The Bavarian Golf Association is also pursuing several initiatives in 2026 that are part of the major topic of environmental management. Bavarian golf courses benefit from participation in various ways. For example, they can benchmark their water management via the BGV’s water database, improve their land management in biodiversity projects or achieve a better public image via the German Bee Week.
Participation in water survey
Bavarian golf courses can continue to take part in the water survey, which the BGV has been conducting anonymously since 2025. After the data for 2024 was collected for the first time last year, it is now possible to enter the current data for 2025 simply by pressing a button. The previous data only needs to be overwritten, the time required is minimal. In this way, golf clubs can track their own development in water management and obtain comparisons with industry values as part of a benchmarking process. The comparison can be customized using several filter options, including soil type, for example. The data also provides clubs with greater clarity regarding the resilience of their own golf course during periods of drought.
Blooming Pact Bavaria
Golf courses have enormous potential to create more habitats for insects and micro-organisms. The large areas beyond fairways and greens can become important habitats with the right care and can help to reduce the loss of species. At the same time, golfers benefit from the fact that near-natural areas are often much more visually attractive than monotonous grass areas. Numerous Bavarian golf clubs that have joined the Blühpakt in recent years are already scoring points with species-rich flower meadows, attractive water planting or well-designed dry biotopes.
The registration deadline for golf courses wishing to participate in the program for the first time or to be recertified as a Blooming Golf Course is 30 June. Participants also benefit from the expertise of consultants from the Landesbund für Vogelschutz. They visit the golf course and draw up an individually tailored maintenance program.
More information here:
Golf & Nature
In 2026, the Bavarian Golf Association will continue to support golf courses that register for the Golf & Nature program for the first time with a one-off grant. This program is already standard at numerous Bavarian golf courses. As a quality management programme, it is not only intended to help golf courses to professionalize land management and work processes, but also topics such as occupational safety, communication and the implementation of integrated pest management play an important role. Divided into three levels – bronze, silver and gold – the clubs work continuously with Golf & Nature consultants from the German Golf Association to develop measures that support sustainable management. Economic aspects also play an important role here.
Registration for Golf & Nature is possible on an ongoing basis. Funding is provided by the Bavarian Golf Association. More information here:
German Bee Week
The German Bee Week will take place this year from May 18 to 24. The occasion is World Bee Day on May 20. The project week is now regarded as a great success by the Bavarian Golf Association, which initiated the project. Eight golf associations across Germany are now taking part in the initiative.
Golf clubs can generate income with a wide variety of projects for biodiversity projects on their own golf course – 100 percent of the proceeds – whether through donations or a tournament registration fee, for example – remain with the club. Participating clubs not only ensure that their own membership is better informed about biodiversity projects on the course, but also that the external image of the golf courses is positive.
Registration takes place via the nationwide online platform. Participating golf courses will receive tee gifts for the project week if they register in good time.
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