This document outlines various pieces of legislation issued by the EU and national governments that relate to golf course development and management. It provides details on legislation around environmental impact assessments, water use, pesticide use, waste management, energy efficiency, and noise pollution. The legislation aims to improve environmental protection and sustainable development while providing a clear regulatory framework for golf facility owners and operators to follow. Collaboration between governments and golf industry organizations is emphasized to support effective implementation and monitoring of compliance.

1. object Legislation
Which authority
issued legislation
Year of
introduction
Who is responsible?
Government/FPG
Collaboration
Risk Obs.
The Environmental Impact
Assessment Directive
EU /National
Minister of Environment,
Spatial Planning and
Energy
1990/2000/2013
Owners/public and
private golf facilities
(projects)
The owner must have an
environmental
management system in
place and comply with
the environmental
permit;
Regional and local
authorities can verify at
any time.
Handbook on Best
Management
Practices (BMPs)
for the design,
construction and
operation of golf
courses, 2009
Medium
To follow up at
regional and
national level
The newly amended
Environmental Impact
Assessment (EIA) Directive
(2014/52/EU) entered into
force on 15 May 2014 to
simplify the rules for
assessing the potential
effects of projects on the
environment.
It improves the level of
environmental protection,
with a view to making
business decisions on public
and private investments
more sound, more
predictable and sustainable
in the longer term.
Member States shall bring
into force the laws,
regulations and
administrative provisions
necessary to comply with
this Directive by 16 May
2017.
The legal framework
governing public access
Sport Facilities (construction
permit and sports activity
use authorization)
National/Local
Ministry of Youth and
Sports/local authorities
1999/Municipal
Master Plans,
Urban
Development Plans
and Detail Plans
Owners/public and
private projects
Handbook on
planning public golf
course facilities,
2002
Low
FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES
FROM THE EU - Revitalization
and regeneration of
degraded urban environment

2. Effective collaboration between Government & Federation
Handbook on Environmental
Best Practices for Golf
Development in Portugal ,
2009.
Efficient use of water in the urban
sector: identification of
opportunities and measures at
water utilities, 2006
Handbook on planning public
golf course facilities, 2002

3. object Legislation
Which
authority
issued
legislation
Year of
introduction
Who is responsible?
Government/FPG
Collaboration
Risk Obs.
EU Water Framework Directive EU /National
Ministry of
Environment
and Regional
Development
2005
Owners/public and private
projects;
Owners are requested to
register boreholes with
the Water Regional
Authority as there may
well be restrictions;
The owner must have a
monitoring programme in
place but regional and
local authorities can
conduct their own
monitoring if desired;
The owner must send the
results to the local
authority and audit
inspections are conducted.
Guidelines on efficient
use of water in the
urban sector:
identification of
opportunities
and measures at water
utilities, 2006
High
To follow up at EU level
Possible EU-level
instruments that will be
drafted for adoption by the
Commission:
1. Legally-binding EU
standards on water reuse
2. Information,
communication and
knowledge enhancement
measures to improve water
efficiency
Consultation on policy
options to optimise water
reuse in the EU (Feb
2015) :
The most supported uses
among the respondents
(selected by at least 60%
of respondents) are those
in which
reclaimed water is not in
direct contact with people
(irrigation of non-food
crops, irrigation of golf
courses, etc.)
Optimizing water reuse in
the EU – Final report,
prepared for the EU
commission (March 2015)
The EU
Framework Directive on Sustainable
Use of Pesticides
EU /National
Ministry of
Agriculture,
Rural
Development
and Fisheries
- Veterinary
and Food
Department
2013 Greenkeepers and Owners
working group:
FPG/owners
association/
greenkeepers
association
High
To follow up at regional and
national level:
Product homologation
-

4. object Legislation
Which authority
issued legislation
Year of
introduction
Who is responsible?
Government/FPG
Collaboration
Risk Obs.
The EU Waste Framework
Directive
EU /National
Ministry of
Environment and
Regional
Development
2006/2008/2011
Owners/public and
private projects
Low
to follow up at national level
The 2012 Energy Efficiency
Directive and
Renewable Energy Directive
(2009/28/EC)
EU /National
Minister of
Environment, Spatial
Planning and Energy
May 2015 (?)
Owners/public and
private projects
Low
to follow up at national level
The Environmental Noise Directive EU /National
Minister of
Environment, Spatial
Planning and Energy
2006/2007
Owners/public and
private projects
Low