Golf & Nature

As early as 2005, the Emstal Golf Club e.V. in Lingen learnt about the German Golf Association’s environmental concept of the same name – ‘Golf & Nature’ – at an information event; this concept had been developed in collaboration with the Federal Agency for Nature Conservation and the German Greenkeepers’ Association. The project is supported scientifically by the Turfgrass Research Centre at the University of Hohenheim.

The primary aim of ‘Golf & Nature’ is to protect nature and the environment whilst ensuring optimal course operations.

Well-maintained playing areas enhance the enjoyment of outdoor golf and have become a decisive competitive factor in attracting new members and green fee players. In the early days of golf, it was sufficient to use sheep to maintain the course.

Today, the documentation and traceability of maintenance measures ensure that excessive or inappropriate use is ruled out. The protection of the landscape ensures that we, as members, enjoy a relaxing experience in nature and always play on a beautiful and well-maintained course.

Our golf course had already been praised by the German Association for the Environment and Nature Conservation (BUND) back in 1997, following its expansion. It was said that the natural landscape reflected the original character of the Emstal valley.

It therefore seemed only logical to continue along this path. As part of a catalogue of measures to be implemented, nesting aids for specific bird species (e.g. bat and owl boxes, kingfisher boxes, little owl tubes) have been installed, and maintenance measures have been documented so that their effectiveness can be monitored and optimised. The protected areas under the EU Flora-Fauna-Habitat (FFH) Directive were documented on overview maps. For the certification of the golf course, a survey of the drainage system was carried out at holes 3, 4, 13 and 14, and a survey of the irrigation system on the fairways of holes 4 and 13, amongst other things.

All these were steps towards achieving harmony between nature and the environment, and were rewarded with certification.
In April 2009, Emstal Golf Club was awarded the highest ‘Golf & Nature’ certificate in GOLD. The bronze, silver and gold certificates are displayed in the stairwell leading to the club restaurant.

In 2011, 2013, 2016, 2018, 2021 and 2024, a re-audit successfully confirmed the GOLD certification for the coming years.

You can find further information about the project at golf.de