Operation Pollinator Award finalists announced
Four of the UK's leading environmentally managed golf courses have been short listed for the Syngenta Operation Pollinator Award 2018, to be presented at BTME in January.
The Operation Pollinator Award is judged and presented as part of the national Golf Environment Awards.
This year’s finalist clubs and their course managers are:
Bowood Golf Club Jaey Goodchild |
Kingsdown Golf Club Tom Freeman |
Ufford Park Golf Club Michael Halliday |
Warrington Golf Club John McCloughlin |
Syngenta Operation Pollinator Manager, Caroline Carroll (below), highlighted that the Operation Pollinatior Award clearly demonstrates that it is possible and rewarding to balance managing the course to give the players the ultimate golfing experience, along with developing surrounding and out-of-play areas to provide an immense ecological resource.
“Golf courses can be a real environmental asset to any area,” she enthused.
“Far from being a ‘green desert’ frequently portrayed, Operation Pollinator proves they can be proactively managed to be ecological oasis that should be championed and promoted as a positive and sustainable initiative of the golf industry,” said Caroline.
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.
"We have decided on some magnificent finalists, all of whom showcase the highest environmental stewardship within golf," she added.
“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,” advocated Sophie (above).
The 2017 Operation Pollinator Award Winner, Steve Thompson of John O'Gaunt Golf Club in Bedfordshire, is short-listed finalist for Conservation Greenkeeper of the Year fior 2018.
Other Golf Environmental Awards finalists are:
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
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.
"The GEA provides the platform from which the golf industry can demonstrate environmental excellence in all its forms," said Sophie.
"This has been demonstrated by past finalists and can range from relatively simple but effective projects, to grand scale schemes."
