The R&A (Sustainable Agronomy Service) has joined forces with TEP (The Environmental Partnership) to help support clubs with ongoing environmental concerns and Water Security (water sourcing and flood
management).
As climate patterns continue to shift alongside increased competition for water, The R&A Sustainable Agronomy Service in collaboration with The Environmental Partnership team (TEP) has recently been in high demand to provide support to golf facilities on sustainable water security – even following two consecutive wet years.
The R&A Sustainable Agronomy Service and TEP are at the forefront of addressing water security challenges by providing research, guidance, and expert support to ensure golf courses can maintain high-quality playing surfaces while protecting vital water resources.
“Even during two consecutive wet years, we have seen an increase in demand for water security support from golf club facilities,” said Paul Woodham, Agronomy Lead for Europe & UK. “We would like to make sure clubs have a water resilience plan in place for the next 5 to 20 years to future-proof their water sourcing and strategies.”
Over the past 50 years, the reliance on irrigation has grown significantly, making water security a pressing issue for golf courses worldwide. The R&A Sustainable Agronomy Service and TEP are delivering innovative solutions to help golf facilities assess and improve their water sourcing, flood management, and overall sustainability.
Through this collaboration, TEP acts as a dedicated water management expert, supplying feasibility reports that evaluate current water use and identify the most secure and compliant options for future sourcing.
The R&A Sustainable Agronomy Service then provides further insight and tailored recommendations to integrate sustainable agronomy practices with effective water management strategies. This ensures clubs are equipped with long-term, holistic plans to navigate environmental challenges and meet current and predicted legislative requirements.
The outcomes of this initiative are to improve resource efficiency, reduce reliance on potable water or summer abstraction, and the development of future-proofed solutions that align with The R&A’s sustainability ambitions. By working together with golf facilities, The R&A and TEP are ensuring that courses not only meet the demands of today but thrive well into the future.
Who are TEP?
TEP is an award-winning consultancy providing multi-disciplinary environmental services to their clients
in the private, public, and voluntary sectors. Established in 1997 TEP provides independent high-quality
environmental planning and design advice. They have established golf expertise and now have a track
record of over 7,000 projects in total, which demonstrate high-quality and sustainable development.
What is the Role of The R&A?
As guardians of the sport and gatekeepers of high-quality sustainable solutions, The R&A will be on hand
to provide support and guidance to help clubs navigate the advice given from TEP.
For more information about The R&A Sustainable Agronomy Service, visit Sustainable Golf (randa.org) or contact [email protected].
By Mark Shanley
