'Gold is the new green'

Rejuvenation and sustainability at Waregem Golf

In the green zone of Waregem, where golf courses and natural beauty merge, we find Waregem Golf, under the inspiring leadership of Frank Salembier. As general manager, Salembier has played a key role in the development and success of this prestigious but accessible club.

Under Salembier's leadership, Waregem Golf has experienced significant growth and development. His strategic vision included modernizing facilities, improving the golf course, and creating a welcoming atmosphere that attracts both experienced golfers and newcomers. Salembier believes strongly in making golf accessible to a wider audience and has implemented initiatives to introduce youngsters and beginners to the sport.

Navigating complex golf course management

Frank Salembier: "I did not begin my career in golf directly on the green, but my passion and dedication to the sport were very clear from the age of six. My background in business management and my love of golf proved to be the perfect combination for my role as general manager 11 years ago. I was asked to chart a more modern vision for the future of this beautiful club, and to attract new, younger players. But also to guide the greenkeepers. Because the legislation in our industry gets more complex almost every year."

"Of course, the days when greenkeepers jumped on the grass machine every morning and didn't have to worry too much about administration are long gone," Salembier continues. "Now there are all kinds of lists that have to be kept up. The knowledge of our experienced greenkeepers is obviously very great, but I now do the planning and administration with them and make sure we are in order with everything. Think especially about environmental legislation, phyto licenses and water management."

Sophisticated water strategy

"We are obviously working very hard with Golf Flanders for this. They conduct the negotiations with the Flemish Environment Agency and constantly advise us on what is and is not allowed. Especially water management is a tough challenge. Especially for us, because the amount of water you are allowed to use on an annual basis is strongly regional. Waregem is an old textile region, so groundwater is present in smaller quantities. We are only allowed to use 15,000 m³ of water per year. At other golf clubs that can be a multiple. So we have to be much more inventive and targeted with our water. We only water the 'sensitive' areas, such as the tee-off areas, greens and front greens. The rest can remain red. Gold is the new green. Because if you look at the United Kingdom - not exactly amateurs when it comes to sports field maintenance - you see major golf matches being played there on grass that is anything but green. Sometimes even sheep graze on it!"

Key role for agronomist

"To give us additional assistance, we also work with an agronomist, an external consultant who performs soil analysis at regular intervals. After all, we need to know at all times how much nitrogen, magnesium, sodium... is present in the soil and grass. Together with that expert, we then draw up an IPM (integrated crop protection). That is an annual plan based on soil samples. Of course, we can adjust that if it's an exceptionally wet or dry summer, but then you have a solid guideline for the sustainable use of crop protection products. In which the existing ecosystem is disturbed as little as possible, and natural pest control is 'the way to go,'" concludes Frank Salembier.