Hosting honey bee hives on golf courses provides bees with valuable green space, especially in urban areas, and can be a positive public-relations tool. If embarking on this effort, consider:
- Partnering with an experienced local beekeeper. Proper beekeeping is time- and knowledge-intensive. A list of beekeeper organizations in New York is available at https://www.agriculture.ny.gov/PI/Beekeeping_Club_Contacts.pdf. If not partnering with an experienced beekeeper, superintendents or other responsible staff should attend a beekeeping course.
- Ensuring that enough food sources are available for both honey bees and wild pollinator species.
- Placing hives away from areas where golf course workers or golfers are active to avoid stings.
- Facing the hive exit in a direction away from in-play areas of the course.
- Educating golfers via explanatory signs, newsletters, and sales of honey and other bee products.
- Calling in an experienced beekeeper if disease or parasites are suspected in order to identify and mitigate any health issues.
For more information on how managed hives have been integrated at a golf course and related communications with club members, see Part 3 of the video case study at Rockville Links Club.
