Golf meets nature

The R&A has reinforced its commitment to showcasing the intrinsic connection between golf and nature after a BioBlitz event at Royal Lytham & St Annes recorded 333 species ahead of this summer’s AIG Women’s Open.

Held on last month, the third annual BioBlitz brought together local wildlife experts, community groups, nature enthusiasts and golf course staff to identify and record the diverse range of species found across one of the world's most renowned links courses.

The event forms part of The R&A’s wider work to highlight the important role golf courses can play in supporting biodiversity and creating spaces where both people and nature can thrive.

The BioBlitz was made possible through a generous donation to The R&A Foundation in memory of former Championships colleague Helen Goodman, whose passion for nature and sustainability continues to inspire initiatives that showcase the positive impact of golf on the environment.

Royal Lytham & St Annes will welcome the world’s best players for the AIG Women’s Open from 29 July to 2 August, providing a global platform to demonstrate how championship venues can deliver outstanding sporting experiences while also supporting wildlife and natural habitats.

Daniel Lightfoot, Director of Sustainable Golf at The R&A, said, "Golf and nature go hand in hand. While golf courses are designed to challenge and inspire players, they also provide important habitats for a wide range of wildlife. The BioBlitz helps us uncover and celebrate that biodiversity, bringing together local experts, communities and golf clubs to better understand the species that call these landscapes home.

"As we continue to open golf to the world, it is important that people understand the positive role golf courses can play in supporting nature. Events like the BioBlitz help tell that story and demonstrate how golf can create spaces where both people and wildlife can thrive."

Participants took part in a series of activities including a bat walk, bird walk, moth recording session and beekeeping demonstration, helping to identify hundreds of species across the championship venue.

Among the notable discoveries were a hedgehog, a Puss Moth, a Smaller European Elm Bark Beetle, a range of gorse-associated invertebrates and Greenfinch, a red-listed bird species.

The findings from the BioBlitz will also help shape fan engagement activities during the AIG Women's Open, where spectators will be invited to discover more about the wildlife found on the course through a dedicated Nature Trail and the ‘Giving Nature a Home’ activation delivered in partnership with Lancashire Wildlife Trust.

The activation will include activities focused on red squirrel conservation, giving families the opportunity to learn more about the species and decorate feeders that will later be used for monitoring purposes.

Lightfoot added, "The AIG Women’s Open gives us an opportunity to showcase the connection between golf and nature on one of the sport’s biggest stages. Through the Nature Trail and our ‘Giving Nature a Home’ activation, fans will be able to discover some of the species identified during the BioBlitz and learn more about the wildlife that exists beyond the fairways.

"Championships provide a powerful platform to engage new audiences and demonstrate that golf courses are much more than playing surfaces. They are landscapes that can support biodiversity, connect communities with nature and inspire positive action."

To build on the success of the annual BioBlitz programme, The R&A has also launched a new online BioBlitz Toolkit to help golf clubs around the world organise and deliver their own biodiversity monitoring events.

The free resource provides practical guidance, case studies, templates and reporting tools, enabling clubs of all sizes to better understand and communicate the biodiversity value of their golf courses.

The toolkit reflects The R&A’s ambition to show leadership in sustainable golf and encourage more facilities to recognise, record and enhance the wildlife habitats within their courses.

Following the success of the events at Carnoustie Golf Links, Lindrick Golf Club and Royal Lytham & St Annes, future BioBlitz events will be hosted at AIG Women’s Open venues, further strengthening the Championship’s role in celebrating the relationship between golf and nature.