Developments
GEO Certified Development 07/2023
Over 4,000 local primary school children were introduced to golf before opening day.
The project identified and protected the Water Vole (a protected species in Scotland) population on site, creating a safe space for them to live in harmony with the project.
The hard work and determination shown by the project team is evident throughout Golf It!. It’s really refreshing to see this kind of project be carried out with such success. This type of development has the potential to benefit the sport and change long-held perceptions of it. There is no doubt in my mind that the environment and community around the site are in a better place as a result of Golf It!
Matt Johns - Independent Verifier - Golf It!
Found within the city limits of Glasgow, Scotland, ‘Golf It!‘ was developed by The R&A to provide a fresh and community-focused experience for golfers of all ages, skills and abilities. Throughout its design and construction the project team worked tirelessly to create a facility that is truly part of the local community. The main focus of this project was to create a space that introduces people to and promotes the game of golf while proactively giving back to the local community. Whether it’s creating partnerships with local schools, providing workspace for local organisations or growing and donating foods to local charities, Golf-It! has engrained itself in Glasgow culture and community.
Golf It! also provides an excellent outdoor space for people to enjoy the multitude of habitats and wildlife on site. Located directly adjacent to the popular Hogganfield Park which is one of Glasgow’s 7-lochs parks, the project promotes the importance of time spent outdoors.
Golf It! has found a way to become part of the local community and contribute to it in a way that we have never seen before, creating a hugely positive legacy.
Golf It! will enable people of all ages, abilities and backgrounds to be a part of a community-driven facility that levels the playing field and provides new pathways into golf. It marks a significant commitment by the R&A to re-establish the sport’s roots in the heart of Scotland and take golf into communities that may never have seen it as a viable, family-friendly activity before. In that regard, we want Golf It! to be an exemplar format for working hand in hand with the communities it serves.
Martin Slumbers - Chief Executive of The R&A
Find out more from Scott hereSince the beginning, with just a small team, the ethos of the project remained consistent. The community connections and creation of opportunities for people to experience nature and sport have been central pillars of the process. Walking trails woven among the golfing landscape encourage everyone to experience the diverse wetlands, woodlands, and wildflower meadows – some of which were existing, but many are new. Golf it! Glasgow now provides this part of Scotland with a best-in-class facility that is accessible for all levels of golfers - for generations to come.’
Scott Macpherson, Golf Course Architect
