Casares, Spain, – Finca Cortesin, host venue of the 2023 Solheim Cup, has conducted a ground-breaking new environmental study that showcases the ability for golf courses to be sanctuaries for biodiversity.
The Golf & Birds study, which spanned from October 2022 to October 2023, underscores the resort’s mission to connect sport with nature, positioning it as a leader in sustainable golf tourism. Located near the Strait of Gibraltar, a vital migratory corridor between Europe and Africa, Finca Cortesin has embraced its responsibility to protect avian species that rely on the area during seasonal journeys.
Over the 12-month study, ornithologists and environmental experts conducted monthly bird censuses at 11 designated observation points across the course’s playing and non-playing areas. The comprehensive methodology included over 73 hours of daylight observation with periods varying in duration, averaging 30 minutes per day.
Results included the identification of 65 bird species with 3,807 individual sightings. Among these were 14 species with conservation status and 11 raptor species, including black kites, booted eagles, and peregrine falcons.
Black kites were the most frequently recorded species (544 individuals), followed by Sardinian warblers (442) and rock doves (356). The study also confirmed significant nocturnal activity, with sightings of Eurasian eagle owls and little owls.
Seasonal migration patterns were clearly mapped with the month of February recording the highest abundance of birds (759 individuals), followed by July as a secondary peak. The resort’s two lakes, which total 11,500 m², also played a crucial role as both irrigation reservoirs and vital habitats for various species, offering food and shelter during the birds’ arduous journeys.
“Finca Cortesin has always strived to be more than just a premier golf destination,” said Vicente Rubio, President of Finca Cortesin. “The Golf & Birds study demonstrates our deep-rooted commitment to conservation and biodiversity. It is our hope that these findings inspire the broader golf community to recognise the ecological potential of responsibly managed courses.”
Ignacio Soto, Head Greenkeeper at Finca Cortesin and the driving force behind the study, emphasised the importance of continuous environmental stewardship: “This study is just the beginning. By continually monitoring biodiversity, we can adapt our management practices to better support local and migratory species. The golf course is not just a playing field – it’s a living ecosystem.”
The study reflects Finca Cortesin’s broader environmental ethos with key practices adopted across the resort including advanced irrigation systems to conserve water, chemical-free groundskeeping practices to protect soil and water health, and maintenance of native Mediterranean flora to provide essential habitats for local and migratory species.
Additionally, the resort is committed to ongoing biodiversity monitoring and aims to collaborate closely with conservation experts to refine and enhance its sustainability strategies.
The findings of the study serve as a model for the golf industry, illustrating that courses can actively support conservation by acting as safe havens for wildlife, enhance biodiversity through native habitat protection, and reduce their environmental impact with sustainable water use and pesticide-free maintenance.
For more information on Finca Cortesin and its ongoing environmental sustainability strategy, please visit www.fincacortesin.com
To download a summary of the Golf & Birds study, please click here
About Finca Cortesin
Opened in March 2006 and set in 532 acres, Finca Cortesin is an independent luxury golf, hotel and spa destination located between Marbella and Sotogrande in Spain. Overlooking the Mediterranean to one side and the tranquil Casares Mountains to the other, Finca Cortesin was designed in the style of a traditional Spanish ‘hacienda’. The Andalusian retreat features an elegant 67-suite hotel, a highly acclaimed 18-hole golf course and a 6,000m² Beach Club.
Designed by renowned architect Cabell Robinson, the resort’s 18-hole championship golf course has played host to numerous professional golf tournaments including the Volvo World Matchplay Championship on three separate occasions and in 2020, reached even greater levels when it was awarded the rights to host one of the world’s biggest golf and sporting events in The 2023 Solheim Cup. Contested from 18-24 September 2023, Finca Cortesín welcomed the two teams led by their respective captains, Suzann Pettersen and Stacy Lewis, to compete in the biennial golf event that is revered as one of the most ferocious rivalries seen across the sport.
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