Portmore wins Golf Environment Awards

Portmore Golf Park near Barnstaple in Devon is the overall winner of the 2010 Golf Environment Awards. The family-run club was initiated by former dairy farmer turned professional greenkeeper, Colin Webber, in 1993. He created two courses, totalling 27-holes and catering for all abilities. The club's proclaimed ethos is to: 'Look after the creepy crawlies and watch what happens'.

"Our environmental features are a key asset for the club," according to Colin. "We actively encourage members to take an interest, to tell us what they have seen and take pictures of the wildlife around the course. We get an incredibly positive feedback on their experiences and enjoyment of what has been going on."

 "We now have extremely healthy bee and butterfly populations," reports Colin (above, with son, Josh). The course is managed sympathetically for insect life, with features including log piles, hedges and dry stone walls, along with wildflower areas that together provide essential nesting sites and food sources.

The thick ryegrass rough on the fertile agricultural soils was a contentious issue with members when it was left uncut. But a process of thinning and removal of cut grass has seen fertility fall and the creation of a more open sward, which he is now hoping to fill with more wildflowers and further boost the pollen and nectar sources. 

Water features strongly around the Portmore course (above), creating an interesting and challenging layout - especially on the 18-hole Barum, with five carries across the water. The lakes also provide a full irrigation resource, without need to use expensive piped water. Furthermore, the water source is captured from the surrounding main road drainage system, which is filtered and then flows down through the ponds and lakes. Silt settlement pools keep the waterflow clean and have created an additional habitat for the many diverse species of plants, insects and animals that have already colonised the areas. An environmentally friendly wash-pad for cleaning off mowers and equipment now enables the water to be recycled.

Never wishing to stand still, Colin highlights the club has had its carbon footprint evaluated and, although at 85 tonnes per year is relatively low compared to other businesses, have set themselves the tough target of reducing carbon emissions to just 20 tonnes (- 80%) by 2014.

Click here to find out more about Portmore Golf Park and Colin's environmental initiatives.

As overall 2010 competition winner, Colin Webber wins a study tour to the US, along with Conservation Greenkeeper of the Year, James Hutchinson, of Fairhaven Golf Club. The Golf Environment Awards are organised by STRI and sponsored by Syngenta, Scotts Professional and other leading turf management companies, along with Golf Monthly magazine and Pitchcare.

Richard Stuttard of STRI reports entrants this year have shown a clear indication of the need to become more efficient is an additional driver towards changing golf course environmental practices. "Many clubs entering the awards have developed innovative and imaginative methods of increasing their efficiency and lowering costs, whilst, at the same time, enhancing the quality of their product - the golf course. 

"The number of new entrants to this year's Awards is a clear sign that interest in the environment is continuing to spread throughout the golfing industry and that many more golf clubs are now sharing their achievements, in the hope that others may follow suit."

Richard highlights the changes brought about by James Hutchinson at Fairhaven Golf Club over recent years have not only increased opportunities for wildlife, but have further enhanced the aesthetic and strategic qualities of the course.

"All entrants to this year's awards have been high quality and it is unfortunate that only ten prizes can be handed out," he added. "Needless to say, this year's ten winners (listed below) are of the highest order and are representative of those clubs with the greatest understanding of today's environmental issues, and how these can be used to ensure both compliance with legislation and course enhancement."

Overall Winner - Colin Webber, Portmore Golf Park

Conservation Greenkeeper of the Year - James Hutchinson, Fairhaven Golf Club

Scottish Regional Award - Loch Lomond Golf Club

Northern Regional Award - Silloth on Solway Golf Club

Welsh Regional Award - Aberdovey Golf Club

Southern Regional Award - Aldeburgh Golf Club

Nature Conservation Award - Delamere Forest Golf Club

Turfgrass Management Award - Royal St. David's Golf Club

Waste Management Award - Machrihanish Dunes Golf Club

Water Management Award - Maesteg Golf Club

The Golf Environment Awards are sponsored by Syngenta and Scotts Professional, along with turf care equipment companies Ransomes Jacobsen and Campey Turf Care Systems and turf producers, County Turf. Golf Monthly and Pitchcare are the media sponsors.