On Tuesday, 21st January, Germinal Amenity hosted the Performance Plus Sustainability in Golf conference at the Crown Hotel in Harrogate. The event brought together greenkeepers and industry experts to share practical strategies for sustainable golf course management, reinforcing Germinal’s ongoing commitment to Climate Smart solutions through knowledge-sharing initiatives.
Practical lessons from Micah Woods
Keynote speaker Micah Woods, founder of the Asian Turfgrass Center, outlined evidence-based methods that are already reshaping the way courses balance sustainability with high-quality performance. His recommendations offer a practical roadmap for greenkeepers:
- Reduce intensively managed turf areas to save on mowing, fuel costs, and CO2 emissions.
- Keep accurate records of inputs to gradually reduce fertiliser and water usage.
- Encourage slow grass growth and deep root systems for increased resilience.
- Select appropriate grass species based on specific course conditions and management practices.
- Choose the right grass varieties and experiment with mixtures to increase genetic diversity and overall performance.
For more detailed information on Micah Woods' presentations on sustainable turfgrass management, view his presentation slides here.
Innovating for a changing climate
Germinal’s new A Range was unveiled to help greenkeepers tackle the dual challenges of environmental sustainability and course performance.
The range features high-performing varieties with expectational disease resistance, ensuring durable and reliable playing surfaces. It includes Germinal’s trusted and proven products including ForeFront Greens, AberMajesty Blend, A5 Golf Tees and Tour Leader.
Richard Brown, Director of Germinal Amenity UK & Ireland, emphasised the importance of adapting to climate challenges:
“Challenges around how we achieve Net Zero and adapt to changing climatic conditions have brought environmental sustainability into sharp focus. For greenkeepers, this means rethinking how we use scarce resources such as water and finding ways to lower or even eliminate the need for fertilisers and pesticides, while also supporting greater biodiversity. The plants we grow must also be resilient to the pressures of a changing climate.
“The A Range has been developed with greenkeepers in mind, combining sustainability with top-level performance. It features tried-and-tested turfgrass mixtures alongside our new Climate Smart products, which incorporate significant innovation to meet modern environmental challenges.
“To support greenkeepers further, we’ve backed the A Range with experienced technical advice and valuable resources, available on our Knowledge Hub.”
Discover how the A Range can help your course achieve performance and sustainability goals
Get expert advice and tailored recommendations for your greens - contact our team today.