The Club Managers Association of America (CMAA) has re-energized its environmental commitment with a landmark announcement that will both elevate the reputation of professional club managers, and support them in continually improving their environmental performance.
During a cutting edge sustainable business session at the BMI International Conference for Club Management in Stockholm, a gathering of international club managers and association representatives witnessed the announcement of a new partnership with the Golf Environment Organisation (GEO), an international NGO (non-governmental organisation) working across the global golf community to raise standards, provide productive solutions and objectively appraise and recognize performance.
Jim Singerling, CMAA CEO said of the partnership: “The CMAA are inspired by the approach of GEO. Their positive vision for golf, clear and comprehensive perspective, and broad collective of partners has facilitated their rapid emergence as a dynamic and constructive player in golf’s, and club management’s, environmental movement.
“In our opinion, our industry language has been more about getting people to understand our golf environments, rather than golf to understand people’s aspirations and environmental need. Of course we need to do both, but we should be engaged in credible sustainability action for the diverse business and stakeholder benefits that will bring, not simply to make ourselves look good.
“For our part, the CMAA will promote GEO’s technical resources, practical guidance and innovative programmes across our membership. Formal and informal environmental education will be stepped up, and we will use our communications capacity to showcase credible achievements. It is time to find ways to align our thinking and our performance with the rapidly emerging expectations of government and the entire population, rather than just those who may be in our “golf club”.
“In addition we will seek to drive new projects relevant and beneficial to our members that bring forward practical, user-friendly tools that make smoother the integration of environmental best practice into day-to-day club management operations.
“Moreover, we are looking forward to playing a constructive role in the growing international community of golf organisations, scientists, environmental bodies and businesses that GEO has so successfully and uniquely assembled.”
Speaking on behalf of the Golf Environment Organisation, Advisory Council Chairman, Bjorn Nordberg said: “We are thrilled to have formed this alliance with one of the largest membership bodies in the US. With its feet so firmly fixed in golf, and more than 6,000 of its members active in golf clubs, the CMAA will play a key role in how golf keeps apace with, and strives to exceed, customer, public and government expectations.
“The agreement demonstrates GEOs commitment and readiness to continue scaling up operations to partner with international golf bodies and associations, and through this to help bring cohesion, credibility and a comprehensive approach to golf’s efforts. Our mission is to work globally, in partnership, to guide the golf industry toward greater environmental, social and economic results, and the impetus of the CMAA is a tremendous boost.”
Following the production of the CMAA Environmental Policy, the two bodies will hold a strategic planning session with the CMAA Board, undertake consultation with CMAA Members on the support they would most value, develop an official CMAA Environmental Policy, and integrate GEO coordinated environmental education into the CMAA Programme of the Golf Industry Show in San Diego.
Magnus Enell, former adviser to the United Nations on climate change and member of the GEO Advisory Council was on hand at the BMI Conference to support the announcement: “What the planet needs is leadership like that now being shown by the CMAA and other golf organisations worldwide.
“People and organisations that recognize that business is stronger as a result of engaging in environmental and social issues. Environmental issues are global – they transcend political and geographic boundaries. In the same way as the international government and scientific communities are seeking global solutions for global issues, golf can and should do the same.”
CMAA www.cmaa.org
Golf Environment Organisation www.golfenvironment.org