Finalists announced for Golf Environment Awards

Hankley Common

published 10 December 2013

Finalists announced for Golf Environment Awards

The Sports Turf Research Institute (STRI) has announced the finalists for the 2013 Golf Environment Awards.

The presentation dinner and ceremony will take place at the Hotel du Vin on January 22 during the BIGGA Turf Management Exhibition week.

Those shortlisted - including clubs and individuals - have made significant improvements to their local environment, both on and off the course.

The awards have attracted more entries than previous years and the diversity of environmental projects has also increased.

For example, entries in the Outstanding Environmental Project of the Year category ranged from construction of 'insect hotels' to development of ground-source heat pumps.

"All entrants to the Golf Environment Awards deserve recognition for their efforts and enthusiasm, and it is particularly encouraging to find that many course managers and now using their natural resources for educational purposes," said Bob Taylor, the STRI's Head of Ecology and Environment.

"The message is gradually spreading that golf courses can, and do, provide an important resource for nature conservation."

The Golf Environment Awards are supported by Golf Monthly and a host of other supporters, including BIGGS, Farmura and Sygenta.

Justin Rose will also continue as the official awards ambassador for the fourth consecutive year. Golf Environment Awards 2013 Finalists:

Environmental Golf Course of the Year

Dundonald Links Hankley Common Golf Club John O'Gaunt Golf Club North Foreland Golf Club

Conservation Greenkeeper of the Year

Boston West Golf Club Hankley Common Golf Club Lymm Golf Club Pyecombe Golf Club Outstanding Environmental Project of the Year

Dundonald Links Fairhaven Golf Club Luffness Golf Club Minchinhampton Golf Club

The prize for this year's winners is a European Golf & Environment trip to see some of Europe's most beautiful and environmentally proactive golf courses.

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Nick Bonfield joined Golf Monthly in 2012 after graduating from Exeter University and earning an NCTJ-accredited journalism diploma from News Associates in Wimbledon. He is responsible for managing production of the magazine, sub-editing, writing, commissioning and coordinating all features across print and online. Most of his online work is opinion-based and typically centres around the Majors and significant events in the global golfing calendar. Nick has been an avid golf fan since the age of ten and became obsessed with the professional game after watching Mike Weir and Shaun Micheel win The Masters and PGA Championship respectively in 2003. In his time with Golf Monthly, he's interviewed the likes of Rory McIlroy, Justin Rose, Jose Maria Olazabal, Henrik Stenson, Padraig Harrington, Lee Westwood and Billy Horschel and has ghost-written columns for Westwood, Wayne Riley, Matthew Southgate, Chris Wood and Eddie Pepperell. Nick is a 12-handicap golfer and his favourite courses include Old Head, Sunningdale New, Penha Longha, Valderrama and Bearwood Lakes. If you have a feature pitch for Nick, please email nick.bonfield@futurenet.com with 'Pitch' in the subject line. Nick is currently playing: Driver: TaylorMade M1 Fairway wood: TaylorMade RBZ Stage 2 Hybrid: Ping Crossover Irons (4-9): Nike Vapor Speed Wedges: Cleveland CBX Full Face, 56˚, Titleist Vokey SM4, 60˚ Putter: testing in progress! Ball: TaylorMade TP5x

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