Dundonald Links

Notable observations

• Nectar Network: Reintroducing the Small Blue Butterfly: Dundonald Links has led the creation of a landscape-scale ‘Nectar Network’ in partnership with Scottish Wildlife Trust, supporting the reintroduction of the small blue butterfly — once extinct in Ayrshire for over 40 years.
• Sand Martin Banks with Annual Nesting Return: Purpose-built sand martin banks have become a successful breeding site, with birds returning year after year. This is part of a broader habitat management strategy that includes water features and structural diversity.
• Habitat Management Informed by Ongoing Species Surveys: The club undertakes periodic species surveys and conducted a bio-blitz in 2024. These efforts are used to update and inform a rolling 5-year habitat management plan covering the full range of habitats on site.
• Borehole and Rainwater Collection for Irrigation: Course irrigation is sourced via a year-round abstraction borehole and supplemented by runoff from car parks, which is pumped into irrigation tanks — reducing reliance on mains water and maximising rain capture.
• Closed-Loop Washdown System with Reedbed Treatment: All machinery is cleaned using a closed-loop washdown area that drains into a fully functional reedbed system. This setup reduces pollution risk and ensures compliant treatment before discharge.
• Clubhouse Open to Public with Free EV Charging: The restaurant and events space are open to the wider public, with popular whisky tastings and over 440 afternoon teas served last year. Free EV charging is available to all visitors — a rare and generous offering.
• Inclusive Teaching Programmes for Neurodivergent Learners: The club runs golf simulator sessions tailored for local children and adults with autism and ADHD. The professional also visits schools to deliver nature-based and golf-related teaching, growing junior participation.
• Sustainable Procurement with End-of-Life Tracking: A detailed procurement strategy based on waste hierarchy principles is used daily to guide all purchases — from acquisition through to end-of-life disposal — and includes clear tracking of all outgoing waste.

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Dundonald stands out as a UK leader in sustainable golf, embedding environmental responsibility into every aspect of its operations under the Darwin Group’s ethos. Department heads actively practice sustainability, and the club welcomes new ideas for improvement, with recent recommendations already embraced. Highlights include robust waste management with strong supplier engagement, a successful partnership with the Scottish Wildlife Trust to reintroduce the small blue butterfly through the Nectar Network, and detailed habitat and management plans to support biodiversity. Plans for a walking and cycling network will enhance public access along the Ayrshire coast, complementing the clubhouse’s open, community-focused approach with events, diverse dining, and free EV charging—an outstanding and generous initiative that deserves recognition.

Bob Taylor (GEO accredited independent verifier)