The Current Use of Indigenous Trees on Irish Golf Courses

In Ireland the profile of golf has increased significantly over the last decade. Today golf course superintendents are aware of the need to manage their golf courses in an environmentally friendly manner, to improve existing habitats, plant indigenous trees to increase biodiversity and create wildlife reservoirs. Four parkland golf courses comprising two rural (Gowran Park, "K Club") and two urban/(Elm Park, and Rockmount) were selected to determine the range, selection, management and use of native Irish trees on Irish golf courses in 2005. The courses were selected on the basis of their age, location and land area. A system was developed to grade native material based on the number of insects that different trees support, thus valuing the potential of a particular tree species on its ability to increase biodiversity. Using this method, a table was developed to classify the biodiversity potential of the existing trees on each of the four golf courses. The results show that native Irish tree species such as Quercus, Salix and Betula support more than two hundred insect species while Fraxinus, Sorbus and Taxus support between ten and sixty nine. It was also found that the cultivation of native trees on Irish golf courses was low, with non-native material accounting for most of the tree species found in each of the golf courses thereby limiting the potential to enhance biodiversity. The haphazard nature of the plantings and the lack of connectivity between tree stands indicated little planning of new planting schemes. It is recommended that native trees with local provenance be planted on Irish golf courses to increase biological diversity to create an environment where land use and habitat work harmoniously.