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Environmental
Both courses are part of Ashdown Forest and, as such, have to comply with the
overall policy laid down by acts of Parliament and the Board of Conservators of Ashdown Forest.
The Courses were originally laid out on the heathland with nothing more than
grass, heather and gorse. The oldest trees on either Course are about 80 years
of age whereas the vast majority are less than 40 years of age.
The reasons are the cessation of grazing and the decrease of timber cutting by
commoners. We are actively working alongside the Conservators and DEFRA to redress the balance and return the Courses to their heathland character.
The rare Marsh Gentian
This involves felling large areas of invading birch scrub and surface stripping
bracken. As heather seed can survive for more than 40 years in the ground, areas
stripped of their bracken and peat layer will produce heather from this seed bank.
A major initiative is currently being promoted by the R&A and is referred
to as “sustainable golf”. What is meant by this is a departure from heavy reliance
on pesticides, fertiliser and water and working with nature as opposed to fighting
against her.
This means encouraging the fine fescue and bent grasses instead of the heavily
water and fertiliser-reliant annual meadow grass which gives a very poor winter
surface. This will mean that in the height of summer your ball will bounce and
not be greeted by a soft over-watered green. The grass will be brown, not lush
emerald green.
The upside of all this is that, as we confront more and more EU legislation regarding
pesticide use, courses adopting this type of policy will be one jump ahead of
the rest. The other benefit is the reduction in costs.
At Royal Ashdown, greens receive a very small amount of nitrogen each year, as
do the tees. This is then backed up with applications of liquid seaweed and iron.
The fairways are never given any fertiliser nor is there fairway watering. Water
is applied to tees and greens simply to keep the grass alive. This all leads to
the rebirth of the traditional bump and run game as opposed to target golf. If
we have a problem with fungal disease on a green, which is rare, only the area
affected will be treated and only when it is the last resort.
At Royal Ashdown we are very aware of the unique environment around us and try
to work in such a way as to enhance it so that it remains for all to enjoy.