A Focus on Sustainability and Conservation of Wildlife In India At Prestige Golfshire Club

Prestige Golfshire Club in Bangalore India is spread across 275 acres of lush greenery and sits below the beautiful Nandi Hills. So it’s no surprise that this stunning facility is home to some exceptional species of birds and has a variety of wildlife visiting. With that in mind, the agronomy team, led by Javier Farran is working hard to ensure a sustainable approach where possible, but also work on conserving the habitat in and around the golf course allowing the wildlife to continue to flourish.

Oriental White Eye

The sustainable approach from the team has seen them reduce the use of pesticides where possible; insecticides are used on only 4 of 70 acres and they rely on compost-tea using earthworms, whilst they have reduced their use of pesticides by 80%. Optimising the use of water on the course has been important also; the golf course is home to 16 lakes that store rainwater. But a full water savings plan is also in effect at the facility which has them making some simple swaps to reduce water consumption. They use a hand watering approach rather than sprinklers and the sprinklers that they do use run half-circle, assisting to reduce the amount of irrigated grass by 2 hectares whilst implementing zero irrigation on the native landscaping around the course.

On a visit to Prestige Golfshire Club, you could be lucky enough to experience a range of wildlife including different species of snakes, monkeys, fish, and over 30 protected bee hives now calling the course their home. This is in addition to over 125 bird species! Thanks to the golf course’s strategic location and abundance of lakes, local and migratory birds such as Pelicans, Hawks, Wagtails, Warblers, Larks, and Bee Eaters are regular visitors.

“Our unique location under the Nandi Hills and the way we cultivate the local habitat makes us the perfect environment for wildlife to flourish,” said Javier Farran, Golf Course Superintendent at Prestige Golfshire Club. “The local residents and members really care about the local environment and this approach combined with our agronomic practices mean we can really look after the course and the wildlife.”

Commenting on the efforts of the agronomy team at the facility, Troon International Division’s Vice President of Construction and Agronomy said: “The team at Prestige Golfshire Club focus their sustainable efforts for the great good of the golf course all the time reaping the benefits for the habitat of the regional and migratory wildlife.  Bangalore is known as the “Garden City of India” and with the year-round pleasant climate Prestige Golfshire Club golf course continues to improve and enhance the turf and landscape through tried and true agronomic practices that focus on care for the environment and wildlife. “

When asked about the diversity of wildlife at a Prestige Golfshire Club and what excites her about the work the facility team is doing, Troon’s Manager of Environmental Science, Brianne Kenny commented: “When you look at a landscape view of Prestige Golfshire Club you can see that it provides habitat diversity in a region dominated by agriculture. Therefore, the property can act as a preserve, but also as a connector to the larger habitat areas such as Nandi Hills, the Kormangala State Forest, and nearby lakes. A sustainable approach to golf course management means that Javier and his team can deliver a great golfing experience while also cultivating a space that benefits the greater ecological community. The birds provide an example of how valuable this can be for wildlife. Looking at the list of observed species, I see a high diversity in diets. There are birds that eat nectar, insects, fruit, fish, seeds, mammals, aquatic vegetation, and more. Additionally, the birds range from year-round residents, seasonal visitors, and quick visitors stopping by on migration routes. There are layers to the habitat provided by Prestige Golfshire Club, which makes it possible to support such diversity. These layers develop from agronomic practices such as landscaping with native plants, monitoring water quality, and reducing insecticide use. I am excited to see how they continue applying the sustainable mindset to their management efforts.”

The next step is to gain certification for their efforts which continue to help wildlife flourish around the golf course.