Environmental Stewardship
Bonnie Doon Golf Club is one of Sydney’s premier golfing destinations, dedicated to maintaining an exceptional course while preserving its unique natural environment. A key part of this commitment is the protection and restoration of the critically endangered Eastern Suburbs Banksia Scrub (ESBS), a remnant ecological community that the club is responsible for maintaining under the conditions of its lease. Since 2010, the Course Masterplan has guided both the Course Enhancement Plan and environmental stewardship, ensuring a balance between strategic playability and sustainable land management.
Our dedicated staff, along with bushcare volunteers and environmental professionals, play a vital role in these efforts. Under the leadership of our course superintendent and course maintenance team, significant improvements have been made to both the course and its surrounding vegetation. Regular maintenance, weed control, and native plant regeneration projects have strengthened the vegetation areas across the course, including the ESBS habitat, while the gradual removal of non-native species has improved biodiversity. Additionally, initiatives such as introducing drought-resistant couch grass have reduced water usage, aligning with our broader sustainability goals.
Course Masterplan
The Course Masterplan at Bonnie Doon Golf Club is a long-term strategy designed to enhance both the playing experience and the environmental sustainability of the course. Developed with careful consideration for the club’s natural landscape, the plan integrates wide, linked fairways to encourage strategic shot-making, natural-looking bunkers, and improved tee areas and greens. By balancing course improvements with ecological responsibility, the Masterplan ensures that Bonnie Doon remains a premier golfing destination while upholding its commitment to environmental stewardship.
Course Enhancement Plan
Bonnie Doon Golf Club’s Course Enhancement Plan builds on the work of the Course Masterplan. It’s purpose is to continue to improve playability, sustainability, and the overall golfing experience while enhancing all vegetated areas. The first plan focuses on bunkering, improved drainage, and the integration of native vegetation to enhance both aesthetics and environmental resilience. By incorporating sustainable land management practices, the club ensures that course improvements align with ecological conservation efforts, including the protection of the Eastern Suburbs Banksia Scrub. This commitment to continuous improvement reflects Bonnie Doon’s dedication to maintaining its status as one of Sydney’s premier golfing destinations while fostering environmental stewardship.
Bushcare
Our Bushcare Group was established in 2009 to assist the golf club in the protection, restoration and enhancement of the endangered ecological community Eastern Suburbs Banksia Scrub located within the grounds of the course. The group is mostly made up of members of Bonnie Doon Golf Club (although non-members of the club are encouraged to participate) who have become passionate and dedicated to seeing the club’s natural resource assets are well managed.
Scientific research is set to uncover some of Bonnie Doon’s long-held ecological insights. Studies indicate that certain ESBS species within the club’s grounds are at risk of extinction due to fragmentation, isolation, and genetic inbreeding. In response, the Restore and Renew program aims to analyse the genomic composition and genetic flow of these native species, providing critical data to enhance biodiversity and support long-term conservation efforts.
The Restore and Renew program, led by researchers from the Royal Botanic Garden Sydney’s Research Centre for Ecosystem Resilience, in collaboration with Macquarie University, aims to enhance the conservation of the Eastern Suburbs Banksia Scrub. As part of the initiative, scientists are collecting leaf samples from various sites to analyze their genetic makeup, tracing ancestral lineages and genetic flows, much like how human heritage is studied. This research seeks to expand the range of native plants suited to local conditions, improving biodiversity and strengthening ecosystems. By addressing issues such as inbreeding and genetic isolation, the program offers hope for the long-term resilience of ESBS, ensuring its survival through more genetically diverse and adaptable plant populations.
Eastern Suburbs Banksia Scrub
Eastern Suburbs Banksia Scrub is a critically endangered ecological community unique to Sydney’s coastal region, characterised by diverse native flora such as banksias, wattles, and heathland species. The club has played a proactive role in preserving and restoring this vital ecosystem within its grounds. The club has undertaken conservation initiatives, including habitat restoration, invasive species management, and community education programs, to support the ongoing regeneration of ESBS. By integrating environmental stewardship with golf course management, Bonnie Doon is helping to safeguard this rare and significant natural heritage for future generations.
Other Vegetation
Beyond the ESBS, Bonnie Doon Golf Club features a variety of native vegetation that enhances the course’s natural character. Species such as coastal banksias, wattles and wedding bushes are interwoven throughout the landscape, providing seasonal color and supporting pollinators like bees and birds. Areas of native heathland and shrubbery contribute to soil stability and erosion control, particularly in sandy sections of the course. The club also maintains stands of native trees, which offer shade and wind protection while blending seamlessly with the coastal environment. By carefully managing these plant communities, Bonnie Doon ensures that its grounds remain both visually striking and ecologically sustainable.
