RESERVOIR CONSTRUCTION PAVES WAY FOR GREENER FUTURE AT HAREWOOD DOWNS
Harewood Downs Golf Club is preparing to install a trio of water storage reservoirs on its grounds in a major step towards taking even greater environmental responsibility.
The plans, which were approved by Buckinghamshire Council this spring, with construction scheduled to start in April 2026, will see drainage water from around the venue collected in the reservoirs before being recycled and used to maintain the course’s greens, tees, approaches and eventually fairways.
Located between the course’s second and ninth holes, adjacent to the newly renovated clubhouse, the reservoirs will be capable of storing 19,500m³ of water on site.
Water consumption is one of the biggest environmental challenges facing the world of golf, with billions of litres used on courses every day across the world. As the industry increasingly shifts towards more eco-friendly methods, more and more clubs are turning to recycled water as a solution.
Harewood Downs has now joined that growing list, and when the reservoirs are complete, the club hopes it won’t have to draw water from the mains in order to keep its course in pristine condition.
Matt Mayfield, general manager at Harewood Downs Golf Club, said: “As a golf club and as a business, we have a responsibility to do everything in our power to preserve and protect the environment, and one of the biggest areas any golf club should look at to do so is their water consumption.
“Investing in building these reservoirs is a huge step for us, but it will result in a major reduction in our resource usage and carbon footprint. We’re excited to make the switch to recycled water and play our part in this crucial moment for the industry.”
With panoramic views of the Misbourne Valley and Chiltern Hills, Harewood Downs’ course can be played to a par of 69 or 72 to suit players of all ability levels. The likes of Justin Rose and six-time Open Championship winner Harry Vardon are among those to play at Harewood Downs across the venue’s 117-year history.