The Biodiversity Benefits of Golf in Australia & New Zealand
Monina Gilbey and Kate Torgersen were commissioned by The R&A, as part of its global Golf Course 2030 (GC2030) strategy, to write this report. The report establishes a landmark baseline for ecological stewardship across golf facilities in Australia ad New Zealand/Aotearoa.
The document evaluates environmental metrics and real-world case studies from over 30 public, private, and regional courses. It details achievements such as the establishment of over 550,000 native plants, 30,000m² of turf-to-native vegetation conversions, and annual water savings exceeding 70 million litres. Beyond quantifying ecological data, the report outlines practical action frameworks for native flora and fauna protection, water stewardship, climate resilience, and sustainable agronomy while highlighting cross-sector collaborations with local communities, scientific bodies, and Traditional Owners.
An executive version and the full report can be downloaded here.
Driving On-Course Action: The National Sustainable Golf Roadshow – August 2026
Delivered across Australia five capital cities and in partnership with Golf Management Australia (GMA) and the Australian Sports Turf Managers Association (ASTMA), The R&A National Sustainable Golf Roadshow brought a multi-disciplinary expert program directly to club executives, board directors, and superintendents.
Monina Gilbey and Kate Torgersen delivered key findings from The R&A GC2030 Biodiversity Benefits of Golf in Australia and New Zealand equipping clubs with practical ideas and actionable steps to increase biodiversity on their courses. Dr. Brett Morris from The R&A detailed sustainable agronomy strategies to future-proof turf systems, while Ben Gibson from The Toolbox Team addressed critical WHS compliance, psychological safety, and leadership development.
A large part of the sessions were the innovative Game Changer sessions developed by Danish learning specialist Jacob Thomsen (Sustainable Reflections) for The R&A, establishing what Jacob describes as "a shared language and learning architecture" to help managers, turf professionals, and board members align on sustainability priorities and turn shared understanding into real on-course action.
Image: Kate and Monina at Killara Golf Club, photo by Courtney Flores, Golf Management Australia
