British turf consultancy STRI has announced the winners of its 2009 Golf Course Environment Awards.

The awards recognise golf courses that managed a sustainable programme supporting wildlife and the environment. Winners were chosen from applications from courses throughout the UK. 

The winning greenkeeping team comes from the St Andrews Links Trust, and has received the Overall Achievement Award. The second award went to Matt Worster, Assistant Greenkeeper at Minchinhampton Golf Club, named Conservation Greenkeeper of the Year.

For their prizes, a member of the St Andrews team and Worster will undertake a study trip to the USA, hosted by STRI. The trip will take place in next spring, and includes visits to many of America’s most famous courses including Pine Valley, National Golf Links of America and Shinnecock Hills.

STRI senior ecologist Lee Penrose said: “The entries for 2009 demonstrate the commitment golf courses have to improving our environment for years to come. The proactive attitude and long-term focus of the St Andrews Links Trust team and the attention to habitat improvement projects managed by Matt Worster are both outstanding and played a major part in our decision-making process.”

Details of the 2010 awards programme will be announced early next year.