Kennemer Golf & Country Club

Notable Observations

• Parabolic Dune Landscape Preserved The historic Colt course is embedded within a parabolic dune system, with dunes and valleys deliberately opened up and restored to strengthen the natural dune character.
• Ecological Work Protocol in Use An Ecological Work Protocol (2017–2027) actively guides management interventions, including invasive species control and timing of works in protected dune habitats.
• Bunkers Used as Bat Habitat Many bunkers function as winter quarters for multiple bat species, with advice and monitoring from bat working groups and lighting adjusted to avoid disturbance.
• Precision Irrigation with Sensors Irrigation is tightly controlled using soil sensors, weather stations and PF curves, with all sprinkler nozzles renewed and watering adjusted to wind, humidity and evaporation.
• Groundwater Use Reduced Groundwater consumption has declined sharply following irrigation upgrades, with abstraction well below permitted limits in the groundwater protection area.
• GPS-Controlled Precision Spraying Fertilisers and crop protection products are applied using GPS-controlled sprayers, reducing overall input volumes and limiting treated surface areas.
• Large Volunteer Network Around 130 volunteers are actively involved across the club, supporting nature management, events and operations.
• "Made Blue” Bottled Water Initiative Drinking water is filtered and bottled on site under the Made Blue scheme, with each bottle contributing to access to clean drinking water in regions facing scarcity.

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“The historic Colt course (1928) of the Kennemer Golf & Country Club is still largely intact. The current golf architect wants to further strengthen the Colt features. The oldest surviving clubhouse in the Netherlands, (also dating from 1928) has a nice position within the whole. The spacious golf course (89 hectares), now with 27 holes, has been designed with the utmost respect for the characteristic dune landscape with parabolic dunes and valleys. The image becomes increasingly beautiful and open through the gradual transformation of elements that are foreign to the area. This is partly thanks to the skilled and passionate greenkeepers. Clear choices are made here. Respect for the far-reaching project to bundle the scattered greenkeeper facilities in a new warehouse, inconspicuously located in a valley. Prior to this, there was a lengthy and careful investigation, and several options were discussed. I am very curious about the future situation. Much appreciation also for the fact that they work as much as possible under their own management: catering, maintenance of machines, forest and nature management, signage, etc. Larger and specialist work is outsourced to contractors, ecological agencies and golf architects. For these reasons, the Kennemer was one of the first clubs to be GEO certified (since 2010). I wish the Kennemer good luck with the further (green) plans!”

Paul van Kan (GEO accredited independent verifier)