How increasing your golf club’s community impact could be more valuable than you think

How increasing your golf club’s community impact could be more valuable than you think

In the context of golf, sustainability refers to a club or tournament’s ability to sustain itself indefinitely. And while creating healthy natural environments and reducing the reliance on finite resources are crucial factors in creating a sustainable sport - and world - the importance of inspiring future generations and having a positive community impact is critical.

Such outreach isn't only felt in the community but also by the clubs and tournaments that initiate them. Projects such as nature walks, visits from local schools and drives to increase participation and awareness don’t have to be expensive to run. At the same time, their impact in inspiring new generations of sustainable golfers could be invaluable. 

What can you do to strengthen links with your local community? 

Golf clubs have many opportunities to engage with their communities, whether that’s through you spreading awareness about sustainability itself or opening up their course for good causes. 

Take Carnoustie Golf Links, for example. The GEO Certified Open venue hosts one of the UK's largest golf development programmes, aiming to inspire new generations of golfers - both boys and girls - to get into golf.

• Over 300 junior golfers attend coaching at Carnoustie every week, with the club keen to highlight the health and well-being benefits and the career opportunities within the sport. 
• GEO Certified Banchory Golf Club invited children from a local nursery to the course to help spread wildflower seeds and learn why it’s so essential to protect pollinators. The children returned to admire their work when the flowers had grown.
• In Italy, Golf Club Tirrenia opened a nature trail that allows local residents to learn more about the wildlife and habitats around the course. And at the Country Club Johannesburg in South Africa,  a 62-page publication featuring 300 photographs was produced, including bird watching maps and a list of species that live around the course.

Take a look at the Sustainable Golf Highlights Hub for even more examples of clubs having a positive impact on their communities. 

What impact can community outreach have on your golf club?

Inspiring the next generation of sustainable golfers is vitally important, particularly given the increasing awareness of golf’s role as a steward of the environment. 

Craig Boath, Sustainable Golf Champion, and Links Superintendent at GEO Certified Carnoustie Golf Links has played an important role in strengthening the local community alongside many of his colleagues: 

“The ecosystem that Carnoustie has built is one that is dedicated to contributing positively to the local community now and long into the future. Ensuring that the organization is sustainable, inclusive and innovative enables it to continue to fund local community initiatives and junior golf programmes amongst many other social benefits. 

“Carnoustie’s junior programme currently attracts over 300 local children per week and the Girls Empowerment Academy has grown from strength to strength, improving retention and engagement of girls within the sport as well as developing valuable leadership skills along the way. Carnoustie also continues to invest in golfers with disability programmes and supports the Carnoustie Memories Group, an organization working with golfers suffering from dementia.

Since becoming a Charitable Trust in 2014, our Community Benefit Programme has provided over £250,000 in funding to local community groups and organizations in and around Carnoustie.” 

Do you want to step up and Do One Thing #ForSustainableGolf? Here are three steps to help you get started:

• Join OnCourse for free to get proven ideas and guidance on sustainable supply chains
• Share your highlights and get inspiration from others
• Get in touch if you'd like any advice on how to get started or do more 

If you enjoyed this article, you may also want to read more about the Do One Thing #ForSustainableGolf drive.