Sustainability at North Hants Golf Club

Founded in 1904, North Hants Golf Club has a rich history in golf, although a more recent involvement in sustainability.

North Hants' commitment to sustainability was initiated in 2021 with the establishment of a Sustainability Committee. The committee’s focus is to promote sustainable activities and limit its environmental impact throughout the business. The GEO Foundation has supported NHGC in these objectives, and our success in this area is partly measured through our achievement of being the first club in Hampshire to become GEO Certified.

“North Hants Golf Club have undertaken some fantastic projects across the key  areas of enhancing the natural environment, managing, and reducing resource  use, and engaging with stakeholders.  Managing the woodland through thinning, using the waste to create habitat, and  encouraging heathland restoration by reducing close management of key areas  are great examples of the easy co-existence of golf and nature. T he upgrades to LED lighting have reduced consumption and the plans to install  renewable energy show the progressive attitude to management as we are all  faced with uncertainty around fossil fuels price and availability.”

(GEO accredited independent verifier, February 2023).   

North Hants Golf Club Environmental Policy

North Hants Golf Club Ltd is committed to preventing pollution and to complying with all relevant environmental legislation, regulations, and other environmental requirements. We will regularly evaluate the environmental impact of our activities, products and services and we will take action to continually improve our environmental performance. It is our policy to:

• Minimise the use of energy, water and natural resources.
• Minimise waste through prevention, re-use and recycling where possible.
• Dispose of waste safely and legally.
• Avoid the use of hazardous materials, where practical.
• Work with environmentally responsible suppliers.
• Prevent environmental damage and minimise nuisance factors such as noise and air pollution.
• We will define environmental objectives, targets and improvement actions that are related to this policy and to our significant. environmental aspects. We will regularly evaluate progress.

We are committed to providing relevant environmental training and promoting environmental awareness to employees and, where appropriate, to suppliers and to communicating our environmental performance. We will implement processes to prevent environmental non-conformities and to ensure that we are prepared to deal with potential environmental emergencies. This policy will be regularly reviewed and updated to take account of organisational priorities and changes, environmental legislation and best practice.

As the custodians of 55 hectares of land, at North Hants Golf Club we take an active approach to:

• Development of habitat and biodiversity
• Management and conservation of resources
• The use of data to minimise our environmental impact
• Engagement with our members, staff, and the wider community
• Engagement with organisations that work towards protecting the environment, promoting sustainable development, and safeguarding biodiversity
• Waste management to ensure responsible recycling, minimal waste production, and zero landfill.

Some of our statistics...

• 25% of our suppliers are local.
• We work with several local and national organisations to help identify and manage the species and habitat biodiversity on site. We also actively engage with our members, staff and our local community.

• Notable species have increased by 8%.
• Over 800sqm of heather regeneration.
• 33 different varieties of wildflowers in over 1,000sqm of planting.

• 10 honeybee hives.
• NHGC honeybee hives producing approximately 100 jars per year, which we sell and use in the kitchen.

• A 13% reduction in CO2 emissions since 2021, equivalent to 23 households.
• We sequester an estimated 303 tonnes of CO2 per year equivalent to 361ha of mixed forest.
• 16 less pesticide applications decreasing the weight of active ingredient applied by 26%.
• A 37% reduction in fossil fuel usage. Fuel is the largest part of our carbon footprint, which we actively aim to reduce every year.
• Our electric mower cuts 21 greens using only 56% of its battery capacity.  Its use significantly reduces noise pollution, and compared to its diesel-fuelled equivalent, it’s less polluting.
• Over 12 months, we’ve saved 3000L of diesel or £2,100. Without needing hydraulic and engine oil, the mower is much cleaner for our mechanic to work on.

• In excess of 6kg of milk bottle tops collected annually for fundraising purposes.
• 100% of food waste is composted on site, including coffee grounds from local businesses.
• 100% of green waste is composted on site.
• 75% of our waste is recycled.
• 100% of our irrigation water is non-potable.
• Our new irrigation system is 50% more efficient.
• 100% of our electricity is from renewable sources.
• We organise in excess of 14 charity events annually.
• Our members volunteer 2,500 hours a year on the course.
• We work actively with our licensed waste contractors to ensure the responsible storage and disposal of hazardous waste. Pollution prevention is essential.

Links to some of our sustainable highlights

1. Recycled and recyclable bag tags
2. Honey!
3. Reducing waste by supporting good initiatives
4. Excess metal sheeting used to generate habitats
5. Reusing rather than replacing
6. Reusable coffee cups help reduce plastic waste
7. Reuse, recycle and donate at North Hants Golf Club
8. Coffee upgrades to help reduce environmental impact
9. Tangible benefits of LED's and sensors
10. Comprehensive waste management, reuse and recycling
11. In-house vehicle maintenance and servicing creates efficiencies
12. Upcycled cupboard door given new lease of life
13. Log piles help bolster biodiversity
14. Partnership helps native bees flourish
15. Heather regeneration and collaboration with Surrey Wildlife Trust
16. The shift to Lithium battery-powered buggies
17. Increasing wildlife diversity using refugia
18. Bat monitoring and engagement event
19. Inspiring the next generation through a First Green Initiative event
20. Brewed together: local partnership turns coffee to compost
21. Move to electric yields significant savings
22. Plant-based cleaning products

A reminder of all of North Hants Golf Club's awards achievements to date

• Club Mirror Awards 2024:

Winner of Golf Club of the Year with a turnover of > £2m.

Finalist Sustainability Club of the Year.

• Golf Environmental Awards 2025:

Finalist UK Environmental Golf Club of the Year

Finalist Operation Pollinator

Winner Andy Reason (Deputy Course Manager) Conservation Champion

• England Golf Awards 2025:

Finalist Sustainability Project of the Year for the following entries:

Reduction in Fossil Fuel Usage

Biodiversity and Habitat Development

Waste management process at NHGC 

• BIGGA Awards 2026

Finalist of Syngenta Operation Pollinator Award 2026