider landscape.
Outstanding Environmental Project of the Year 2017 – Frilford Heath Golf Club
Frilford Heath Golf Club amazed with their extensive fen restoration works, a result of true determination. Their efforts have seen the return of a number of fen indicator species which haven’t been seen for many years.
Operation Pollinator 2017 – John O’Gaunt Golf Club
The Operation Pollinator award went to bee and butterfly-friendly John O’Gaunt Golf Club for their mosaic of nectar and pollen-rich habitats created by greenkeeper Stephen Thompson.
STRI Ecology Consultant, Sophie Vukelic spoke of the awards: “For 22 years the Golf Environment Awards have highlighted the biodiversity value of golf courses around the UK, rewarding the people who manage the land as sustainably as possible, for both golf and wildlife. A huge congratulations to the winners and finalists of this year’s awards, you truly are the future of golf course management.”
The GEA provide the platform from which the golf industry can demonstrate how golf and the environment can work in harmony, and from 2018 The R&A will become a lead partner.
STRI is also indebted to its existing sponsors – Ransomes Jacobson, Farmura, Syngenta, Tillers Turf and Wiedenmann and would like to thank them for their continued support.
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Golf Environment Awards 2017 Finalists
Environmental Golf Course of the Year
Conservation Greenkeeper of the Year
Steve Thompson – John O’Gaunt Golf Club
Eddie Ainsworth – Avro Golf Club
Neil Sherman – Ipswich Golf Club
Phil Stain – Notts Golf Club
Outstanding Environmental Project of the Year
The Golf Environment Awards 