Creating a World Class Natural Golf Experience
Many of the world’s best new and old golf courses have been designed on sites that were naturally beautiful and well suited for golf before they were constructed. Today, golf courses are often proposed on sites that are unattractive and possess very few natural features. These sites are often void of vegetation, wildlife, water, interesting topography, or good soils. It is under these challenging circumstances that Kyle Phillips Golf Course Design has thrived. Whether the existing site was a flat farm field or a barren open desert, our ability to convert these less than ideal sites into internationally renowned golf courses is unmatched in the industry. Most astonishing has been our ability to transform these sites into natural landscapes that appear to have been formed by centuries of nature’s influence.
Environmentally Sustainable Design
Kyle Phillips Golf Course Design is currently leading the industry in sustainable golf course design. The Golf Environmental Organization (GEO) is now recognizing Kingsbarns Golf Links (Scotland), Verdura Golf & Spa Resort (Sicily) and Yas Links (Abu Dhabi) as examples of excellence in sustainability. Our courses are being recognized around the world as examples for others to follow.
Through our experience in:
1) Water quality and conservation
2) Efficiency in turfgrass management
3) Wildlife habitat creation
4) Recreational greenspace creation
5) Biodiversity of native plant species
6) Design that reflects the culture of the region, we create ecosystems that serve as models for Environmental Sustainability on an International level.
Planning for Wildlife and Recreational Corridors
We are proponents of creating greater biodiversity that promotes and encourages a park like atmosphere. This vision is not one of an isolated habitat, but of a system of Recreational Corridors that connect throughout the golf course and the entire development. These landscaped corridors can allow for various recreational activities to coexist with golf.
What the Golf Environmental Organization is saying about Yas Links, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates:
“A sustainable approach to the creation of new golfing landscapes in the developing EMEA region. Located on Yas Island, an existing barren desert site with no vegetation or wildlife, the project was conceived from the outset to utilise reclaimed water for irrigation, resulting in the decision to limit the maintained turf area to 39 hectares within a total site area of 93 hectares, and to use Paspalum as the principal turfgrass species. There will be minimal use of pesticides, and a long term aim to enable a wholly-organic management regime. An existing mangrove and natural tidal area was preserved adjacent to the site, and a bird sanctuary was introduced and expanded.”
What the Golf Environmental Organization is saying about Verdura Golf and Spa Resort, Sicily, Italy:
“The masterplan at Verdura is notable for its use of prime sea-front land for two 18-hole courses, complemented by a more compact resort development. This innovative land use balance is supported by a commitment to enhance biodiversity by establishing true native Sicilian plant species throughout the site, which was formerly dominated by a monoculture of irrigated fruit trees on maintained bare soil. 25% of the site is devoted to environmentally sensitive areas, and over 40 different species of native shrubs, trees, and grasses have been established. 14 Hectares of transplanted Olive and Orange orchards have been retained to reflect the local history of agriculture, and the existing historically significant tower and train station buildings have been sensitively restored for use as a clubhouse and welcome center. Water is harvested from the adjacent river during the rainy season and stored in on-site reservoirs for year-round irrigation use.”
