With two decades of experience at the forefront of sustainable golf, Italy’s Golf Della Montecchia continues to show their commitment by earning re-certification to GEO Certified®, golf’s standard for environmental and social value, following three years of continued improvement.
The announcement was made at a reception during last weekend’s Montecchia Open by Lyoness, a European Challenge Tour event, attended by representatives and officials from the golf club, the community, Federazione Italiana Golf, and GEO (Golf Environment Organization).
Mayor Bruno Saponaro said “We are proud to have Golf Della Montecchia here in the Veneto region, bringing value to people and nature in our area. The club shows how golf can be open and good for many people.”
Kelli Jerome, GEO’s Managing Director who presented the award, said “The work being done here is innovative and inspirational. Careful repurposing of historic buildings, an inclusive and open atmosphere, increasing the area of wildlife habitats, provision of the land for environmental research by local universities, golf programmes for juniors, solar energy, the list goes on and on. Golf Della Montecchia is an outstanding example of how a golf club can positively contribute to the environment and society.
“Together with the Italian Golf Federation, the club hosted other members of Southern European golf bodies this week to discuss sustainability and share some of their successes including the naturalization of out-of-play areas and changing turf grass species, bringing about a 70% reduction in irrigation, and a project trialing minimized use of chemical inputs. Similar work is now being carried out at many courses in Italy, largely due to the pioneering work here at Montecchia.”
Along with the work on nature protection and resource efficiency the golf club’s relationship with its community responsibility is also a highlight contributing to its re-certification.
“We are proud to have a strong relationship with the community around us, and we actively encourage more people to share the facility,” explained Paolo Casati, President of Golf della Montecchia “Our work with the community includes hosting both golf lessons and environmental education visits for the local schools, and open access to the woodland for people to enjoy. We also offer swimming and other recreational activities alongside the many programmes we have to encourage golf as part of a healthy life. The innovative indoor golf facility with gym, golf simulator and new technologies for training was realized in the same spirit. We foster partnerships with local businesses, and hosting international events, such as the Montecchia Open by Lyoness, brings trade and tourism to the area. Providing this value to our community, as well as a home for wildlife, and conserving natural resources are all extremely important to us.”
Fredrik Lindgren, Head of Corporate Responsibility at European Tour said: “As part of our Green Drive, all of The European Tour host venues are encouraged to take part in OnCourse®, golf’s sustainability programme, and to become GEO Certified®. In the case of Golf Della Montecchia, their work has paid off with incredible surroundings and playing conditions that are an important part of hosting a great event, and also a good fit for the event sponsor, Lyoness, who are deeply committed to sustainability through their Greenfinity foundation.”
Golf Della Montecchia sits within the historic estate and vineyards of the Count Emo Capodilista, a property and operations that also continue to receive sustainability accolades and ensure the preservation of the whole area.
First certified in 2013, Golf Della Montecchia’s 2016 re-certification report is publically available at http://www.golfenvironment.org/directory/458_golf_della_montecchia
Further information on European Tour’s Green Drive can be found at europeantour.com/aboutus/environment.
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