Pyecombe Golf Club in East Sussex has won the prestigious Syngenta Operation Pollinator Award, presented at the industry’s premier BIGGA Awards ceremony, during BTME 2026.
The coveted Operation Pollinator Awards celebrate and reward industry professionals who dedicate their time and energy to protecting and enhancing the environment.
Three other finalists at the Syngenta Operation Pollinator awards ceremony were:
- Carnoustie Golf Links, Angus
- Lewes Golf Club, Sussex
- North Hants Golf Club, Hampshire
Pyecombe Golf Club Course Manager, Simon Wells, and his team at Pyecombe Golf Club were praised for their work to restore and create habitats for pollinating insects, along with managing the environs around the course to promote natural ecology and biodiversity on the precious chalk downlands.
The club impressed the judges with its dedicated and clear passion for preserving and improving the natural environment alongside a renowned high quality golf course, documenting a large species list of wildflowers and insects.
Presenting the Operation Pollinator Award, Syngenta Business Manager, Sarah Hughes, highlighted how Pyecombe Golf Club consistently ranks in the top echelons for course quality and playing experience, while at the same time providing an extremely valuable and widely recognised ecological resource.
Always looking to learn and improve, the awards’ judges highlighted how the team have sought advice from ecologists and environmental bodies, such as the South Downs National Park, to guide their practices across the 240-acre site, encompassing amenity turf, scrub and woodland.
Over the years, Pyecombe has restored 50 acres of once mown and maintained grassland into native chalk downland wildflower meadow through a combination of scrub management, cutting and collecting, establishing Yellow Rattle, green hay method and grazing.
Simon and the team have also made good links with their local community - undertaking guided nature walks for the public, Brownies/Guides, a local photography club and hosting conservation seminars for other golf clubs to share advice.
Sarah added: “Together, the finalists involved with Operation Pollinator have created a vast network of habitats for pollinating insects and wider biodiversity in well managed habitats, alongside managing turf for golf and sport.
“Using Operation Pollinator to learn from each other’s experiences and share best practices for both habitat management and communicating with clubs and players is a huge benefit, and a great way for the industry to demonstrate the value of golf as a positive ecological resource.”
Stella Rixon, STRI Senior Turfgrass Agronomist and lead of the judging panel, advocates the Operation Pollinator Award provides a great opportunity for greenkeepers and the golf industry to showcase the immense ecological resource that has been created.
“It’s a good news story for you, your team and your club,” she adds. “When managed appropriately, golf courses can significantly enhance biodiversity, conserve rare habitats, and be a leading sector in promoting positive environmental practices.”
Stella added: “By addressing the needs of local ecosystems and communities, golf courses can provide more habitats of a larger size, which will increase connectivity, while a creating more enjoyable playing experience for golfers.”
She also pointed out the very high calibre of the course which entered the Operation Pollinator Award this year, with six other golf clubs and sports facilities within just three points of reaching the finalists and Highly Commended by the judges for their work:
- Bamburgh Castle GC, Northumberland
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- Gog Magog GC, Cambridgeshire
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- Huntercombe GC, Oxfordshire
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