Environmental education between fairways
School finishes at 1 p.m. – but on this Tuesday, the fourth grade of Steinbachtal-Burkarder Primary School is standing in front of the clubhouse of the Würzburg Golf Club in Bavaria. Shortly before the summer vacation, the school day looked different for the 24 girls and boys today: Out on the golf course, environmental studies between fairways and greens, getting to know unusual professions and, of course, a first golf lesson were on the agenda. The combination of all these elements took place for the first time as part of the German Golf Association’s project “Abschlag Schule”. It has been known for years that the DGV sponsors taster golf courses for school classes, where children can make their first attempts at putting and teeing off. However, the integration of environmental education was also a first for DGV employees Lena Daum and Camilla Stellmacher. “The environmental factor in particular is super important in golf and is absolutely essential,” said the two DGV representatives enthusiastically at the end of the event. “The children were really into it.”
Cooperation with the LBV
No wonder: with the help of magnifying glasses and thanks to the detailed explanation of environmental educator Janina Kempf from the LBV Lower Franconia, the primary school pupils not only discovered 16 grasshoppers in the dry grassland area of the golf course between holes eight and 16, but were also allowed to collect seeds from flowers and grasses, which they can now plant at home in the garden or in a pot. “The golf club has a cooperation with the NGO Landesbund für Vogelschutz, which provided us with the environmental expert,” said club manager Sanja Bradley, expressing her enthusiasm for the success of the project: “The children didn’t disturb or hinder anyone playing golf, but at the same time they learned a lot and had fun.” They were also given an insight into the job of a head greenkeeper. Jacqueline Siegel, who is responsible for course maintenance at GC Würzburg, explained to the girls and boys how the work between greens and tees is carried out on a daily basis. The 24 children were enthusiastic and their teacher Andrea Hechelbauer was extremely satisfied with the vivid on-site lessons. For the GC Würzburg, the organization and support was definitely not in vain: The exhilarated mood of the students at the departure made it clear – the children will have positive memories of golf.
