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Golfclub Heelsum

Golfclub Heelsum

Heelsum, Netherlands

Sustainable Golf Pledge

We are committed to social and environmental responsibility, in and through golf.

We recognize the importance of playing our part to protect and restore nature, conserve resources, take climate action and strengthen communities.

We will seek to use our reach to raise awareness and positive action amongst golfers, partners and the wider public.

We will make an important difference, and help golf become a valued leader in sustainability.

GEO Certified

Through becoming GEO Certified we have achieved the most widely regarded and credible sustainability distinction in golf.  The international certification was earned after successfully meeting the industry-standard best practices and demonstrating our commitment to make sustainability of central importance to our golf facility.  We're proud of our social and environmental value - and looking forward to doing even more on our sustainability journey.

2013, 2016, 2020, 2025, for renewal 2030

Notable Observations

  • Ice-Age Landscape Design Respect The course design explicitly responds to the meltwater fan and dry valleys from the last Ice Age, with three defined landscape zones (open sand valleys, heath with Scots pine, and parkland grassland).
  • Extensive Species Richness Recorded Surveys document 300+ plant species, 57 breeding bird species, 80+ mushroom species, and 100+ lichen species, alongside reptiles such as sand lizard and grass snake.
  • Heathland Maintained by Volunteers Volunteers actively rake moss and dead plant material to create germination sites for heath vegetation while improving habitat conditions for sand lizards.
  • Badger Routes Respected in Daily Management Badgers regularly cross the course along fixed routes, and management practices accommodate this movement with minimal disturbance and damage.
  • Very Low Nitrogen Inputs on Greens Nitrogen application on greens was limited to 59 kg/ha in 2024, reflecting tightly controlled fertiliser use.
  • Strong Reduction in Groundwater Use Groundwater abstraction fell from 66,634 m³ (2022) to 19,346 m³ (2024), linked to irrigation system modernisation and weather-responsive management.
  • Major On-Site Solar Installation 128 solar panels are installed on the roof, delivering an estimated 30% reduction in purchased electricity.
  • Waste Bins Removed from Course Heelsum was among the first courses in the Netherlands to remove waste bins from the course, reducing landscape clutter and vehicle movements; waste separation is handled centrally at the clubhouse.
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“Golfclub Heelsum is taking major steps toward a green future. With 128 solar panels on the roof, plans for 3 hectares of new nature on a former maize field, and a sustainability committee that anchors policy, the club is building a future-proof organization that cares for the landscape. The coming years will focus on further strengthening biodiversity and striving for greater self-sufficiency in water and energy."

Guido Hamelink (GEO accredited independent verifier)
GEO Certified Reports

 

 

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