Oldest English golf club to BAN PLASTIC TEES to stop harming animals

Royal North Devon Golf Club becomes first ever club to eliminate plastic tees...

Andy Roberts's picture
Thu, 28 Nov 2019
Oldest English golf club to BAN PLASTIC TEES to stop harming animals

England's oldest golf course has revealed it will become the first club in the world to ban plastic tees over fears they are being eaten by local wildlife, according to a report in The Telegraph.

Royal North Devon Golf Club in Bideford announced its stance on the tee topic following a recent club committee that agreed golfers will only be able to peg up their balls on its golf course using wooden tees. 

"Plastic tees are more likely to harm the birds and animals we share our wonderful course with," claims a statement from Royal North Devon Golf Club.

Wooden tees will come into effect at Royal North Devon Golf Club from January 1, 2020. 

The club's pro shop will only sell wooden tees and there will also be extra "tee bins" provided on the course. 

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"The Committee have agreed that from January 1, plastic tees will not be allowe on the golf course," read the club's statement.

"We have all seen golf tees lying around the course, both wooden and plastic. 

"The greenkeepers will tell you that they can do a great deal more harm to their equipment than a wooden tee.

"So from the start of the new decade we would like all golfers to only use wooden tees and the Pro Shop will only supply wooden tees.

"If you see a plastic tee (or a wooden one for that matter) that has been discarded, please place it in one of the tee bins provided. There will soon be more of these for the other tee areas.

"Look after our environment and hopefully it will be there for many years to come."

Golfers have typically preferred to use plastic tees because they are less likely to break. 

According to the club's website, Royal North Devon Golf Club was founded in 1864 and claims to be the oldest golf course in the country. 

The golf club considered by many as the 'St Andrews of the South' and it was recently placed among the Top 100 Courses in the World.

For more information about Royal North Devon Golf Club, please visit the club's website here.