Build it and they will come. Although it’s a phrase borrowed from 1980’s baseball movie Field of Dreams that is often trotted out whenever a new venture tries to get off the ground, it’s a sentiment that must have surely been in the forefront of the minds of a handful of dream-filled pros when they first came up with the idea of building a high-end links-style course on what must have looked like a rather unpromising piece of land 25 miles east of Rotterdam somewhere towards the beginning of the noughties. The Made in Scotland team – the name the original founding owners David Burnside, Alan Saddington, Jonas Saxton, Mauk de Booij, Tim Giles and Phil Helsby, gave themselves when the idea was first mooted back in 2001 – opened The Dutch Golf Club in 2011 to much fanfare. They were inspired by the experience they had enjoyed at such clubs as Loch Lomond back in the day, and wanted to recreate that experience in mainland Europe, and more specifically The Netherlands, where nothing of this nature existed. Construction began in early 2008, dealing first with the engineering solutions required to shape flat farmland that was several metres below sea level into a championship golf course. Radical shaping was used to create a rugged golf course with undulating fairways framed by dramatic mounding. Out of necessity on land which is below sea level there are also many water features, with several lakes, streams and canals coming into play as well as serving a drainage facilities. Colin Montgomerie was also involved in the design of the course, which Scotsman Phil Helsby, the club’s energetic managing director, says could best be described as an inland links. “The concept here was to combine influences from links and heathland golf courses with some modern flair to create an individual style that was unique to The Dutch,” says Helsby, who is the only one of the founding members still directly involved with the club on a day-day basis. “We wanted to establish an immediate ‘wow’ factor and then back that up with good strategic design. I really like the way that the challenge builds as you go around the golf course. From a relatively gentle start, the course keeps ramping up the challenge and the back nine especially represents a true test.” The course drew instant praise and plenty of accolades, and after hosting events on both the Challenge Tour and the European Senior Tour, The Dutch put itself properly on the map with the hosting of three editions of The Dutch Open between 2016-18. The first year of the tournament coincided with a failed bid to host the 2018 Ryder Cup, which showed the scale of the ambition that The Dutch’s owners had for the venue. Although tournament staging helps get a club on the map, as does bidding for a Ryder Cup, Helsby says the main driving force behind the club was to provide a home from home for its members, whether they

The new distinction follows a rigorous audit and evaluation by an authority consisting of the French Golf Federation, the National Museum of Natural History, the National Office for Biodiversity and a representative of the Ministry of Sports. The initiative aims to improve knowledge, management and conservation of biodiversity in the golfing field whilst also raising awareness among golfers. The resort is one of only two golf courses in France to receive the highest honour. Well-deserved Recognition The label was unanimous in its praise for the numerous measures implemented by the resort in recent years, testifying to the scale of the investments made by the resort concerning biodiversity. Julien Viglione, manager of ECO-MED commented, “Obtaining this Gold Label is a collective achievement, and part of this success is down to all the people who have supported the project at Terre Blanche since the golf course was created 20 years ago. The resort’s approach will enable nature to flourish as well as help the public to better understand the opportunities for protecting biodiversity and developing the resources that a golf course can represent in an area like Tourrettes. There is no doubt that this label will raise awareness of biodiversity across generations, due to the Gold level criteria that has been devised with expertise, passion and consideration.” A Sanctuary of Biodiversity In collaboration with ECO-MED, a consultancy office specialising in environmental studies, the resort has developed a multi-year action plan to improve its knowledge of local biodiversity, adapt its environmental management practices and implement numerous awareness-raising initiatives aimed at its members, employees, golfers, local stakeholders and young people. This is demonstrated by the various events and activities organised throughout the year in partnership with the environmental association PACA pour Demain. These include the annual ‘Journée de la Terre,’ ‘Faune Sauvage’ days, the release of wild animals from the Centre de Soins de la Faune Sauvage des Alpes-Maritimes (CSAM) and the Wildlife Trophy. The resort has introduced a research and development programme to monitor the population and create habitats for bats. It has developed buildings to create shelters for bats that can be seen by guests on the resort’s biodiversity trail. The resort has also formed a Biodiversity Watch Brigade, that collects environmental data, monitors the resort’s ecological development, reduces the use of plant protection products in favour of biocontrol products, increases the amount of uncultivated land to encourage biodiversity and manages the bodies of water. It has also implemented reforestation campaigns and reduced light pollution to benefit nocturnal wildlife. Sustainable Philosophy Since its opening 20 years ago, the resort has positioned eco-responsibility at the heart of its strategy. The resort is aware of the importance of preserving nature and providing spaces for native species and wildlife to thrive. It continues to introduce innovative environmental activities, reaffirming the resort as one of Europe’s forerunners in the field of biodiversity. Marc Delauné, President of Terre Blanche Hotel Spa Golf Resort***** stated, “We are extremely pleased and proud to have been awarded the highest distinction

Calma, which has earned glowing reviews since opening last August, offers players the opportunity to enjoy a spectacular seaside location while sampling a mouthwatering menu based on local Andalusian produce, and is one of three leading honours that the 36-hole Spanish resort has been shortlisted for at this year’s awards, which will take place in Madeira in November. In addition, La Hacienda’s acclaimed Links course is in the running to be named as ‘Spain’s Best Golf Course’ for the second year running while the resort is also among the nominees for the prestigious ‘Europe’s Best Golf Venue’ award. Situated by the tenth hole of the Links course, Calma has been constructed using the best bioclimatic practices and sustainable materials with an almost zero carbon footprint. It offers a choice of freshly made tapas, snacks and desserts for golfers to enjoy, with members and visitors all invited to stop for 15 minutes before continuing their rounds. Featuring a small restaurant and large terrace area, the facility can cater for events of up to 200 people and is managed by Sal Verde – La Hacienda’s recently opened beach bar and restaurant – and is one of a number of new investments to be unveiled by the resort as part of its ongoing transformation into one of Europe’s leading modern 36-hole golf venues. Javier Jimenez-Casquet, director general at La Hacienda Links Golf Resort, said: “With its idyllic setting and unbeatable views of the Links course, the Mediterranean, Gibraltar and Africa, Calma is a special place. It’s something that we are all very proud of, and to be shortlisted for this prestigious accolade is a great honour. “When we began the renovation of the Links course, we were clear that this location was perfect for an unparalleled halfway house, and the incredible feedback that we have received from everyone that visits has made it clear that we made the right decision. “We enjoyed a fantastic night at the World Golf Awards last year when the Links course was named as the best in Spain. It would be amazing if we could win another of the top honours and would encourage as many people as possible to vote to help us achieve our dream.” Located in the Cadiz municipality of San Roque close to Sotogrande, La Hacienda Links Golf Resort has undergone a significant redevelopment in the last two years with an array of improvements made on and off the golf course. As well as the relaunch of its Links course two years ago after a major renovation by American architect Kurtis Bowman and the opening of a new clubhouse, the resort has undertaken a fresh series of upgrades to its golf and leisure amenities including new investment on its other 18-hole layout, the Heathland course. In addition, the resort is continuing preparations to launch a new Fairmont hotel and villas in the near future – underlining the resort’s ambition to become one of the most exclusive and luxurious golf developments in Spain.

Led by the Emirates Marine Environmental Group, team members from Dubai Golf, Topgolf Dubai, Dubai Creek Golf and Yacht Club, Emirates Golf Club and Jumeirah Golf Estates gathered at the Jebel Ali Marine Reserve to plant new mangrove plants. The reserve is used as a base to develop and organise educational camps for schools, community members, and corporate groups in an effort to increase awareness and understanding of environmental issues. The Jebel Ali Marine Reserve is currently home to more than 1.5 million mangrove plants, with more than 300,000 planted in 2023 alone. The UAE has consistently made great strides in conservation and sustainability, with a goal to plant over 100 million new mangroves along the coastline by 2040. “Conserving the ecosystem in the UAE is essential to longevity, and an important element of our business practices,” commented Chris May, CEO of Dubai Golf. “It’s a constant learning curve for all of us. I’m proud that representatives from all our golf clubs in Dubai were present at this event to plant crucial Mangrove plants and demonstrate how important conservation is for future development.” “The planting of these mangrove plants is essential to the flourishing of all ecosystems in Dubai, as they absorb four times more carbon dioxide than a terrestrial plant. They are also the ideal plant to restore coastal habitats,” added Morea Tomasi, Director of Marine Conservation projects at EMEG. “The planting of the mangroves is just the beginning, small steps in the right direction can lead to huge changes to ensure a greener approach to the future of Dubai. It is very important for us to continue working with organisations such as Dubai Golf, to create a greater platform and raise awareness of the need to futureproof our coastlines.” Mangroves are trees that usually live in salty water and grow near the coast, playing a crucial role in stabilising soil and protecting coastal communities from sea erosion. Mangroves mitigate the effects of climate change and create a functional ecosystem for the survival and reproduction of certain species of fish, birds, and insects. They are also crucial for carbon sequestration. The event at the Jebel Ali Sanctuary kicked off with presentations from EMEG President, Major Ali and EMEG Marine Director, Morea Tomasi regarding the importance of mangroves. A demonstration of how to properly plant the mangroves and safety briefing took place before seven representatives from Dubai Golf clubs began planting mangroves. In addition to mangrove planting, one of the EMEG’s other key projects is the monitoring and preservation of the Hawksbill Turtle species. The beaches at the reserve are protected nesting places that allow the turtles to breed without the risk of their nests being invaded by foxes. Once safely hatched, the baby turtles are then released into the wild by the team at EMEG. As part of the mangrove planting event, the Dubai Golf team also helped to release the group of hatchlings into the sea. The mangrove initiative and releasing of the turtle hatchlings link with Dubai