Innovative sustainability at a pioneering Canadian golf course is the focus for the new episode of Syngenta’s YouTube docuseries, The Green Report.
Located in the shadow of the Canadian Rockies, Mickelson National Golf Club in Calgary, Alberta, made history as the first facility in Canada to achieve GEO Certified status for sustainable golf. The episode follows Master Superintendent, Robin Sadler (pictured above), who reveals how data-backed conservation and modern technology drive the course’s day-to-day operations.
Mickelson National opened five years ago alongside a new and growing residential community, Harmony. Purpose-built facilities were constructed to recycle the town’s wastewater, with the golf course now using treated sewage effluent for irrigation. In the first years of operation the course has already reduced its overall water consumption by nearly 50%.
“We’ve got a state-of-the-art system with 3600 sprinkler heads that are designed to target where we need the water when we need the water,” Robin explains to host Gary Firkins. “It is a way of thinking. Golf courses can add and help the environment whether it’s recycling water, being responsible about what we’re doing and co-existing with nature.”
The episode highlights other important sustainability milestones across the property:
- Solar-Powered Algae Control: On the fifth hole, a self-sustaining floating solar unit shoots ultrasonic waves to kill algae cells, turning a previously stagnant pond into a clear, oxygenated, wildlife-friendly ecosystem.
- Transition to Lithium Fleets: The club is systematically replacing petrol-powered machinery with electric lithium units, reducing carbon emissions and cutting noise pollution, benefiting wildlife and neighboring community trails. Official GEO reports show the property sequestered 283 metric tons of carbon in a single calendar year.
- Local Biodiversity: In partnership with Syngenta’s Operation Pollinator program, the club maintains dedicated wildflower habitats alongside four active beehives, harvesting several hundred jars of local “Harmony Honey” each fall.
- Community Hub: Director of Golf Lisa Rosengarten outlines how the facility serves as a social center for the local area, offering popular junior programs alongside public access to its year-round Launchpad golf entertainment venue.
Mark Birchmore, Global Head of Marketing, Turf & Landscape for Syngenta, said: “Robin and his team have demonstrated that by combining smart technology, community involvement, and resource recycling, golf courses can deliver exceptional playability while actively benefiting their local environment.”
“Mickelson National highlights the importance of embracing innovation in all aspects of the golf course operation in the pursuit of being more sustainable. As Robin himself says, ‘sustainability is a mindset’.”
The new episode is now available to watch on YouTube
To watch all episodes of The Green Report and access case studies on sustainable golf, visit: syngentagolf.com