Dunstable Downs Golf Club is, at 800ft above sea level on the Chiltern Hills, one of the highest inland courses in the UK with fantastic views over the Downs and on into Buckinghamshire, Hertfordshire, Oxfordshire and Northamptonshire beyond. It is a true downland course which in itself is fantastic for course drainage. We spoke to George Little who is Head Greenkeeper at the club, who gave us some great insight into the course and its ecology.

The main advantage of Dunstable Downs being a downland course is that fescue grass grows in abundance. This is high-quality grass that is a joy to play on. From an ecological perspective, there are now between 5 and 10 small wildflower areas spread throughout the course. These encourage not only the growth of the flowers but also attract butterflies and other wildlife. A good healthy population of buzzards and kites (of the bird variety!) can also be found flying over the course.