The Real Club de Golf El Prat, host venue for the Estrella Damm Catalunya Championship, a DP World Tour event to be held from May 7-10, is a prime example of how a golf club can act as a catalyst for improving local biodiversity and generating a positive impact from an environmental, social and economic perspective.
The origins of this management model date back to the 1990s, when the expansion of Barcelona Airport forced the Real Club de Golf El Prat to relocate. The construction of the new facilities at Finca Bonvilar, in an ecological corridor between two nature reserves, posed a huge challenge due to the project’s environmental requirements. This necessity gave rise to a management model closely linked to sustainability which, over the years, has become a benchmark for the golf sector.
The requirements faced by the Club were aimed at restoring the native Mediterranean landscape, enhancing the biodiversity of the surrounding area and ensuring that only reclaimed water was used for irrigation.
To restore the estate’s original landscape, which had been damaged by the encroachment of species such as the white pine, the Real Club de Golf El Prat planted 8,000 holm oaks and 1,500 common oaks, as well as various types of shrubs. It also set aside 20 hectares for growing cereals, which provide food for birds and other animals that live in or pass through this natural area.
As a result, now there are 25 hectares of woodland and a significant increase in animal species such as the song thrush, the long-tailed tit, the treecreeper and the blackcap among the birds, as well as the squirrel, the fox, the wild boar and the Mediterranean mole among the mammals.
For Ariana Martín, General Manager of the Real Club de Golf El Prat, “environmental requirements are not a burden, but an opportunity to grow in a responsible and competitive manner. Our members and customers greatly appreciate our commitment to sustainability, which has become yet another reason for them to come and enjoy our facilities and events”.
Water management is one of the cornerstones of the Real Club de Golf El Prat’s environmental commitment; the club uses only reclaimed water for irrigation. The club has built a treatment module at the Terrassa–Les Fonts wastewater treatment plant (WWTP), some 8 kilometres away, where it carries out tertiary treatment that allows the water, which was previously discharged into the sea, to be reused.
In addition, the Club has a treatment plant on its own premises where it recycles all the water used in the clubhouse, which is also used for irrigation.
As José Gómez, Head Greenkeeper at the Real Club de Golf El Prat, explains, “this regeneration process is costly, but it provides us with nutrient-rich, high-quality water for the course. Of the estate’s more than 200 hectares, we only irrigate 63, and our aim is to reduce consumption as much as possible. To optimise water use, we have installed a new irrigation system, Lynx, which has enabled us to save 20%. Furthermore, we have a weather station and use portable sensors that measure soil moisture, allowing us to fine-tune irrigation requirements.”
Alongside water, energy is another key resource when it comes to designing a sustainable management plan. In recent years, the Club has installed 600 solar panels with the aim of reducing CO₂ emissions and improving energy efficiency.
All these practices were recognised in 2022 with the Biosphere certification, which the Club renews annually. Biosphere is an international label that accredits organisations that meet the criteria and requirements of the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
The Real Club de Golf El Prat commitment to making a positive impact on the local area is reflected in the 360 Sustainability Programme, which combines environmental initiatives with a range of social and economic activities. As Ariana Martín explains, “we have a public golf course, El Vallés Golf, which runs a school where many children are introduced to the sport and learn its values. We have also built paths that run around the entire estate and are open to anyone who wants to enjoy a walk or a bike ride.”
In his view, “the golf industry is very conscious of sustainability because it is a sport deeply rooted in nature, and hosting a major event such as the Estrella Damm Catalunya Championship gives us the opportunity to showcase this commitment”.
Tickets for the Estrella Damm Catalunya Championship (with a 25% discount for federation members, 50% off for young people aged 13 to 17, and free entry for children under 13) can be purchased here.
The Estrella Damm Catalunya Championship, a DP World Tour tournament included in the Race to Dubai as the first event of the European Swing, is held thanks to the essential collaboration of the Real Club de Golf El Prat. It is sponsored by Estrella Damm and will kick off the Road to 2031 Ryder Cup, a journey that will end at the 2031 Ryder Cup to be held at Camiral.
