24 June 2025 – Sustainable Agronomy staff from The R&A took part as featured speakers at the VI AECG Conference, held earlier this month in Jerez de la Frontera in Spain, which offered detailed insights into the delivery of world-class playing conditions at major championships and golf clubs worldwide.

Part of a wider push to build awareness of the Sustainable Agronomy Service in the Iberian Peninsula, The R&A team was represented by Richard Windows, Assistant Director – Sustainable Agronomy Services at The R&A, alongside Pablo Muñoz and Luis Cornejo, Senior Agronomists for Europe.

They delivered an in-depth technical presentation, educating conference attendees on championship agronomy practices, and highlighting how data-led methods are used to optimise performance while supporting long-term environmental sustainability.

Feedback from those in attendance was unanimously positive, with guests remarking on the depth of knowledge they had acquired, and the tangible improvements that they would be able to implement to the agronomy practices at their own golf facilities.

The presentation showcased The R&A’s work across key championships including The Open, the AIG Women’s Open and The Amateur Championship. Using advanced agronomic tools and expert insight, the team shared key performance indicators – green speed, firmness, trueness, soil moisture, and clipping yield – alongside real data collected from recent championships.

“Our goal at The R&A is not only to deliver exceptional playing surfaces at major championships, but also to demonstrate how golf can be a leader in sustainable golf courses and resource management,” said Richard Windows.

“Sharing our work at the VI AECG Conference allows us to connect with Spanish professionals and support broader adoption of best practice to elevate course conditioning and performance in a sustainable way at clubs across Spain and Europe.”

The session reinforced The R&A’s long-term vision: to support golf clubs and affiliated organisations in presenting high-quality, sustainable playing surfaces – ensuring that golf remains resilient and environmentally responsible for future generations.

The R&A Sustainable Agronomy Service offers tailored advice and guidance to clients for assisting with the requirements of golf course management and providing greenkeeping staff with on-going support and advice.