The winners of the 2019 Golf Environment Awards (GEA) were announced at The Crown, Harrogate during BTME week recently, in a ceremony hosted by STRI Group and the R&A.
STRI ecology consultant, Rowan Rumball, said, “A huge congratulations to the winners and finalists of this year’s awards. We have been amazed by the work that golf clubs and greenkeepers are doing for the ecological and environmental wellbeing of their courses and within the local community.
“Environmental best practice is an important part of all golf clubs working remit and through the introduction of next year’s Home Nations awards we hope more clubs will be encouraged to enter the 2020 GEAs.”
The winners were:
Environmental Golf Course of the Year 2019 – Aldeburgh Golf Club
Aldeburgh Golf Club with Bob Taylor (l), and Rowan Rumball (r)
Creating what many thought to be impossible, an almost perfect blend of course and ecology to the point where it is hard to tell where one begins and another stops. All without sacrificing the playability of the course.
Conservation Greenkeeper of the Year 2019 – Phil Stain
(l-r) Bob Taylor, STRI, Phil Stain, Notts Golf Club, Richard Owens, Tillers Turf and Rowan Rumball, STRI
Phil and his team’s knowledge of ecological practice to maintain a course that is in keeping with the surrounding country side and create great community engagement.
Outstanding Environmental Project of the Year 2019 – Wylihof Golf Club
Wylihof Golf Club with Bob Taylor (l), and Rowan Rumball (r)
An innovative new design of ecological enhancement shows that we still have a lot to learn. Conservation is a young science and there is still plenty of room for new ideas.
Operation Pollinator 2019 – Corhampton GC
Corhampton Golf Club with Bob Taylor (l), and Rowan Rumball (r)
The club has shown that you have to be brave when it comes to habitat management, but the results of their efforts are well worth it creating big new expanses of habitat for pollinators.
Lifetime Achievement Award - Gordon Moir
(l-r) Bob Taylor, STRI, Gordon Moir, St Andrews Links Trust (retired), Rowan Rumball, STRI
A Lifetime Achievement Award was also presented to Gordon Moir, retired Director of Greenkeeping at St Andrews Links Trust.
STRI head of ecology, Bob Taylor, said: “It was a real pleasure to be able to honour Gordon Moir at the Golf Environment Awards 2019 with a Lifetime Achievement Award, giving recognition to his dedication to ecology and environmental sustainability, and all that he has achieved during his illustrious career spanning over 27 years at the St Andrews Links Trust”.
