SUSTAINABILITY

The word Sustainability is a key part of life at Pannal Golf Club, but it has a truly broad meaning. The members and staff are fully committed to the future of the club and the course. From the obvious environmental impact, and opportunities to the junior and new player development.

We work within our community on all levels, we provide exercise and well being for our members and also visitors, an average round at Pannal is 13,000 steps and 5 miles walking.

There are countless numbers of all wildlife around our golf course and woodland areas.

Natures Notes has become a key section in our weekly club newsletter, and give details of wildlife etc on the course.

The local schools take part in coaching and golf taster events every year, and this has developed many great young golfers over the years.

  • We have regular sightings of Kites flying overhead plus many species of birds including small garden birds, song birds and buzzards. The natural heathland and parkland nature of Pannal lends itself perfectly to host vast volumes and ranges of species and sub species.

    As the course undulates across the south side of the Crimple Valley, it its a vital corridor for wildlife.

  • Far more than just a golf course.

    Stephen Caldwell with James Hutchinson from BIGGA carry out our club ecology study, which allows us to carefully manage and plan our habitats. Pannal is simply alive with wildlife.

  • We hosted demonstration days of the VGR sand injection machine (Richard Peel & Origin Amenity), and invited greenkeepers from across Yorkshire to come, learn and take a look.

  • Our course manager Neil Horton with GEO Foundation auditor Keith Duff conducting a course inspection and walk. Happily was achieved GEO Certification, and as you can see on the below page Keith Duff was very impressed with our work at Pannal.

Member
Volunteers

Pannal has a superb membership/family, and to that end also have a wonderful group of willing and able volunteers who give their time to help around the course and club, a real asset to the club.

GEO CERTIFICATION

In 2023 the club achieved GEO Certification, which is a super accolade for any golf club, caring for and working with GEO Foundation for Sustainability in Golf.

GEO Certification is assured by GEO Foundation – the not-for-profit organisation dedicated to delivering programmes that help people on the ground to evaluate, improve and credibly communicate their sustainability work across the agenda of nature, resources, community and climate action.

GEO Certified is the symbol of a great golf environment, confirming that Pannal Golf Club satisfies all GEO certification criteria; meeting a credible standard in the areas of nature, resources and community, and is committed to continual improvement. The comprehensive Certification Report provides a detailed account of the continued commitment made to maintain wider sustainability issues.

The club is delighted that this global accolade recognises the outstanding work of the course management team and clubhouse staff involved. Achieving this certification is just part of an ongoing commitment. Pannal Golf Club is excited to continue striving for excellence in sustainable golf.

“Pannal Golf Club is an excellent example of a well-managed golf club that has sustainability at the heart of its’ operations. The challenging and well-presented course is dominated by grasses appropriate to the site. These are managed in ways that minimise the amounts of water and chemicals needed, thus maintaining the traditional character of this historic course. The striking landscape of the site is enhanced by the way that the areas of natural habitat between the holes have been retained, providing a natural backdrop to the holes themselves. Recent tree removal and grassland management has improved the situation further. The club’s commitment to sustainability is further demonstrated by their determination to lessen their environmental footprint through increasing their energy efficiency and reducing their resource consumption. Their commitment to sustainability is clear and I commend it.”

Keith Duff
(GEO accredited independent verifier)