Burnham & Berrow Golf Club

Notable Observations

• Conserving a Nationally Important Dune System The course makes up almost two-thirds of the Berrow Dunes SSSI and supports over 240 of the 272 plant species recorded. Historic and ongoing management by the club has been crucial in conserving rare habitats and species like the lizard orchid
• Rare Species Monitoring and Growth Annual surveys by a local botanist track priority species, with data submitted to the national Bio Records Centre. Populations of rare plants, including orchids and club rush, are increasing thanks to habitat management
• Protecting Cultural Heritage in the Landscape Scrub management has restored visibility of historic WWII pillboxes, while the club also supports the preservation of a 13th-century church on its northern boundary. These actions link conservation with cultural heritage
• Advanced Water Management A modern Toro irrigation system with new energy-efficient pumps, weather station, and soil moisture meters ensures water is applied precisely. A large reservoir and licensed abstractions provide resilience during droughts
• New Maintenance Facility The rebuilt greenkeeping complex includes bunded fuel tanks, a closed-loop washdown system, spill kits, modern welfare spaces for men and women, and LED lighting—bringing operations up to best practice standards
• Reducing Single-Use Plastics and Waste Plastic bottles have been replaced by refill stations, refillable toiletries are used across facilities, and larger fertiliser packaging has cut plastic waste. Old materials are creatively reused, such as pelmets repurposed as shelving
• Strong Charity and Volunteer Culture The captain’s charity raised over £30,000 in a single year for the RNLI, while members support beach cleaning, junior coaching, and volunteered in large numbers for The Open Final Qualifying. This culture strengthens ties with the wider community
• Inclusive and Accessible Golf The club is gender-neutral with no membership restrictions, offers reduced rates for disabled players, has installed a clubhouse stair lift, and provides programmes like “Love Golf” and low-cost coaching to encourage participation for all

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“The Golf course makes up almost two thirds of the entire Berrow Dunes Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). The course supports over 240 of the 272 species of wildflower recorded within the SSSI. It is therefore not coincidental that the presence of the golf course, and indeed historic and ongoing management provided by the club has effectively conserved the dunes through time. Key species such as Lizard Orchid are increasing as evidenced by the ongoing ‘annual’ rare plant monitoring programme now in place. The club retain good communication with a range of conservation interest groups including Natural England (Statutory Consultees), and management is directed by way of an ongoing 5-year management plan and through Higher Level Stewardship. Other significant highlights include the improvements in communication, which are self-evident on the club’s website. A professionally produced video with Natural England also shows just how important and effective course management is for conserving both the habitats and species. Scrub management has exposed historic World War 2 pill boxes which are on view and accessible. The captain’s charity has this year alone raised over £ 30000 for the selected RNLI charity. The club also runs a number of events and operations that benefit local good courses and beach cleaning support is another stand out feature. The club also offer support towards the preservation of the historic church which sits on the Northern Boundary of the course. The new maintenance complex has a range of features included that satisfy and comply with pollution control requirements whist also improving welfare facilities for men and for women. Similar improvements were noted within the clubhouse with a standout feature being the stair lift and the facilities in place for those less mobile. Water and energy are now being monitored with graphical representation which helps identify any spikes much more readily. Burnham and Berrow Golf Club is a prestigious and well-known club. It is a final qualifier for the Open Championship and, moreover, it is a club that recognises the importance of sustainable working and is keen to continue progressing further. I have no hesitation in recommending recertification for this club.”

Bob Taylor (GEO accredited independent verifier)