Castletown Golf Links is situated on the Langness Peninsula at the South-Eastern tip of the Isle of Man.
The Golf Links were created in 1892 by Old Tom Morris of St. Andrews, Scotland, widely known as the founding father of the way golf is played today. The layout of holes encompasses the narrow sand spur linking the main Island to Langness Peninsula and the rugged clifftop coastline creating a great variety of holes and challenges for the golfer.
Advancement in technology allows us to spray low impact wetting agents onto the maintained parts of the course permitting more effective uptake of moisture into the managed root zone and therefore less requirement on other chemical inputs and irrigation systems. Working around natural rainfall plus careful selection (and nurturing) of grasses to work with our natural ecosystem form the foundation of our greenkeeping maintenance processes.
Furthermore, the team focus on achieving a balance between regularly maintained areas, using low impact treatments, and rugged surrounding areas where nature is allowed to take its course with minimal disturbance. This environment mix, with the ever-present sea and views as far as the eye can see as a back drop, form a spectacular environment in which to enjoy golf. Castletown Golf Links recently being recognised as the 8th most spectacular golf course in the British Isles by National Club Golfer magazine.
We regularly interact with the Department of Environment, Forestry & Agriculture (DEFA) to discuss activity on the golf course and how best we can promote a productive environment for local bird, animal, and plant life. In 2015 we embarked on a project to re-route our classic 18th hole to better take advantage of the surrounding topography plus views of the ancient ruins on St. Michael’s Isle. The work, carried out in consultation with DEFA and Manx National Heritage was completed by creating a newly protected offset site further along the coastline. The vegetation on this site was determined as having an excellent basis to help promote an increased population of the Lesser Mottled Grasshopper, Langness being the only site in the British Isles where this species remains in situ. A local rare-breed sheep farmer has become part of the project with a dual benefit of providing a great landscape for his sheep to graze in the winter months whilst keeping the vegetation lower for the grasshoppers.
In 2018 we initiated a new project to help engage both our local community and visitors to Langness in better understanding the great history and vast array of wildlife present with the goal of encouraging more people to enjoy and respect the area. As part of this we are working with Manx Bird Life to establish a bird hide that can be used for educational and tourism activities whilst removing incentive for avid watchers and dog walkers to get too close to nesting birds. Additionally plans are being put in place to clean the historic “Smelt” building close to the Derbyhaven Bay and 6th hole of the golf course to allow a picnic site for families and space to inform visitors about the many historic activities understood to have taken place around this area.
Through our marketing activities, we greatly look forward to promoting our UNESCO Biosphere status and Langness Peninsula.
The Golf Links were created in 1892 by Old Tom Morris of St. Andrews, Scotland, widely known as the founding father of the way golf is played today. The layout of holes encompasses the narrow sand spur linking the main Island to Langness Peninsula and the rugged clifftop coastline creating a great variety of holes and challenges for the golfer.
Advancement in technology allows us to spray low impact wetting agents onto the maintained parts of the course permitting more effective uptake of moisture into the managed root zone and therefore less requirement on other chemical inputs and irrigation systems. Working around natural rainfall plus careful selection (and nurturing) of grasses to work with our natural ecosystem form the foundation of our greenkeeping maintenance processes.
Furthermore, the team focus on achieving a balance between regularly maintained areas, using low impact treatments, and rugged surrounding areas where nature is allowed to take its course with minimal disturbance. This environment mix, with the ever-present sea and views as far as the eye can see as a back drop, form a spectacular environment in which to enjoy golf. Castletown Golf Links recently being recognised as the 8th most spectacular golf course in the British Isles by National Club Golfer magazine.
We regularly interact with the Department of Environment, Forestry & Agriculture (DEFA) to discuss activity on the golf course and how best we can promote a productive environment for local bird, animal, and plant life. In 2015 we embarked on a project to re-route our classic 18th hole to better take advantage of the surrounding topography plus views of the ancient ruins on St. Michael’s Isle. The work, carried out in consultation with DEFA and Manx National Heritage was completed by creating a newly protected offset site further along the coastline. The vegetation on this site was determined as having an excellent basis to help promote an increased population of the Lesser Mottled Grasshopper, Langness being the only site in the British Isles where this species remains in situ. A local rare-breed sheep farmer has become part of the project with a dual benefit of providing a great landscape for his sheep to graze in the winter months whilst keeping the vegetation lower for the grasshoppers.
In 2018 we initiated a new project to help engage both our local community and visitors to Langness in better understanding the great history and vast array of wildlife present with the goal of encouraging more people to enjoy and respect the area. As part of this we are working with Manx Bird Life to establish a bird hide that can be used for educational and tourism activities whilst removing incentive for avid watchers and dog walkers to get too close to nesting birds. Additionally plans are being put in place to clean the historic “Smelt” building close to the Derbyhaven Bay and 6th hole of the golf course to allow a picnic site for families and space to inform visitors about the many historic activities understood to have taken place around this area.
Through our marketing activities, we greatly look forward to promoting our UNESCO Biosphere status and Langness Peninsula.
