Bryanston voted the greenest golf club in SA
BRYANSTON – Golf clubs were previously looked down on because of their practices that impacted the environment negatively. Not anymore.
The Bryanston Country Club can boast being the greenest golf club around. This according to the results of the John Collier Survey released recently, which showed that of all the golf clubs in South Africa, golfers recognised Bryanston as being top for good governance and environmental compliance in the last financial year.
General manager, Paul Leishman put the award down to a complete change in the club’s approach.
“In the past, golf clubs were thought of as a threat to the environment because of all the water they used, and they were not very family-friendly,” he explained. “We thought of ways to reduce our impact on the environment and attract children to the club, along with their parents.”
In addition to installing play facilities, the club began to host children’s events such as golfing and tennis clinics, drive-in movies on golf carts, ginger-bread making, Halloween and stalk the lantern on the golf course.
More than just tees and birdies for Bryanston golf’s ladies captain
Previous rules about golfing attire were also relaxed. The club dug four boreholes and reduced the water it used on the grass.
Furthermore, Bryanston began to use only organic products on its grass instead of harmful chemicals. “We are also big on trees,” said course superintendent, Ronnie Cousins. “We remove the biggest water-sucking plants such as black wattles, and plant other trees regularly.”
The club organises clean-ups in the nearby Krom Park, and hosts charity drives such as Charity Week (a week of competitions to raise money for charity) and the Sunset Concert coming up in September.
Community members have recognised the improvement in practices at the club, and it has reached a record of 3 000 members.
In testimony to Bryanston’s success, it was chosen to host the Inter-Provincial Tournament in September, which will see the best players in the country compete for their provinces.
Related article: Bryanston Country Club proposes new clubhouse for kids
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