2019 Golf Environment Awards finalists announced
The finalists for the 2019 Golf Environment Awards (GEAs), recognising golf clubs and individuals that strive to undertake environmental best practice, have been announced.
Orchids at Minchinhampton Golf Club
Over 30 longlisted clubs were visited earlier in the year and painstakingly whittled down to 17 finalists, including one club from Switzerland.
Four finalists have been named in three GEA categories - Conservation Greenkeeper of Year, Outstanding Environmental Project and Operation Pollinator. However, such was the competition in the Environmental Golf Course of Year category the shortlist has been increased to five finalists.
Representatives from the finalists will attend the glittering awards ceremony on 23 January at the Crown Hotel in Harrogate, during BTME week.
Golf Environment Awards judge, Rowan Rumball, said: "This is my first year managing the GEAs, and it has been a fantastic, but challenging, experience. It has been humbling and such a privilege to see first-hand all the good work golf clubs are striving to achieve.
"The range of projects has been massively diverse, and the scale is inspiring. Golf is truly leading the way when it comes to ecological and environmental commitment."
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.
All finalists receive free entry into the Foundation Award in Amenity Horticulture course, recognised by BASIS, as well as CPD points, and the lucky winners will be able to enjoy a European Golf & Environment Trip of a Lifetime to Portugal.
Left: Ipswich Golf Club - nominated in two categories. Right Notts Golf Club
The Golf Environment Awards 2019 finalists are:
Environmental Golf Course of the Year
Aldeburgh Golf Club
Ipswich Golf Club
Minchinhampton Golf Club
Warrington Golf Club
St Andrews Links
Conservation Greenkeeper of the Year
Les Rae - Montrose Golf Links
Phil Stain - Notts Golf Club
Mark Broughton - Aldeburgh Golf Club
Neil Sherman - Ipswich Golf Club
Outstanding Environmental Project of the Year
Wylihof Golf Club
Cotswold Hills Golf Club
Hallamshire Golf Club
Woking Golf Club
Operation Pollinator
Wylihof Golf Club
Banchory Golf Club
Wigan Golf Club
Corhampton Golf Club
The winners will be announced at the Golf Environment Awards Ceremony on Wednesday 23h January 2019, at The Crown Hotel in Harrogate. Tickets for the awards, which includes a three-course meal and drinks, go on general sale on 16 Nov. Please email enquiries@strigroup.com for further details.
The R&A, BIGGA, The Golf Club Manager, Tillers Turf, Ransomes Jacobsen, Wiedenmann, Aquatrols, Syngenta
For further details about The Golf Environment Awards please visit https://golfenvironmentawards.com/