Guidance
New Development
Launching Summer 2010
Progress Update - April 2010
St Andrews, Scotland - After receiving unanimous support from delegates at the World Forum of Golf Architects, GEO is preparing to circulate a full draft of the Guidelines for Sustainable Golf Development among institute and association representatives.
The summary brochure distributed at the Forum can be downloaded here:
GEO and project partners were proud to receive vocal support and encouragement from the Forum participants. It is anticipated that the combination of credible content and international partnerships will be seen to represent a robust and valuable statement on behalf of golf architects worldwide.
Project Overview
Environmental and social issues are perhaps the leading external factors affecting the growth of the game. GEO believes it vital that all stakeholders involved in golf development have access to best practice guidance covering the key aspects of planning, design and construction.
The production of this groundbreaking set of guidelines began in 2009, and the project is scheduled for completion in summer 2010. The core project partners are The R&A, the European Golf Course Owners Association (EGCOA), the European Institute of Golf Course Architects (EIGCA) and the European Tour. International machinery manufacturer, Ransomes Jacobsen, is also contributing significantly to the project as founding corporate partner.
The vision of this partnership is simple - that new golf development should positively impact on the environment and people’s social and economic well-being.
The core aim of the project is to produce a challenging but relevant set of internationally applicable guidelines for the planning, design and construction of new golf facilities. GEO believes these will be highly valuable for the future development of golf – helping the industry move further towards ecologically rich, highly water and energy efficient facilities.
The guidelines will be of tremendous benefit to those in the golf development business. They will provide practical guidance on how developers can more efficiently and effectively deal with environmental, social and economic issues in the planning process. It is important that new golf facilities have a long term economically sustainable future, and an increasingly large part of that is to do with community integration, resource efficiency and enhancing local environmental assets.
GEO is currently discussing the project with a number of international environmental bodies, to ensure that the content is credible and representative of the latest thinking on environmental and social sustainability.
In the past golf has been criticised, and often with justification, for its impacts on the natural environment and cultural heritage.
Although golf developments often involve major alterations to natural habitats across large tracts of land, with careful site selection, design, construction and wise long term management approaches, golf courses have the potential to support considerable biodiversity. As golf becomes an increasingly popular sport and tourism activity, it makes sense for the sector to ensure that it protects, rather than harms, the ecosystems upon which human well-being and economic development depend.
GEO looks forward to keeping all interested parties up to date on the progress of these guidelines. Keep checking back for the most up-to-date progress reports.
Project Team
- Jonathan Smith - GEO
- Mike Wood - Lead Project Consultant
- Benjamin Warren - GEO
- Dougie Adams - Oxford Economics
- Vincent Hoen - Ecofys
- Conor Kretsch - COHAB Initiative
- Dr Bud Smart - Sustainable Golf LLC
- Dr Paolo Croce - Università di Pisa
- Dr Keith Duff - Golf Consultant
- Dr Ole Romer Sandberg - UMB
Outline Content
Part I: Context
- Introduction to sustainable golf development
Headline Themes
- Landscape & Ecosystems
- Water
- Energy & Transport
- Materials & Supply Chains
- Environmental Quality
- People & Communities
Part II: Process
Strategic Land Use Planning
- Concepts and principles
- Tools and methodologies
- Planning at different levels
- Outcomes
Integrated Planning and Design
- Constructive teamwork and partnerships
- Development control and permitting
- Conceptualisation
- Understanding the site
- Evaluating constraints and opportunities
- Options and alternatives
- EIA
- Land use balance / layout and fit / density of development
- Conceptualisation outcome: masterplan
- Detailed design
- Design before technology
- Design iterations and refinements
- Design outcomes and the interface with construction
- Current sustainability challenges
Construction
- Interface with design
- Construction planning
- Construction Methods Statement
- Timing / sequencing / phasing
- Site management procedures
- Supervision and inspection, site records, accountability of contractors
- Actual site protection
- Contractor briefing
- Practical activities
- Haul routes
- Cordons sanitaires
- Storage, handling
- Earthworks and topsoil stripping
- Links between construction and management
- Construction and EIA
Part III: Technical Guidance
- Landscape & Ecosystems
- Water
- Energy & Resources
- Materials & Supply Chains
- Environmental Quality
- People & Communities
Project Partners
Other Contributors
- Lodewijk Klootwijk EGCOA
- Steve Isaac The R&A
- The EIGCA Council
- David McLaren European Tour
- Gordon Shepherd WWF International
- John Finisdore World Resources Institute
- Mark Sandilands KPMG
- Dr. Charles Peacock NC State University
