30 Jun 2021
Big Green tick for Rosendaelsche Golf Club
Rosendaelsche Golf Club, host of this week’s Big Green Egg Open on the Ladies European Tour, is among many in the Netherlands pioneering sustainability in and through golf.
The LET Celebrating the Green presented by Dow initiative aims to recognise and promote great environmental work being achieved through the Ladies European Tour community, and the work at Rosendaelsche Golf Club is a shining example of a club committed to sustainability.
Established in 1895, Rosendaelsche Golf Club, together with the Koninklijke Haagsche Golf & Country Club at The Hague and the Golf Club “de Pan” at Utrecht, is among the oldest golf clubs of the Netherlands and has been a GEO Certified venue since 2012.
The course, located north of Arnhem, is situated within the Dutch National Ecological Network (EHS) and Natura 2000 network, providing a spectacular arena with natural undulations, heaths and old woodlands.
With that comes a clear focus on sustainability with a number of key highlights from the club. Pesticides have been discontinued since 2020 with the course managed organically since then while a new tree management plan emphasises forest rejuvenation and opening of forest edges. Coniferous woodlands are managed to introduce more mixed and deciduous species and the club have worked hard to increase the areas of heather and moorland habitats.
Efficiencies have also been made through a new waste compactor which has reduced the number of waste pick-ups and a new irrigation pump for improved water efficiency.
The club members have been actively involved throughout this journey, helping with many of the projects. In November last year, for example, a large group of members worked together with greenkeepers to protect and preserve the heather on the course by removing unwanted species such as pine saplings, blackberries and grasses which threatened to overgrow the heather on the sixth and seventh holes.
The work at Rosendaelsche Golf Club highlights much of the great work being undertaken across the country with more than 130 clubs participating in the OnCourse Netherlands programme which together with the GEO Certified label provides support and recognition to clubs and facilities. Last year, a major milestone was reached when the 100th club became GEO Certified.
Major milestone for golf in the Netherlands
Through this strategic partnership with GEO Foundation, the Netherlands now has more GEO Certified golf facilities than any other country in the world, driven by the Dutch Golf Federation’s world-leading national sustainability strategy, through which they invest in advocacy and club engagement; education; programmes; advisory support; government and public relations.
The NGF, which employs full-time Sustainability and Agronomic Managers, has also collaborated closely with the national government to develop a world-leading ‘Green Deal’ relating to the responsible management of turfgrass and playing surfaces. This is guiding the sport towards the successful progression away from chemical pesticides and into more biological, cultural and mechanical best practices.
To find out more about the sustainable golf programmes or become part of the community, get in touch
