17 Mar 2023
The conference season has been in full swing at the start of the year as course managers and superintendents, club managers, and associations come together to explore new opportunities and innovations or address potential challenges ahead for the world of golf, and sustainability has been very much centre stage.
BTME kicked things off at Harrogate as GEO joined the R&A, England Golf, and the RSPB in the Sustainability Zone. The GCSAA Conference and Golf Industry Show in the United States followed and provided a great opportunity to spend time with the three leading golf architect associations to discuss how golf development can further contribute, and be seen to contribute, to the global sustainability agenda. A return to Europe for GCAE and FEGGA conferences with sustainability central to these events. Similarly a sustainability symposium at THE PLAYERS, where GEO Foundation joined the PGA TOUR and WM to discuss a range of topics impacting our sport, further exemplified the growing importance across the industry.
All offer invaluable opportunities to reconnect with old friends and make new acquaintances and provide unrivalled networking opportunities along with the chance to learn, discover and explore the latest technologies and innovations hitting the golf market.
Sustainability is now at the heart of the golf industry with a sustainability lens applied to every decision as momentum gathers behind golf’s position as a leader in this field.
Hot topics include waste and recycling, water, pesticides, and other resources, and tackling sustainable transport and carbon footprinting. At the heart of this is understanding where you're at, getting accessible ideas to improve, and tracking progress.
Visitors to the Sustainability Zone at BTME, for example, were many and varied, some looking for advice on how to take the next steps on their sustainability journey while others sought guidance on a particular challenge they were facing. Every facility is, of course, different, but everyone had the common ambition of delivering a better future for their club, members, and the wider community and playing their part in addressing some of the challenges we face.
At GEO Foundation for Sustainable Golf we are dedicated to working collaboratively across the industry and taking often complex and daunting challenges and simplifying them with tools, advice, and best practice guidance. The OnCourse® programs are designed for golf by people who understand golf, available for clubs or tournaments of all sizes. These easy-to-use sustainability and climate action programs have everything needed to review, improve and communicate sustainability.
Get in touch at hello@sustainable.golf to find out how we can support you on your sustainability journey.
