Golf della Montecchia

Notable Observations

• Long-Term Operation Pollinator Project The club launched its “Operation Pollinator” project in 2016, creating dedicated habitats for pollinators and installing beehives across the site. Extensive wildflower areas, single-cut rough management and protected water edges now form part of ongoing habitat management practices.
• University-Led Ecology Monitoring The University of Bologna carried out a flora study in 2015 and continues to monitor woodland and tree health annually. The club’s ecologist also undertakes regular habitat inspections and prepares an annual ecology report.
• Protected Species and Habitat Management Protected and notable bird species recorded on site include kestrel, nightjar, green woodpecker, grey heron and little egret. The club also works with regional authorities to manage invasive species such as nutria and wild boar.
• Warm-Season Turf Conversion Programme In 2010, the club began converting tees, fairways and semi-roughs to warm-season turfgrass across 18 holes, while the Green Course was converted fully to biological warm-season management. Research by the University of Bologna confirmed environmental benefits including reduced water consumption and increased carbon sequestration.
• Fleet of Electric Mowers Following extensive testing, the club purchased a fleet of nine electric mowers. The transition has reduced fuel use, noise disturbance and emissions while also improving working conditions for the greenkeeping team.
• 110kW Solar Energy System A 110kW photovoltaic system is installed on the roof of the maintenance centre. The system has been fully owned and managed by the club since 2018.
• Organic Garden Supporting the Clubhouse An organic vegetable garden project was established in 2021 to produce fruit and vegetables for the clubhouse restaurant. The garden is now managed by a local young farmer producing exclusively biological products.
• “3R Initiative” Recycling Projects Since 2020, the club has developed its “3R Initiative” focused on recycle, reuse and reduce. Projects include insect houses made from reclaimed materials, recycled furniture, reused tournament materials, and the collection of around 330kg of plastic bottle caps for a charity supporting guide dog training.

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“Golf della Montecchia continues to demonstrate a strong long-term commitment to sustainability through practical and measurable environmental and social initiatives. The Club has significantly progressed its sustainability journey since the previous certification cycle, particularly through the transition towards electric maintenance equipment, biodiversity enhancement projects, responsible resource management and stronger community engagement initiatives. The management team and staff show excellent awareness of environmental stewardship and a genuine commitment to continual improvement. The facility represents a very positive example of sustainable golf operations within Italy and the wider European golf industry.”

Giulia Ferroni (GEO accredited independent verifier)