Syngenta Golf has unveiled The Green Report, a new documentary series highlighting environmental stewardship practices at premier golf facilities worldwide. The inaugural episode focuses on Bethpage State Park in New York, which hosted this year’s Ryder Cup.
Bethpage Black: A Model for Urban Conservation
The three-part opening feature follows Director of Agronomy Andrew Wilson and his team as they demonstrate how golf courses serve as vital urban ecosystems. Key highlights include:
Wildlife Conservation in Action The course provides protected habitat where red-tailed hawks and great horned owls successfully raise their young, proving that well-managed golf facilities can support native wildlife populations.
Educational Outreach Bethpage’s Nature Discovery Garden serves as an outdoor classroom where local school children engage with plant and animal life, fostering environmental awareness in the next generation.
Community Engagement The facility actively works to reshape public perception by demonstrating golf’s positive environmental impact and engaging with local communities on sustainability initiatives.
Addressing Industry Challenges
The series emerges from Syngenta’s comprehensive Golf & Social Media study, which analyzed over 16 million online posts, blogs, and comments. The research identified persistent negative perceptions surrounding golf’s environmental impact, particularly regarding water usage, land development, and ecological effects.
Mark Birchmore, Global Head of Marketing for Turf & Landscape at Syngenta and Executive Member of the Asian Golf Industry Federation, explained the motivation behind the series:
“Our research confirms that golf faces significant environmental criticism, yet the reality is that golf courses provide essential green infrastructure in increasingly urbanised landscapes. Course superintendents and greenkeepers are dedicated environmental stewards whose work deserves recognition.”
The Green Report features unscripted conversations with course managers, sustainability experts, and environmental professionals, offering authentic perspectives on both the challenges and achievements in sustainable course management.
The series aims to:
- Educate industry professionals about best practices
- Inspire proactive sustainability measures
- Encourage community dialogue and engagement
- Counter misconceptions about golf’s environmental impact
All episodes are available free to golf industry professionals and stakeholders on YouTube, ensuring broad accessibility across the global golf community.
