Course Name: Royal Ostend Golf Club

Course Type: Undergoing return to a traditional links course.

Project Overview:Founded at the end of the 19th century, Royal Ostend Golf Club in Belgium is undertaking a programme to return the course to its traditional links roots. However, the Belgian government ecology programme in coastal areas restricts the use of fertilisers and pesticides, the consumption of resources and includes a host of measures to preserve the natural environment.

Having previously worked with EcoBunker on a 30 bunker project in Ireland, Head Greenkeeper Iain Wakeman understood the long term environmental and cost benefits of introducing synthetic bunker technology. Royal Ostend had previously started a programme of work with EcoBunker, so when Iain arrived he invited the team to progress plans to re-build the course bunkers in a manner that fitted with the area’s ecological needs.

“Royal Ostend is a fantastic club with very high standards so it’s important that we have professional people on site who understand golf and can work with the natural environment. The team from EcoBunker were incredibly professional, not only in their approach to the work, but also in understanding how the bunkers flow with the land and making small changes to the shaping where it was needed. We’ve had 14 bunkers completed and I look forward to having the team back as we head towards our goal of a traditional links and a full complement of beautifully revetted bunkers.”