London, England – The British and International Golf Greenkeepers Association (BIGGA) has announced the triumphant return of the Golf Environment Awards in 2027, marking a new chapter for these prestigious accolades following an agreement with STRI Group. This revival underscores a renewed commitment to recognizing and promoting environmental stewardship within the golf industry, with nominations now officially open for a refreshed program designed to celebrate excellence in sustainability.
Golf clubs and individuals across the United Kingdom and internationally are invited to submit entries for five distinct categories, with the nomination period running until October. The culmination of this environmental celebration will be a grand awards ceremony held on March 19, 2027, at the esteemed Forest of Arden Hotel & Country Club.
The revitalized Golf Environment Awards will be meticulously judged by a panel of four distinguished experts. This esteemed group comprises renowned ecologist James Hutchinson and sustainability expert Craig Boath, alongside experienced BIGGA staff members: Education Director Rob Phillips and Membership Director Scott Reeves. In a welcome return to a previous, highly effective process, a member of the judging panel will personally visit each shortlisted venue. This crucial step ensures a thorough and intimate understanding of the initiatives in place, allowing judges to engage directly with the key individuals driving these positive environmental changes.
Established in 1995, the Golf Environment Awards have long served as a vital platform to acknowledge, reward, and champion individuals and golf facilities for their dedicated efforts to protect and enhance their natural surroundings. BIGGA, a long-standing supporter of these awards, will now take the helm, guiding their future trajectory and ensuring that environmental stewardship remains an integral and recognized component of contemporary course management. The association aims to build upon the robust reputation meticulously cultivated by STRI Group, striving to maintain a program that is not only relevant and credible but also accessible to clubs and individuals far and wide.
Jim Croxton, CEO of BIGGA, expressed his enthusiasm for the awards’ return, stating, "Golf courses across the country and beyond are home to outstanding environmental work, much of it led by greenkeepers whose expertise and commitment can too easily go unseen. It is important that this contribution is properly recognised, both to celebrate those setting high standards and to demonstrate the positive role golf can play in protecting and enhancing the natural environment."
He continued, "The Golf Environment Awards supported by BIGGA and STRI provide a valuable platform for that recognition, shining a light on excellent practice and giving those responsible the credit they deserve for the difference they make daily. We are grateful to STRI Group for its excellent work developing the awards over the years, and we will continue to build on that strong legacy."
The refreshed program introduces five distinct categories, each designed to highlight specific areas of environmental excellence:
- The Conservation Champion Award: This award will honour an individual whose significant contributions have been pivotal to the success of a club’s environmental and ecological management, resulting in a demonstrable positive impact on the surrounding landscape and biodiversity.
- The Positive Impact Award: This category will celebrate a golf club that has successfully implemented an ecological or sustainability initiative delivering tangible environmental benefits, supported by clear objectives, measurable targets, and compelling evidence of sustained success.
- The Operation Pollinator Award: This award will recognize golf clubs that consistently demonstrate outstanding commitment to ecological habitat creation and management, particularly in support of pollinator species.
- The International Environmental Golf Club of the Year and UK Environmental Golf Club of the Year awards: These prestigious awards will acknowledge facilities that exemplify efficient and holistic management across all facets of nature conservation, turfgrass management, waste reduction, and water conservation.
Nominations, which opened in August, will be accepted until October. Entrants are encouraged to submit their applications through the Golf Environment Award website, utilizing a detailed written application form supplemented by compelling supporting images and videos.
Following the close of nominations, a rigorous assessment process will take place between October and December, with judging criteria meticulously applied. Crucially, site visits to shortlisted venues will be conducted during this period, providing judges with firsthand insights. A final judging day will be held during BTME in January, leading up to the much-anticipated awards ceremony at the Forest of Arden Golf Club in March, where the champions of environmental stewardship in golf will be celebrated.
