The Open launched Green Links in 2016 in recognition of the growing challenges facing our natural environment and a commitment to conserving the natural links landscapes which play host to the Championship.
Supported by GEO Foundation, the launch of the Green Links programme addressed a broad scope of issues across the staging of the Championship related to nature, communities and resource and signified the integration of sustainability into the day-to-day operations and staging of The Open, establishing it as one of the world’s most sustainable sporting events.
Green Links takes into account specific site sensitivities and wildlife considerations with great care taken to protect nature throughout the entire event staging process. Working closely with an appointed ecologist and the host venue, The Open ensures that the links are safeguarded for the enjoyment of future generations.
Green Links is mentored by GEO Foundation and also addresses the broader sustainability considerations around staging a major sport event. In catering for hundreds of thousands of spectators during the week of the Championship, The Open is implementing sustainable procurement policies which focus on ethically produced food and drink from local suppliers. To minimize the volume of waste material sent to landfill, The Open is collaborating with partner organisations to deliver effective waste separation and recycling initiatives.
In 2019, The Open Water initiative was launched at Royal Portrush, helping to drive positive change by installing water stations to provide free purified, chilled local water during the Championship in partnership with Bluewater.
Other key focus areas include buying local and supporting businesses in the region of the host venue, when possible, to supply The Open. Keep the links clean implements strategies to separate waste material and facilitate recycling, a commitment to Fairtrade has been part of The Open’s support for ethical food production,
On the golf course, the ultimate test of links golf demands firm and true surfaces which reward skill and penalise error. The Sports Turf Research Institute (STRI) is working with The Open to ensure an authentic links experience is presented at every venue, every year. A comprehensive surface testing programme for firmness, smoothness, trueness and speed, coupled with sustainable greenkeeping practices, prepares the golf course for the best players in the world.
Protecting nature is paramount as Open venues hold some of the UK's most precious wildlife habitat. Links landscapes are also home to endangered species, such as the skylark, a UK Red List species, which thrives in the wild rough grassland. The Open's efforts to ensure these precious landscapes are protected and conserved are part of the continuing commitment to hosting a sustainable event.
Learn more about The R&A's commitment to sustainable golf
