Three Northern Ireland golf courses have been included in the first ever 'Top 100 Greenest in Europe' list.
The 'Top 100' profiles clubs that are working to deliver fantastic golf whilst also caring for their local landscapes and biodiversity, actively strengthening their communities and taking action to reduce adverse climate impacts.
The list - which was published by Today’s Golfer to coincide with World Environment Day on June 5 - features Belvoir Park, Portstewart and Royal County Down.
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All three have been praised for being three of the Best Sustainable Golf Courses in Europe for Fostering Nature.
Today's Golfer said: "From the very beginning of golf on the links of Scotland, golf has always been an integral part of the local nature and landscape.
"The courses we look at here show a real understanding of this philosophy and have kept nature at the heart of their facilities – giving back to the land that has given us such a perfect space for our sport."
Here's what they had to say about the three Northern Ireland entries:
BELVOIR PARK
"Situated within a designated Site of Special Scientific Interest, Belvoir work closely with Lagan Valley Regional Park to safeguard the flora and fauna that call the course home. The club also collaborate on structured eco reports."
PORTSTEWART
"Each year at Portstewart, before the start of the sand martin nesting season in March, the team ensure sand banks at a part of the course are made accessible for nesting birds and safe from potential predators. These sand martins have become an important part of the course."
ROYAL COUNTY DOWN
"RCD prioritise biodiversity when it comes to their bunkers, allowing them to have rough, natural edges. This is a key part of the club’s Biodiversity Management Plan and mining bees and marsh fritillary butterflies are just some of the species that benefit."
Chris Bertram, Top 100 Editor said: "Golf’s environmental reputation is often unfairly demonised, but this list highlights the valuable and impressive sustainable efforts that are taking place across Europe.
"Published to coincide with World Environment Day, I want this ranking to demonstrate that golf is a sport with an ecological conscience, and that there are hundreds of ingenious ways clubs are making a real difference. Recognition as a World Top 100 course or a GB&I Top 100 course is a great honour, but being recognised as a Top 100 ‘Green’ club is, in my view, even more impressive."
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