The Environment at Desert Springs

Desert Springs was awarded the Spanish “Madera Verde” 2005 Prize for Environmental Responsibility, by the Spanish Ministry of the Environment’s Association for the Promotion of Socio-Cultural Activities and The Royal Spanish Golf Federation, out of no less than 60 entries for the award.

The objective of the award is to both recognise and to publicise the many positive aspects of environmental conservation that can be achieved by the voluntary efforts and work of those involved in promoting, running and managing golf courses, providing they act with all due regard, respect and care for environmental issues.

The Awards Committee highlighted the tremendous response to the awards received from Spanish golf courses; some 60 courses entering the competition for the award, demonstrating in itself a high degree of environmental awareness and concern in the golfing industry. Following assessment of all sixty by the Technical Committee, seven were selected for the short list, being Desert Springs, La Herrería, Montanya, El Saler, Los Arqueros, Buenavista & RSHEECC.

The Awards Committee considered three main criteria in making their final decision: -

• The method of construction of the golf course
• The management and maintenance programmes introduced for the golf course
• The awareness and protection of the environmental issues brought to the attention of golfers and non-golfers by the Club’s management

According to the Citation for the final award, Desert Springs represented a clear example of an institution with a high degree of environmental observance and respect. Within their Citation, it was exceptionally gratifying to read that: -

"In Desert Springs case, the scrupulous work that was carried out during the construction of the course in a desert environment was evident, an extraordinary and exceptional case of respect for the natural environment. Special mention is to be made in respect of the careful use of water in a closed circuit system of irrigation, allowing for the correct minimum necessary consumption, based on systems typical of those used in Arizona USA. It should also be mentioned that Desert Springs do not irrigate the "rough" area of the course, only the tees, fairways and greens, and this encourages the growth and well being of the local flora and fauna."

Director of Golf, Simon Coaker commented - “The world of golf has a responsibility to both respect and enhance the environment in which it resides and it is wonderful to have the efforts of all involved, in particular those of our Golf Course Superintendent, Anthony Brooks, and Chief Naturalist, Joel Lodè, recognised. Furthermore, I believe that this award can only be positive for the future of golf course development in our area”.

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