Following a meeting of its International Advisory Commission on 21 November 2000 in Brussels, the Committed to Green Foundation has announced the first ever awards of Committed to Green Recognition. Fifteen pioneer golf clubs from five European countries will receive the Recognition, which is valid for three years. They are:
- Scotland Kilmacolm Golf Club Linlithgow Golf Club Gleneagles (3 courses) Elmwood College
- England Kenwick Park Golf Club The Belfry (3 courses)
- Denmark Faaborg Golf Club
- Finland Kurk Golf Club Rantasalmi Golf Club Rönnà¤s Golf Club Tarina Golf Club Sarvik Golf Club (2 courses)
- Portugal Belas Club de Campo Vilamoura (4 courses) Carvoeiro Golf (2 courses) Commenting on the first awards of Recognition, David Stubbs, Executive Director of the Committed to Green Foundation, said: “All these clubs have shown a commendable effort to prove their concern and care for the environment. Many of these are ‘typical’ small golf clubs, simply wishing to be seen to be responsible managers. But whatever their situation, large and small clubs alike have devoted time and effort to achieving worthwhile environmental improvements. It is still an early stage in our programme and we are delighted to have such committed pioneers to help us in our mission.” The Recognition process involves clubs submitting an Environmental Statement reporting on their policies, achievements and future targets across eight environmental management categories. To ensure the credibility of the programme, each Statement is subject to on-site verification by appropriately qualified, independent specialists. A network of National Ecology Officers is helping the Committed to Green Foundation to deliver the programme throughout Europe. Committed to Green is the first environmental certification programme specifically aimed at the sport sector in Europe. The programme arose through the work of the former European Golf Association Ecology Unit, an initiative jointly supported by the European golf authorities and the European Commission. The Environmental Statements of each Committed to Green golf club will be published on the Committed to Green Foundation web site over the coming months. Several more clubs across Europe are in the final stages of preparing their Committed to Green Statements. Further awards of Recognition will be announced during 2001 and it is hoped that the example set by these first clubs will be an inspiration for the rest of the golf community to come forward and demonstrate its commitment to responsible environmental management.