Sport England - Movement Fund has provided £15,000 of match funding
Help Waterlooville Golf Club Go Solar
Waterlooville, Hampshire, United Kingdom
Aim
We're going solar! Help Waterlooville Golf Club cut carbon, save costs, and power a greener golfing future with rooftop solar panels.
Who are we?
Waterlooville Golf Club is a friendly, welcoming club nestled on the edge of the South Downs in Hampshire. Founded in 1907, we’re proud to offer a high-quality, all-year-round course that challenges golfers of every level. With a growing membership, an inclusive atmosphere, and a reputation as one of Hampshire’s top 20 courses, we’re more than just a place to play — we’re a community. Whether you're here for the golf, the friendships, or the post-round stories in the clubhouse, there’s a place for you at Waterlooville.
Powering a Sustainable Future for Our Club & Community
We're raising funds to install a 79kW solar panel system on the clubhouse at Waterlooville Golf Club. With your support, we can dramatically reduce our carbon footprint, cut rising energy costs, and future-proof our club, all while making golf more accessible to current and future members within the local community.
What exactly are we trying to do?
We're installing a solar system on the roof of the clubhouse that will generate over 64,000 kWh of clean electricity each year. That’s estimated to cover 54% of the clubhouse’s annual energy use and avoid 16 tons of CO₂ emissions annually, reducing the Club’s carbon footprint and costs to minimise the impact of rising energy costs on members’ subscriptions.
How are we doing it?
We've partnered with Cardinal Energy, a trusted local installer certified by MCS and NICEIC. The system includes 158 solar panels, inverters, and power optimisers to maximise efficiency and long-term savings. Planning permission is already submitted, now we just need to fund it. Sport England have awarded a grant of £15,000, but to obtain it this must be matched by raising a further £15,000 through crowdfunding activity.
Why does this project matter?
Contrary to common belief, golf courses rely on nature with fairways meandering through the local environment. Recent pressures on all industries have seen golf clubs having to adopt more sustainable practices which is something Waterlooville Golf Club is embracing. This installation is a strong step forward for the Club and will reduce environmental impact, demonstrating leadership in sustainability, and ensuring the Club’s financial health in a future of rising energy costs.
What impact will it have?
- 16 tons of CO2 avoided – equivalent to 488,617km of driving a car, 3,141 trees being planted or 350 long haul flights.
- £14,841 saved every year — funds we can reinvest in our club on other sustainability initiatives to support golf in the community
- Reduces our reliance on fossil fuels and shields the Club from utility price hikes
What makes this project unique?
We’re not just a club, we’re a championship venue recently ranked in the Top 20 Courses in Hampshire by the Golf World Top 100 panel and proud hosts of two England Golf national events in the past decade. This solar project continues our tradition of forward-thinking leadership and ensures the Club is set to thrive in the future, bringing more championship events to the local area, remain a local employer, and most importantly a social and sporting outlet for members of the local community. Founded in 1907, the Club has been in existence for 118 years, and we want to ensure it is here for another 118 years.
Why are we doing this?
Our membership has grown since the COVID pandemic — a sign of renewed energy in our community. But rising costs have forced increases in subscription fees. By cutting utility bills, we can keep golf more affordable and inclusive for everyone. More importantly, though, this project is helping reduce the Club’s carbon footprint and impact on the environment.
Where are we now?
So far we have:
- Chosen our installation partner
- Completed prior approval planning submission
- Secured a detailed proposal and installation timeline
- Opened this crowdfund with 60 days to raise the funds needed
What have we learned?
We’ve seen first-hand how operational costs can challenge even thriving clubs. Solar is not just a green solution — it's a smart investment that helps us protect both our environment and our community.
What will the money be spent on?
Every pound raised through this campaign goes toward the Solar panel equipment & installation (£67,930 incl. VAT)
We’ve negotiated competitive pricing — but the funding window is tight. Every donation counts. Your support helps the Club take a giant leap towards its ambition of becoming more sustainable.
How you can play your part
There are four simple ways to help us reach our target, and make this project a reality.
1. Make a pledge. Don’t delay if you’re going to support us because momentum is key to our success!
2. Spread the word. Share our project on your social media pages and tell the world to get behind us! The more people we reach, the more support we will get.
3. Offer rewards. Get involved if you are a local business by donating things we can offer to our supporters. We will give you a shout out!
4. Fundraise for us. If you want to run your own fundraiser – maybe a sponsored activity or similar – use the 'contact project' button at the top of our page to let us know. Setting up your own page only takes a few minutes and you won’t need any bank details. Just a fun idea!
This project successfully funded on 10th July 2025