A climate risk register for golf
A study of 24 climate risks and opportunities for golf, explaining how each could affect course operations and how its cost could be assessed.
Connecting climate hazards to course operations
The study examined how climate hazards could affect golf course operations and costs, using a risk register developed for the sector.
The register considered links between climate conditions and course management, including growing seasons, turf maintenance, pests and water requirements.
The R&A commissioned that groundwork: a register of the risks and opportunities facing the sport, built so individual courses could later be assessed against it.
risks and opportunities, across eight categories
Connecting climate risks to course costs
RedLines combined desk research across the global literature with region-specific evidence. The research included input from regional experts and course managers.
Each entry explains how a hazard could affect the course, how to estimate the cost and what data the operator would need to provide. Examples include heat damage to turf, additional irrigation during dry periods and salt remediation after a storm surge. Costs are grouped into low, medium and high bands.
The register also included opportunities such as wind turbines, solar and water storage.
A basis for assessing individual courses
The register distinguishes risks to the course from risks to hospitality, reflecting their different effects on revenue and management responsibilities. It provides a basis for assessing individual courses against risks defined for golf.
- 24 risks and opportunities across eight categories, from turfgrass to regulation
- Each with an explanation of the operational impact, a costing method and the data required
- Input from regional experts and course managers
- Structured to feed course-level assessment as a follow-on
Understand the risks specific to your sector
Talk to us about the activities and climate risks you need to assess.