Safeguarding the environment is a top global priority. As a growing international sport, requiring significant land use, golf has a responsibility to embrace the principles and practice of sustainability.
The International Golf Federation (IGF) and its member organisations recognise sustainability as a core priority, optimising the playing quality of the golf course in harmony with the conservation of its natural environment under economically sound and socially responsible management.
The IGF and its member organisations will:
- make sustainability a central pillar of our mission
- expand awareness and encourage action among golfers and golf facilities
- promote best practice to minimise our sport’s consumption of non-renewable natural resources
- assist golf facilities to incorporate sustainable principles, practices and technology into daily business decisions and operations
- encourage golfers to embrace environmentally sound practice in course preparation
- conduct high profile golf events in an environmentally responsible manner
- continue to work to raise the profile of our sport’s progress and contribution to environmental issues
- embrace measurement, target setting, transparency and verification
Success in our joint efforts to promote a sustainable future for golf will deliver:
- for the game; improved financial performance and enhanced profile
- for the golfer; quality playing surfaces, value, challenges and rewarding experiences
- for the environment; conservation of resources and biodiversity enhancement
- for the community; employment, recreational green space and educational opportunities
The future will present many challenges but the IGF and its member organisations are working to ensure that many more generations will enjoy golf and the facilities on which it is played.
The Golf Environment Organization (GEO) has welcomed the IGF initiative. Jonathan Smith, GEO Chief Executive, said: “The IGF statement reaffirms golf’s global commitment to a more sustainable future. It highlights challenges that will be overcome by positively embracing sustainability and integrating it practically into day to day decisions. It’s an exciting point in time when golf can push on to be widely valued for, and proud of, its positive impact.
“For our part, GEO is entirely dedicated to turning policy into practice by supporting, recognising and communicating the commitments and achievements of clubs, developments, tournaments and golf organisations.”
Steve Isaac, Director – Golf Course Management at The R&A said, “This is an important statement from the IGF which sets out the key principles on sustainability in golf. The IGF brings together the leading bodies in golf and this statement outlines their views on the way forward for the game in terms of sustainable management. It emphasises sustainability as a core priority for those of us involved in running the game around the world.
“We welcome the IGF statement as we continue our efforts to encourage more sustainable golf course management. We have invested more than £6 million in recent years in supporting sustainability in the game. There is no doubt that this is fundamental to the long-term future of golf and we all want to ensure that the game continues to flourish in future.”
International Golf Federation www.internationalgolffederation.org
Golf Environment Organization www.golfenvironment.org
R&A www.RandA.org