Troon, the leader in providing golf and club-related leisure and hospitality services, is continuing to champion sustainable practices with a range of initiatives taking place across its global portfolio of clubs.
Responsible environmental management is a key component of Troon International’s ethos, and their facilities are relentlessly dedicated when it comes to environmental stewardship.
In the quest for sustainable excellence, Troon recognizes the pivotal role of technology. Leveraging the power of innovation, Troon employs OnCourse, an advanced online platform. This tool serves as a dynamic compass, empowering club and course managers to navigate through the intricate landscape of modern sustainability with precision and effectiveness.
With backing from many golf industry bodies and wider environmental and government support, the online tool helps facilities evaluate, develop and report their sustainability actions. The program also leads facilities towards golf’s accredited international label of environmental and social excellence, GEO Certified.
A new alliance for Troon in 2024 was Oman’s world-class oceanfront golf destination, Al Mouj Golf. The club’s reputation for being one of the world’s premier golf destinations is amplified by its consecutive inclusion in the Top 100 Courses in the World in Today’s Golfer, but also its sustainability commitment.
Al Mouj Golf has been re-certified in the industry-leading GEO and Audubon standards for 2023, making it one of only a few golf clubs in the world to maintain both certifications. They are home to five natural water ponds and actively conserve six nesting areas for the 173 bird species that make use of the golf course for resting, nesting and migrating.
Steven Johnson, Golf Course Superintendent at Al Mouj Golf, said: “I feel it’s our responsibility to preserve and protect the wildlife and habitat on our golf courses. It’s also important to promote the sustainable programs that take place on the courses and the positive impact these have on the environment and greater community. By embracing natural ecology and enhancing the golfing experience, we uphold our commitment to sustainability.”
“Through our partnership with Haya Water, for example, we ensure the responsible collection and composting of landscaping green without disrupting golfers. This partnership exemplifies our dedication to environmental stewardship and the preservation of our world-class resort.”
Driving Long-Term Sustainable Changes
Costa Navarino in Messinia, Greece is the latest facility to become GEO Certified, joining several other international facilities including Al Zorah Golf Club in Ajman, UAE and PGA National Czech Republic in Prague, Czech Republic.
For Costa Navarino, this distinction for The Bay Course and The Dunes Course marks a significant milestone in a long-standing dedication to nature, conserving resources, adding community value, and taking meaningful climate action.
Diving into their diverse initiatives, Costa Navarino proudly leads Europe with their groundbreaking olive tree transplantation program, a testament to their commitment to environmental conservation. Furthermore, their innovative clubhouse at The Bay Course stands as a beacon of sustainable design, constructed in line with cutting-edge Bioclimatic Architecture principles.
Nestled along the picturesque Algarve Coast, Salgados Golf Club in Portugal isn’t just a golfer’s paradise, it’s a haven for migratory bird species and majestic flamingos. With a deep reverence for the local ecosystem, the club takes great care to preserve and protect this natural sanctuary, ensuring that the birds find an authentic habitat to call home amidst the lush greens and azure waters of the stunning course.
From land to sea, the team at Velaa Private Island in the Maldives continue to develop their unique Coral Restoration Program as part of their environmental stewardship locally. The resort is achieving big things underwater, with the successful transplantation of more than 4,200 nursery grown corals, with a survival rate of over 80%.
Most recently, the resort has welcomed the installation of Biorock reefs, an electrical reef regeneration technology which produces natural building materials in the sea through safe extremely low voltage currents. The slow trickle charge makes corals more resistant to stress and accelerates growth, settlement, and survival, of all marine organisms, increasing the biodiversity of the reef as well as protecting it from future bleaching.
Dubai Hills Golf Club is focused on sustainability implementing energy-efficient practices and enhancing biodiversity on their grounds to their latest initiative, going plastic free, encouraging all members and guests to bring their own water bottle and make the most of the accessible water points around the club.
The club is also committed to the growth and conservation of Ghaf trees. These trees are thriving abundantly in the club’s landscape areas, and the club actively supports their growth during the initial years. Being highly drought tolerant, Ghaf trees require no irrigation and subsequently help reduce our resource consumption.
DJ Flanders, Executive Vice President of Troon International, commented: “Witnessing the unwavering dedication of our clubs to sustainability initiatives is truly inspiring. From eco-tourism destinations that serve as sanctuaries for local wildlife to implementing innovative measures that minimize environmental footprints and conserve precious resources like water, and even embracing the challenge of going plastic-free, each proactive step leaves a lasting and positive mark on our planet.”