Blog
The Costa Brava and Girona Pyrenees is a destination that is known and recognised for the quality of its golf courses, for the continuous improvement of these spaces and for the excellence of the game, the services and the surroundings.
Some lesser-known, but very important aspects given the current climate crisis, are the research and investment these spaces are carrying out to improve the efficiency of how resources are used, to increase biodiversity and preserve their natural surroundings.
When you imagine a golf course, you picture a green space with trees and shrubs and perfectly manicured lawns where the game is played. All this greenery requires water, and in a region with scant rainfall it is vital to look for solutions to manage this precious resource with the utmost efficiency. For this reason, our golf courses are irrigated using reclaimed water, not drinking water, which comes directly from a water treatment plant.
In addition, golf has a unique relationship with the natural environment as it is played in an environment without concrete or buildings, but with trees and natural or landscaped spaces. These spaces, unsurprisingly, attract and provide a home for a wide variety of wildlife (birds, mammals, invertebrates, etc.).
Camiral Golf & Wellness Golf PGA. Harold Abellan. Arxiu Imatges. PTCBG.
So, based on the premise that we have golf courses that use reclaimed water and carry out sustainable agronomic practices (native plants, low or zero use of chemical fertilisers, low or zero use of insecticides, etc.), we are talking about spaces that contribute towards creating a high quality environment and that help to boost biodiversity.
What’s more, aside from the environmental benefits, golf has a positive effect on the health and wellness of those who play it, as it is a sport suitable for people of all ages. Players also get the chance to spend time outdoors and to walk in a natural setting surrounded by birdsong and the sound of the wind in the trees, while groups of players can meet and socialise in a leisurely way.
The golf courses of the Costa Brava and Girona Pyrenees strive to optimise their natural resources in order to use water and energy more efficiently and to generate healthy, biodiverse spaces. It is a challenging journey and there is still much work ahead, but here we present some of the good practices and examples that are being implemented along these lines:
In 2023, Camiral Golf & Wellness was added to the Green 100 list (created by Golf World and the GEO Foundation), which identifies the most environmentally aware and socially responsible golf courses in Europe. The entire space is managed as a nature reserve and has its own resident biologist who oversees the health of the population of native fauna and flora. The course and gardens are irrigated using reclaimed water and solar panels have been installed at Hotel Camiral to provide renewable energy.
Golf de Pals has electric self-propelled lawnmowers that have helped to cut its fossil fuel consumption by 50%, reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The club has also renovated its irrigation system and reduced the size of its lawns, saving water and energy by cutting down on the use of irrigation pumps. In addition, the club uses its own compost made from vegetable waste, thereby minimising the need for inorganic fertilisers.
Golf de Pals. Harold Abellan. Arxiu Imatges. PTCBG.
Golf d’Aro – Mas Nou
Golf d’Aro – Mas Nou is working to increase biodiversity on its property and has installed bird feeders and nest boxes, given its proximity to the Gavarres Massif natural area. The club has also purchased electric golf carts and every year applies environmental measures to continue holding the GEO sustainability seal.
Empordà Golf Club is located less than 10km from the Montgrí, Medes Islands and Baix Ter Natural Park, meaning that many species from the park visit the golf course.
Par 3 Gualta is working towards changing the varieties of grass on its greens, as well as the plants and trees, to native Mediterranean varieties that require less water, are more efficient and can withstand drought conditions. The club is also collaborating with the Montgrí, Medes Islands and Baix Ter Natural Park and forms part of the European Charter for Sustainable Tourism (ECST).
Take a closer look and you will discover that behind every golf course there is a whole world of natural resource management that goes far beyond the image of the verdant greens of your imagination!
Golf d'Aro - Mas Nou. Harold Abellan. Arxiu Imatges. PTCBG.
