By Hal Phllips, From Spike On Golf & Travel
The GEO Sustainable Golf Foundation is based in North Berwick, Scotland, but is active in more than 75 countries. It is dedicated to helping accelerate worldwide sustainability and climate action through golf.
GEO has recognized six Scottish tournament venues, The Old Course at St. Andrews, Dundonald Links, The Renaissance Club, Royal Troon, Carnoustie and Kingsbarns for their leadership in sustainable golf practices.
GEO has worked closely with the tournament officials of all six events, the DP World Tour, The R&A, LPGA Tour, Ladies European Tour and PGA TOUR, plus partnered with government and other stakeholders to support their sustainability strategy.
Jonathan Smith, Founder and Executive Director of the Foundation said,
“Collaboration is essential to the approach. The hands-on experience and diverse input from a range of key stakeholders. The goal in sharing findings — in exploring future challenges and opportunities — is to help elevate the understanding and ambitions of golf and wider event organizers in Scotland and around the golfing world. While golf is the lens, we hope the learnings can help accelerate collaboration, innovations and positive impacts across the broader events sector.”
Founded more than 18 years ago as a pioneer in the environmental sustainability of golf, GEO Sustainable Golf Foundation is dedicated to helping both amateur and professional golf, by providing strategy, solutions, and a certification label. The Foundation is dedicated to a comprehensive, innovative approach to sustainability, via platforms available to golf facilities and associations, new developments and renovations, tours and competitions, even professional players as individuals.
VisitScotland and the national government are leaders in the way they guide tourism and events towards these environmental responsibilities.
Smith continued,
“One of the biggest sustainability challenges for any event is carbon emissions, stemming primarily from spectator, organizer and player travel to and from the venue. There are so many positive impacts that can help events to grow. Such as raising widespread fan awareness, influencing behavior-change on the community level, fundraising for important social and environmental causes, identifying catalysts for green infrastructure investments.”
GEO, working with their partners have created a detailed framework for leadership and collaboration going forward. Golf is played in a natural setting, in communities. And this has been true for centuries. These are organic advantages that golf can use to be a leader in sustainable events and sports.
Click HERE to lean more about The GEO Sustainable Golf Foundation.
