Golf sector sets sustainability ambitions in sector-wide covenant

ARTICLE

POLICY & LEGAL

Wijnand Meijboom, Wednesday 15 April 2026

186 sec

During the National Golf Congress, NGF, NVG and NGA presented the Sustainability Covenant: an ambitious step to secure long-term support for golf in the Netherlands. The agreement follows an extensive process in which golf courses and contractors were consulted and key themes were analysed. Greenkeeper spoke with Paul Wesel (director NVG), Alexander de Vries (sustainable golf advisor, NGF) and Jannes Landkroon (outgoing chairman NGA and now also advisor on sustainable golf at NGF) about the motivation, ambitions and implications for greenkeepers and golf courses.

Jannes Landkroon (NGA), Paul Wesel (NVG), Jan van Merwijk (NGF) and keynote speaker Jan Rotmans. (Photo Koert van As)

The covenant is driven by signals from both the market and society. De Vries outlines the situation: golf courses face a persistent image problem, activist groups sometimes target facilities directly, and golf regularly comes under pressure in spatial planning discussions. "We do many things right, but we hardly tell that story. That does not help us," he says. Wesel also sees how this leads to practical tensions on courses. "There have been situations where greenkeepers preferred not to use chemicals, but pressure from golfers or management still increased. That is not desirable. And if one course uses products and another does not, there is no level playing field." The covenant aims to remove these differences and provide clarity for all stakeholders.

The development took more time than expected. Landkroon: "We had to determine exactly which topics to address and define measurable targets. That is when it became clear how complex some themes are. For example, how do you determine when a golf course is carbon neutral? Or how do you measure biodiversity in a uniform way?" Despite this, the direction was clear early on. De Vries: "This is not an initiative from one organisation that others joined. It is truly a joint project; a shared effort that will now develop further." The covenant includes clear timelines. The sector is working towards a complete ban on crop protection products by 2032, through a phased approach. In addition, the goal is to become CO2-positive by 2035, meaning more CO2 is captured than emitted. During the Solheim Cup later this year, the organisations aim to show that a majority of courses have joined. Wesel emphasises this is not a strict deadline: "It is a logical moment to share progress. Ultimately, you want 80 to 90 percent participation, preferably everyone."

"If you want to make good agreements, you need to know what you are doing. It starts with measuring"

A key part of the covenant is that the sector will collect data to demonstrate what is happening. "Water authorities often do not know exactly how much water is used on golf courses and for what purpose," says De Vries. "If you want to make good agreements, you need to know what you are doing. It starts with measuring." GEO certification remains the foundation, as it already includes much of the required information. For topics not yet covered by GEO, such as social accessibility, additional tools will be developed in the coming months.

"Some greenkeepers cannot move fast enough, while others find it challenging"

The ambitions will affect course maintenance and organisation. Landkroon sees a clear divide in practice: "Some greenkeepers want to move quickly, while others find it challenging, especially where the basics of IPM are not yet fully in place." According to him, knowledge exchange is essential to bring this group along. "Many greenkeepers never visit other courses and therefore do not see alternative approaches. I call that course blindness. With POA and knowledge sessions, we try to break that." Wesel also notes that cooperation on many courses can improve. "There is not always good alignment between boards, management and greenkeeping. The covenant forces those discussions and provides direction for the long term." This also means golfers may notice some changes. "It may occasionally become a bit more yellow or dry," says Wesel. "Quality has only improved over the past 15 years; expectations have increased."

"We want to change the perception of the eleven million Dutch people who do not see golf as sustainable"

The covenant emphasises that a golf course is not only a sports facility, but also a large green space with social value. Landkroon: "We want to change the perception of the eleven million Dutch people who currently do not see golf as sustainable. That starts locally: show what you do and involve the surrounding community." He notes that more and more courses are launching initiatives, from night runs to barefoot trails, from open days to educational programmes for schools. "Many courses are already doing good work. Now we need to show it better," De Vries adds.

Alexander de Vries in action during the National Golf Congress. (Photo Koert van As)

"We have many frontrunners showing it can be done. Now we need to accelerate"

Due to increasing pressure on Dutch golf courses, the industry is also closely watching developments. Landkroon: "Suppliers are calling more often to ask what the future looks like, as they want to adapt their products. Innovations in chemical-free management and electrification are now accelerating." According to De Vries, the Netherlands is leading in Europe: "Other countries see us as a testing ground. If something changes, it happens here first." De Vries stresses that the sector is in a transition phase. "This is a period of change. We have many frontrunners showing it can be done. Now we need to accelerate. Legislation, drought and public perception are all factors. You can wait for it to happen, or you can act now." Wesel agrees: "Those who look ahead will thrive. This covenant is not a luxury; it is necessary to remain future-proof."

This article was previously published on 14 April 2026 on the Greenkeeper](https://www.greenkeeper.nl/article/53614/golfsector-legt-duurzaamheidsambities-vast-in-sectorbreed-convenant]Greenkeeper) website.

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