Carnoustie Golf Links is delighted to be named amongst the finalists for the 2018 Golf Environment Awards (GEA), recognising golf clubs and individuals that strive to undertake environmental best practice.
We are honoured to have been nominated in the Environmental Golf Course of the Year category alongside Aldeburgh Golf Club, Dundonald Links and Warrington Golf Club.
Making the final four in this category is recognition for the fantastic environmental work carried out by Links Superintendent, Sandy Reid; Craig Boath, Kevin Stott and Steve Mitchell, Head Greenkeepers of the Championship, Burnside and Buddon Links courses respectively, and the rest of the greenkeeping staff.
Speaking about the awards, Craig Boath, said: “We are very happy to be one of the many finalists who are ensuring that ecology and wildlife management is now an integral part of the day to day maintenance of a golf course.”
The GEA provides the platform from which the golf industry can demonstrate environmental excellence in all its forms. This has been demonstrated by past finalists and can range from relatively simple but effective projects, to grand scale schemes.
Set up over 20 years ago, the Golf Environment Awards are highly regarded in the industry and for 2018 have been joined by The R&A as lead partner.
Over 25 longlisted clubs were visited earlier in the year by STRI ecology consultant and GEA judge, Sophie Vukelic, and painstakingly whittled down to 12 finalists.
Representatives from the finalists will attend the awards ceremony on Wednesday 24th January 2018, at The Crown Hotel in Harrogate where they will be vying for the honours of either Environmental Golf Course of the Year, Outstanding Environmental Project of the Year, Conservation Greenkeeper of the Year or the Operation Pollinator award.
This year, for the first time, all finalists will receive entry into the Foundation Award in Amenity Horticulture course, recognised by BASIS, and the lucky winners will be able to enjoy a European Golf & Environment Trip of a Lifetime to Portugal.
Golf Environment Awards judge, Sophie Vukelic, said: “This is my third year of judging the awards and it is not getting any easier choosing the finalists. We had an outstanding array of applications this year, with familiar faces and exciting newcomers to the awards. I hope you will all agree, that we have decided on some magnificent finalists, all of whom showcase the highest environmental stewardship within golf.
“I’d also like to congratulate and commend those golf clubs and individuals who didn’t quite make it to the final, you shouldn’t be disheartened – keep on shining a good light on golf and thank you for allowing me to visit your golf courses.”
The Golf Environment Awards 2018 finalists are as follows:
Operation Pollinator
Bowood Golf Club Jaey Goodchild
Kingsdown Golf Club Tom Freeman
Ufford Park Golf Club Michael Halliday
Warrington Golf Club John McCloughlin
Environmental Golf Course of the Year
Aldeburgh Golf Club
Carnoustie Golf Links
Dundonald Links
Warrington Golf Club
Conservation Greenkeeper of the Year
Cumberwell Park Golf Club Jon Keepen
John O’Gaunt Golf Club Stephen Thompson
Montrose Links Les Rae
Notts Golf Club Phil Stain
Outstanding Environmental Project of the Year
Abergele Golf Club Wild Land – Tir Gwyllt
Minchinhampton Golf Club Connecting the Land – Dead Hedging & Stumperies
Ipswich Golf Club Heathland Restoration & Silver-Studded Blue Conservation
La Moye Knocking Back Succession
For further details about The Golf Environment Awards please visit https://golfenvironmentawards.com/