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Golf De Payerne

Golf De Payerne

Sentier des Invuardes 1, Switzerland

Sustainable Golf Pledge

We are committed to social and environmental responsibility, in and through golf.

We recognize the importance of playing our part to protect and restore nature, conserve resources, take climate action and strengthen communities.

We will seek to use our reach to raise awareness and positive action amongst golfers, partners and the wider public.

We will make an important difference, and help golf become a valued leader in sustainability.

GEO Certified

Through becoming GEO Certified we have achieved the most widely regarded and credible sustainability distinction in golf.  The international certification was earned after successfully meeting the industry-standard best practices and demonstrating our commitment to make sustainability of central importance to our golf facility.  We're proud of our social and environmental value - and looking forward to doing even more on our sustainability journey.

Certified 2020, 2024 - 2028, for renewal 2029

Notable Observations

  • Biodiversity Enhancement: The club has installed numerous bird boxes, including one specifically for an owl species, which successfully hosted a clutch of baby owls. Additionally, microhabitats like brush and wood piles support insects and small mammals.
  • Invasive Species Management: Regular efforts to remove invasive vegetation, such as blackberry and bramble, were noted, alongside maintaining natural borders around the lake to support amphibians, coots, herons, and Egyptian geese.
  • Energy Surplus: Over 2000m² of solar panels on the maintenance building generate more electricity than the club consumes, with the surplus being injected into the local grid. This leadership in renewable energy has inspired other local organisations to follow suit.
  • Water Conservation: The club minimises irrigation on fairways, allowing them to go brown in dry conditions while focusing irrigation on greens and tees. Moisture meters and a computer-controlled irrigation system help ensure efficiency.
  • Charity and Inclusivity: The club supports various charitable activities, including hosting free events for organisations like Mercy Ships and Solidarité Tiers-Monde. It also introduced the King’s Table event, integrating refugees and locals through a communal banquet.
  • Community Engagement: The club maintains strong local ties, organising events like a Christmas market and inviting school groups to learn about golf and witness conservation efforts, such as observing baby falcons.
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The Golf de Payerne continues to manage their golf course with minimal use of chemical and fertilizer inputs and maximizes the limited out-of-play areas with no-input meadows and hedgerows providing valuable microhabitats for local bird and mammal species. The club is making further efforts to reduce their water consumption on the golf surfaces and continues to produce more electricity than they use, injecting the additional energy into the local grid. Their social commitment to the local community is still their greatest asset, supporting various charities in the neighbourhood and offering employment opportunities to young people and those in difficulty.

David Bily (GEO accredited independent verifier)
GEO Certified Reports
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