Privacy Policy – Golf Fore Nature

About this Policy

Golf Fore Nature is committed to protecting the privacy of personal information we hold about individuals in accordance with applicable Australian privacy laws, including the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth) and the Australian Privacy Principles (APPs).

This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, hold, use and disclose personal information when you:

  • visit our website(s),

  • subscribe to updates or submit an enquiry,

  • participate in events, community campaigns or volunteering activities,

  • submit content, photos or stories, or

  • engage with Golf Fore Nature via citizen science platforms (where applicable).

Golf Fore Nature operates as the community brand within the broader ecosystem that also includes the CourseTrackR club platform product. CourseTrackR operates under its own privacy policy.

What is “personal information”?

“Personal information” is information about an identified individual, or an individual who is reasonably identifiable, as defined under applicable law.

What personal information we collect

The personal information we collect depends on how you engage with Golf Fore Nature. It may include:

Website enquiries and subscriptions

  • name

  • email address

  • postcode/state (if provided)

  • any information you provide in your message.

Events, campaigns and community participation

  • name and contact details

  • event registration details (e.g., club/location, attendance)

  • emergency contact details (only if relevant to an event)

  • photos or media captured during events (see “Photos and media” below).

Partnerships, sponsorships and general communications

  • contact name, role and organisation

  • business contact details

  • correspondence.

Merchandise

If Golf Fore Nature sells merchandise in the future, we may collect:

  • delivery details

  • billing contact details

  • transaction references.
    Payment processing is typically handled by third-party payment providers; we do not normally store full card details.

Citizen science and public datasets

Golf Fore Nature may promote or participate in citizen science and publicly available environmental datasets (for example, through platforms such as iNaturalist and datasets from government or other public sources).

In some cases, these sources may display public information such as:

  • contributor username/profile name

  • observation metadata (e.g., species, date/time, approximate location depending on platform settings).

Golf Fore Nature generally uses this information for community storytelling, education and awareness. Where content is sourced from third-party platforms, it remains subject to the relevant platform’s settings and terms, and we encourage users to review privacy controls on those platforms.

How we collect personal information

We collect personal information:

  • directly from you (forms, emails, registrations, messages)

  • automatically via website cookies/analytics

  • from event partners (e.g., a host club) where necessary to administer attendance

  • from publicly available sources (e.g., public observations) where relevant to Golf Fore Nature’s purpose.

Why we collect, hold and use personal information

We collect and use personal information to:

  • respond to enquiries and communicate with you

  • send newsletters and updates (where you opt in)

  • administer registrations for events and campaigns

  • coordinate community participation and partner programs

  • share stories and educational content (where appropriate)

  • improve our website and communications

  • comply with legal obligations.

Direct marketing

Where permitted, we may use your personal information to send updates about Golf Fore Nature activities, events, campaigns or partner initiatives. You can opt out at any time using the unsubscribe link (if applicable) or by contacting us.

Photos and media

Golf Fore Nature may take photos/video at events for storytelling, promotion and reporting. We will take reasonable steps to ensure this is done respectfully.

If you do not want your image used, you can notify event staff on the day or contact us afterwards and we will take reasonable steps to remove or stop using the relevant image where practicable.

Disclosure of personal information

We may disclose personal information where necessary to run Golf Fore Nature and operate our website, including to:

  • website hosting and IT providers

  • email marketing providers

  • event registration and ticketing providers

  • analytics providers

  • professional advisers (legal/accounting)

  • partner organisations where required to administer a specific event/campaign (e.g., a host venue).

We may also disclose personal information where required or permitted by law.

Overseas disclosures

Some service providers may store or process data outside Australia. Where this occurs, we take reasonable steps to ensure appropriate safeguards are in place consistent with the APPs.

Cookies and analytics

Our website may use cookies and similar technologies to:

  • operate the site

  • understand how visitors use the site

  • improve performance and content.

You can control cookies via your browser settings. Disabling cookies may affect site functionality.

Security

We take reasonable steps to protect personal information we hold from misuse, interference, loss and unauthorised access, modification or disclosure. However, no method of transmission over the internet is completely secure.

Access and correction

You may request access to personal information we hold about you and request corrections if it is inaccurate, incomplete or out of date. We will respond within a reasonable time and in accordance with applicable law.

Retention

We keep personal information only as long as reasonably necessary for the purposes described in this policy (including legal, accounting or reporting requirements), after which we will take reasonable steps to securely delete or de-identify it.

Contact and complaints

If you have questions, concerns or a complaint about privacy, please contact:

Privacy Contact: Matt McIntosh
Email: matt@envirogolf.com.au

We aim to respond to privacy enquiries and complaints within 20 business days.

If you are not satisfied with our response, you may contact the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC).

Changes to this Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. We will post the updated policy on our website(s). Continued use of our website after an update may constitute acceptance of the updated policy.