Sustainability

The role of the Golf Ireland Sustainability Committee is to assist golf clubs and golf enterprises to present their golf courses and associated facilities to the highest standard possible while:

• Reducing and ultimately eliminating the use of fossil fuels
• Reducing energy use and exploring opportunities for the generation of power on the golf course property and associated sites
• Ensuring the golf course is open for play in all except the most inclement of weather conditions
• Managing each golf course as a unique ecosystem
• Reducing the use of added nutrients (fertilisers) while still presenting high quality playing surfaces
• Reducing the use of pesticides
• Promoting biodiversity through the management and enhancement of the various elements of the golf course – greens, tees, fairways, roughs, woodland, aquatic features, dune systems etc.
• Mapping of golf courses to provide information and data for decision making
• Enhancing decision making by monitoring of the environment through the use of weather stations, soil, water and moisture testing, surveys of flora and fauna etc.  
• Promoting the use of new technology to enhance decision making
• Supporting the education sector in the provision of high quality educational and training courses for staff and members
• Supporting the continuous professional development programmes of the greenkeeping organisations for superintendents, greenkeepers/course operational staff and members
• Complying with all relevant government legislation
• Promoting and developing programmes for recycling, repair and the circular economy
• Coordinating climate change and biodiversity initiatives with the communities in which golf courses are located.
• Assisting golf clubs in sourcing funding from Government, State Agencies and other bodies for projects, research and data collection.