Ōhope Beach Golf Links go greener with grant from Trust Horizon
James Rawsthorne with the new electric roller & UV
The greens at Ōhope Beach Golf Links just got even greener, thanks to a brand new suite of electric grounds maintenance equipment, made possible with a $90,650 grant from Trust Horizon.
Until recently, the Club’s 18 holes were kept in shape by machinery that had seen years of wear and tear. The tools needed frequent maintenance and ran largely on fossil fuels. In contrast, the new equipment is entirely electric or battery-operated, making the upgrade a significant step towards renewable resources.
Ōhope Beach Golf Links sees over 8,000 visitor rounds a year. To keep these and more coming, a well-maintained course is key. “We’re a small club, so we rely heavily on visitors,” says Board Chair, Christopher Vaughan. “Our out-of-the-way location means we have to attract people through the quality of the experience, and the upkeep of the greens is crucial to that.”
Feedback from the Club’s greenkeepers – the team responsible for this upkeep – has been positive. “The Tru-Turf electric greens roller is the first fully electric roller in the Eastern Bay,” says Ōhope Beach Golf Links Head Greenkeeper, James Rawsthorne. “It’s helping us produce higher quality, smoother rolling greens, without the noise and emissions of a petrol engine.”
Along with the roller, the Club has also acquired a new electric utility vehicle for the course, and several electric powered hand tools. “These will reduce our maintenance time on those machines and improve the conditions we work in, not breathing in the engine fumes,” says Rawsthorne. “We hope in the future to showcase this new equipment to other local clubs and leading figures in the industry.”
While the greenkeepers are saving time, the Club is also looking forward to saving costs. “We’re not a large club, so we need to be particularly cost-conscious,” explains Vaughan. “We hope this new equipment will bring significant fuel and maintenance cost savings over time.”
As a long-time supporter of the Eastern Bay community’s transition to a low-emissions future, Trust Horizon was pleased to extend this support to Ōhope Beach Golf Links. “The Links course has been largely built and maintained by volunteer members and has become an important asset both for local and visiting golfers, with non-golfers also welcomed to visit the club house café and enjoy the special surroundings,” says Trust Horizon Deputy Chair, David Bulley. “This shift away from fossil fuels is a great step towards the Club’s sustainability, by reducing emissions and improving air quality.”
Trust Horizon was able to approve the $90,650 grant soon after Ōhope Beach Golf Links’ March application. This meant the new equipment arrived in time for a major milestone; 50 years since the Club officially opened its doors on April 13th, 1975.
As for the next 50 years, the Club is already teeing up plans for a more sustainable future. “We aim to install solar panels to charge our electric golf carts, and hope to invest in an electric tractor once they’re on the market,” says Vaughan. “We’re incredibly appreciative of what Trust Horizon does for the community, and for not-for-profit Eastern Bay organisations like us.”
If you would like to apply for funding from Trust Horizon, look at our funding page here for more information.