Film explores golf’s relationship with wildlife

Where there are golf courses, there is always nature in abundance. But have you ever wondered what effect your local course has on wildlife?

For his final year masters project, aspiring wildlife filmmaker Bertie Allison has made ‘Making Birdies’, a ten-minute film which explores the tumultuous relationship between wildlife and golf and how it has developed over time.

“Golf courses can be some of the most valuable spaces for the environment and our beloved species”

Filmed primarily at Blairgowrie GC, which limits the amount of pesticides it uses on its two courses to allow wildlife to flourish, ‘Making Birdies’ looks initially at the negative effect the amount of courses has had on nature, before heading to Perthshire to see how the team at Blairgowrie has adapted and embraced species from the endangered red squirrel, to deer, to hedgehogs.

There, he finds that ‘when managed well, golf courses can be some of the most valuable spaces for the environment and our beloved species’. St Andrews and Gleneagles have followed suit in recent times in terms of improving their relationship with nature.

If you have ten minutes, we recommend you check the film out below.

To see more of Bertie Allison’s work, visit www.bertieallisonwildlife.co.uk.

Making Birdies :: Share your thoughts

What did you think of Making Birdies, and is your course proactive in terms of helping wildlife? Leave your thoughts in the ‘Comments’ section below.