Living Landscapes
Landscapes are the product of natural and cultural forces acting together over time. People have shaped them for thousands of years. Every course built needs to take careful consideration of this physical and cultural context.
For many golfers, the courses with the greatest 'landscape fit' also provide the most memorable golfing experience.
Look back to look ahead
Golf was born in an era when interesting and challenging terrain couldn’t be created, it had to be located. Now we can synthesise anything, anywhere. But as an industry golf can honour the game’s founding spirit and look to create course environments that are as one with their localities.
In the 200 years since golf became a sport, the pace at which humans have adversely altered and degraded landscapes has accelerated significantly. Our planet and the game have both benefitted from increasing awareness of the need for landscapes to function biologically, rather than simply looking good superficially.
Fit for purpose
For many golfers the courses that have the greatest landscape fit are also the most memorable golfing experiences. A landscape approach to golf course design and management creates balance between playing strategy, character, atmosphere and an authentic sense of place. The conservation of landscapes is a perfect fit for golf. The quality of the landscape directly equates with the quality of the golfing experience, and the best courses do far more to enrich than to degrade the places they occupy.
In the photography showcased across golfenvironment.org, in the incredible work of golf course photographer Aidan Bradley, enjoy the diversity of stunning golf landscapes - some natural, and some created by the world's greatest golf architects.
Learn how GEO Certified™ golf clubs are playing their part to support living landscapes:
St Andrews Links
St Andrews Links is a dynamic landform which is continually evolving in response to the natural forces of wind, waves, tide, and river currents. Acknowledged by overwhelming consensus as The Home of Golf, its courses have been hosting tournaments and inspiring golfers and golf architects for hundreds of years.
Royal Haagsche GCC
Royal Hague Golf & Country Club lies in a protected network of reserves, its landscape of international significance. The club has made it their responsibility to not only conserve / restore the parabolic dunes and slacks found on its terrain, but also to improve and optimize the open duneland without making concessions to the game of golf.
