Global Forum for Sports and Environment
Placement of Golf Courses with Respect to Nature
The purpose of the guidelines is to generate ideas on how nature and outdoor interests can are managed when it comes to planning, establishing and maintaining golf courses, while maximizing protection of the environment "The guidelines are helping to strengthen the efforts to ensure a sustainable running of the golf courses in Denmark, and together with other initiatives in the golf agreement; reduction of pesticides, green accounts and environmental friendly running of golf courses, the guidelines are an advantage for the environment. In a time where the need of golf courses is increasing yearly, the pressure on nature is increasing as well. Therefore, it is very important that the golf courses are placed and run with respect to the environment”, the Minister for the Environment, Connie Hedegaard says and she continues: "In future I expect that the municipalities [through] good planning will avoid expropriation in connection with the establishment of golf courses.” The guidelines were worked out in continuation of the report from the Environmental Ministry’s "Location of golf courses", with focus on the local planning of golf courses as well as the establishment and running of the course. The work on the guidelines has been carried through by The Danish Golf Union and the contents have been discussed in a working group consisting of The National Olympic Committee and Sports Confederation of Denmark (DIF), the Danish Society for Nature Conservation, the Danish Outdoor Council, Local Governments of Denmark, Danish Regions and the Danish Forest and Nature Agency. "It is very positive that authorities and organizations have worked out a number of recommendations to improve our common nature and outdoor life closely connected to golf. By these publications we will now have common conditions for future golf courses", the president of the Danish Golf Union, Soren Clemmensen, says. Today there are 164 golf clubs in Denmark under The Danish Golf Union and approximately 25 pay-and-play courses, with 30 projects in the pipeline. The new guideline will be sent to all municipalities by mail and you can ask for a printed copy of "Golf, Nature and Outdoor Life" by calling The Danish Golf Union on +45 43 26 27 00. Furthermore, the guidelines can be downloaded on www.dgu.org Further information: Source: Golf Environment Europe LINK : |
A guideline to golf, nature and outdoor life has been published in Denmark, based on an agreement entered into by the Minister for the Environment and Danish Golf Union in the summer of 1995 concerning the development of future golf courses.