Meant to bee: West Beach Parks Golf welcome new residents

A South Australian golf course is set to become a new hive of activity, just in time for World Bee Day. Find out which one.

West Beach Parks Golf is abuzz with excitement as they welcome six beehives to the renowned Patawalonga Golf Course, just in time for World Bee Day.

The new residents are set to protect and promote local biodiversity – with the installation being a further step in the park’s execution of their Environmental Sustainability Plan.

“The six beehives are safely situated away from the short grass of the greens to ensure our busy bees are foraging and pollinating the 7,000 native plants added to the golf course,” West Beach Parks chief executive Kate Anderson said.

Beekeeper Jorg Pangerl at the 18th hole with golfers Moira Dawson (L) and Nell Williams. Picture: Dean Martin.

Beekeepers, Jorg and Sabine Pangerl from Adelaide Bee Sanctuary are overseeing the hives that are home to about 50,000 European honeybees.

It is believed this is the first time beehives have appeared on the green in South Australia with Mr Pangerl claiming the idea is the bees knees.

“Golf courses, designed with natural habitats and conservation areas that include native plants attractive to bees, can serve as valuable habitats for these pollinators,” Mr Pangerl said.

“While golfers frequent the courses, large areas of a golf course can remain relatively undisturbed, providing a peaceful environment for bees to forage.”

These un-bee-liveable additions to the course will be celebrated on Monday as part of World Bee Day.

To sweeten the deal, the West Beach Parks Golf will soon reap the benefits of their first honey harvest with lucky staff being the first in line for a taste test.