General Manager Robert Climas expressed his pride at seeing North Hants make the final three for a major England Golf Award.
North Hants Golf Club’s nomination for Sustainability Project of the Year at the England Golf Awards is recognition of the tireless work of the entire team.
That is the view of General Manager Robert Climas, who expressed his delight at seeing the club make it down to the final three for the prestigious award.
The emphasis on bolstering the club’s sustainable approach can be seen across the full scope of its operations, with North Hants standing as a prime example of how a golf club can be guardians of the environment through considered management practices on and off the course.
“We’re absolutely delighted,” Robert said of the club’s award nomination. “The team along with our member volunteers have put an awful lot of hard work into improving our sustainability credentials and to be recognised by reaching the finals of the England Golf Awards is something we’re all proud of.
“By tapping into the enthusiasm our members and employees have demonstrated for sustainability, we have been able to harness extraordinary horsepower and effort to improve the way we do things.
“I’m extremely proud of all of them, but particular praise must go to Angela Simms and Andy Reason, who have spearheaded our efforts over the last few years.”
Asked what winning the award would mean, Robert added: “It would be a fantastic achievement for everyone involved at the club and would mean the world.
“We set a target at the beginning of last year to win an industry award and as of now we have been nominated for seven awards, winning the Mirror Club, Club of the Year award, and we now have a chance of winning another award.”
Making sustainability a priority — why North Hants was nominated
North Hants is dedicated to recycling and reducing waste, with a firm focus on eliminating. single-use plastic. The club sells takeaway reuseable cups and source refillable products and goods in packaging which is compostable or biodegradable within general waste.
The club runs in-house collection banks for goods which go to support or raise funds for local charities. Hazardous waste is responsibly removed. Strict food labelling and portion control ensure minimal food waste.
The club receives a cash value by weight of metal waste, which is collected by its waste carrier and the money is invested back into its sustainability programme.
The greenkeeping team embody the club’s sustainable approach, with daily course data collection ensuring a measured and efficient use of applications of water, fungicides, and pesticides.
Recycle, Rehome, Repair, Reduce, Reuse, and Repurpose have become part of North Hants’ philosophy. Examples include old pallets becoming bird, bat and owl boxes; sleepers making compost compounds; wood being used to make log piles, hedgehog homes and bug hotels; worn blades making substantial shelf brackets; and parts of an old kitchen being reused and repurposed into furniture. Hampshire and Isle of Wight Reptile and Amphibians Group have 20 refugia out on site, made from recycled corrugated tin, and they monitor and record any species found on site.
These sightings have included grass snakes, adders, and slow worms. The group have also performed a newt survey on its water courses around the site. Fleet Beekeepers Association manage eight hives on site and North Hants also commissioned its own hive which produced over 100 jars of honey for members to purchase in 2024.
The club also has relationships with The Hampshire Bat Group, The Butterfly Conservation and The British Hedgehog Preservation Society. A local bird spotter monitors the site and spotted 27 different species in his first visit. North Hants also contributed to the Big Butterfly Count, as well as recording and monitoring six types of fungi found on site in 2024. It has increased wildflower meadows, sowing 32 different species of wildflower for its site pollinators.
The club developed a member wildlife sightings book situated in the clubhouse which helps map and monitor the wildlife on the course. It also holds regular course walks for members and local community groups to explain what they do and to help keep the membership informed.
A project the club has worked towards in 2024 is the overall reduction of fossil fuel usage within the greenkeeping department. It has also had a drive towards the use of electric/battery powered machinery. Not only is this a reduction in fuel and oil usage, but it also helps us develop the community and relationships with neighbours with a drastic reduction in noise pollution.
