Coventry notches up eco-first for England

Coventry Golf Club, host to the recent Galvin Green PGA Assistants’ Championship, has become the first club in England to regain golf’s global eco-label GEO Certified® following a successful three year re-verification.

It was first awarded golfs global eco-label in 2012 and has earned re-certification after demonstrating continued commitment and improvement during the three year certification cycle.

GEO Certified®, golf’s international mark of sustainability, recognises golf facilities that demonstrate a commitment to nature protection and enhancement, resource efficiency and community value.

The club, founded in 1887 and a former winner of England Golf’s Environmental Award, is rated one of the finest examples of mature parkland golf.

Its commitment to nature was one of the many highlights of its GEO re-Certified® verification report. The clubs close relationship with the Warwickshire Wildlife Trust (WKWT) has seen many new initiatives put in place to enhance the habitat for both flora and fauna.

Wildlife boxes and log piles have been created along with a new wildflower area providing good opportunities for a range of pollinators, birds and small mammals.

The creation of an artificial otter holt in a disused irrigation pump house on the golf clubs grounds has been a very successful partnership project with otters settling in. The club is also involved in the WKWT’s Princethorpe Woodland project and the Trust runs a range of other community conservation activities within the course thought-out the year.

Further highlights noted setting aside several acres for wildflower habitat, selection of turfgrass species which minimise demand on water and fertilizers, investment in the on-going use of grey water from Severn Trent and implementation of a range of measures to reduce energy consumption in course maintenance including installing on-site solar panels, a new fleet of fuel efficient green keeping equipment and electric buggies.

It has also ensures a range of energy efficiency measures within the clubhouse including use of natural ventilation, low energy lighting, motion sensor lighting, educational materials and an upgraded energy-efficient air conditioning system  while a new efficient boiler supplying hot water to clubhouse showers helped reduce natural gas consumption by over 40,000 litres since 2012;

Former head PGA pro Phil Weaver, now a member of The Environmental Group at Coventry Golf Club said: “Coventry Golf Club is a traditional private members club, with a very modern outlook and values.

“Across all sectors of the clubs’ undertakings there remains an active desire to further enhance and progress its status both on and off the golf course.

“Our sustainability efforts remain wholly in balance with members and visitors’ enjoyment and fulfillment of playing the game on a well maintained, picturesque and mature parkland layout.

“We are delighted that our sustainability work has once again been recognised as holding up to the credible high standards of a GEO Certified® club.” 

Matt Johns, independent verifier said: “Coventry Golf Course has demonstrated a high level of environmental stewardship over the last three years since initially being awarded GEO Certified®.

“Clearly the Club has taken its responsibilities seriously and have managed to improve in all areas with a number of new initiatives in place. I look forward to seeing them continue to build successful partnerships and implement innovative projects.”

Martina Irwin, Business Partnerships Officer for WKWT added: “Warwickshire Wildlife Trust has been working with Coventry Golf Club over a number of years and we are delighted the Club has been re-certified with this prestigious eco label. The commitment of the team at Coventry Golf Club to wildlife and the environment has been brilliant. From their Himalayan balsam eradication efforts on the golf course to the management of ponds, installing nest boxes and feeding stations for birds and setting aside an area for Operation Pollinator – and even hosting guided bat walks, the team has helped create a stunning place for wildlife to thrive and for members and visitors to enjoy golf on such a well looked after parkland course.”

Administered and assured by the not-for-profit GEO (Golf Environment Organization) and independently assessed, the standard requires recertification every three years. Re-certification is carried out by an independent verifier and is dependent on the club showing both continued commitment and enhanced improvement to sustainable management.

The full report can be downloaded here.