Promoting nature through tournaments

Promoting nature through tournaments

In many ways tournaments are the shop window of golf with the power to reach, influence and inspire millions of people – positively impacting people and nature, and demonstrating responsibility in resource use and climate action. As the focus on sustainability continues to grow, tournaments can be a catalyst for promoting solutions that can support others in tourism, events and the wider society.

Sustainable Golf Week 2023 is focused on the theme of ‘Golf – Better with Nature’, exploring why this is such an important topic and ways to protect, restore and promote nature. The stunning television pictures beamed around the world from tournaments tell not only a story of the golfing action and competition unfolding, but also provide a window into stunning landscapes, rich ecosystems and habitats and rare species.

The Genesis Scottish Open, for example, highlighted the collaborative approach taken by tournaments when GEO Foundation for Sustainable Golf, VisitScotland, DP World Tour, Scottish Golf, academics and sponsors OCEANTEE came together to explore opportunities at golf tournaments and wider events.

The tournament, a Rolex Series event, is co-sanctioned by the DP World Tour and PGA Tour and very much at the forefront of the European Tour Group's Green Drive initiative.

And while pictures of the stunning Renaissance Club and East Lothian coastline were beamed to millions, actions to promote nature and raise awareness of the issues were also undertaken on the ground across all aspects of the tournament including:

• The Drive the Green initiative where each professional who drove the fifth and 13th holes resulted in 100 trees planted in association with One Tree Planted at Loch Oscaig Woodland in the Northwest Highlands
• Special beach clean and education event by Ocean Tee with Marine Conservation Society and Scottish Seabird Centre
• The event was the first professional tournament providing mains water for players and fans with reusable bottles on every hole, saving 50,000 plastic bottles.
• On-course catering outlets use only wooden cutlery, paper straws, 100% biodegradable food trays and 100% compostable hot drink cups.
• Over 70% of food locally sourced.
• 72 fully electric cars in the courtesy car fleet

“I’m particularly pleased to see the work the DP World Tour, and their tournament partners and suppliers, are doing with the Golf for Good programme,” said Christina McKelvie, Minister for Culture, Europe and International Development after a visit to the event.

“As the Home of Golf, Scotland should continue to be seen as a world-leader in sport as well as driving forward important initiatives around community engagement and sustainability.”

Similar proactive actions, positive impacts and long-term commitments are increasingly in play all around the world as tournaments on golf’s major Tours across the men’s and women’s game step forward and play their part at this critical time and help promote that golf is better with nature.