Golfclub 't Zelle
Netherlands
Written by: Paul Baumann
2026
In April 2025, we published our sixth sustainability success story, focusing on the removal of lost golf balls from mud, silt, and reed waste in our ponds. With our continued commitment to sustainability, care for flora and fauna, and responsibility for a safe working environment, we decided to further develop our efforts in this area.
The first steps involved modifying a purchased potato harvester, adapted by our greenkeeping team in collaboration with Agrec; and partially removing sludge from two ponds to carry out a large-scale durability test. Adriaan van Dorth, Director and owner of Agrec, who originally inspired the project, played a key role in developing the necessary technical adjustments and supported the initiative through investment.
With over 65,000 rounds of golf played annually on our course, we anticipated that the number of lost golf balls accumulated in our ponds over the years would be substantial. The results from February 2026 confirmed this expectation as approximately 200 m³ of sludge was processed in just two days during the durability test and over 25,000 golf balls were successfully retrieved.
This initiative not only reduces waste and potential environmental impacts but also demonstrates how innovation and collaboration can contribute to more sustainable course management.
