Thorpeness Hotel and Golf Club can claim to be the greenest in Britain after earning the 'Overall Environmental Achievement Award' at the prestigious STRI Golf Environment Awards.
The Suffolk Club, located on a site of Special Scientific Interest, was handed the accolade by the Sports Turf Research Institute, a leading industry expert in the preparation and maintenance of sports pitches.
"This award is beyond all our expectations," said Ian Willett, course manager at Thorpeness.
"We are privileged to work in an area of outstanding natural beauty and to help conserve a rich habitat for a variety of flora, fauna, birds and wildlife.
"We take our environmental responsibilities extremely seriously and work hard to ensure our golf course remains a haven for wildlife."
In 2011, Thorpeness won the regional environmental award for Southern England, and just a week ago, Willett earned a Gold Award from the Suffolk Carbon Charter for carbon reduction.
Thorpeness also won the overall award in 2003 and 2004 - then run by the British and International Golf Green Keepers' Association.
The awards also honoured other golf clubs and individuals throughout the UK who dedicate time and energy into preserving the natural environment.
The 2012 Conservation Greenkeeper of the Year accolade went to North Foreland Golf Club's Dan McGrath.
Lee Park, Hankley Common, Dundonald Links and Aberdovey scooped the Northern Region, Southern Region, Scotland and Wales awards respectively.
John O'Gaunt Golf Club was honoured for nature conservation, Fairhaven for waste management, The Roehampton Club for water management and Royal Aberdeen for turfgrass management.
Justin Rose, an ambassador for the Golf Environment Awards, hosted the presentation evening.
"It's great that these awards are helping to promote and highlight the work that many golf clubs are performing to improve the environment and support a positive future for golf within the UK," he said.
The awards were supported by Country Turf, Ransomes Jacobsen, Everris, Syngenta and BIGGA - along with media sponsors Golf Monthly and Greenkeeping.
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