Redbourn Golf Club, which is part of BGL Golf, the UK’s leading golf course owner and operator, has achieved the prestigious sustainability award, GEO Certified™.
BGL Golf has become the first multi-course owner in the world to operate more than one facility to have earned golf’s internationally recognised distinction awarded by the Golf Environment Organization (GEO) after Hoebridge Golf Centre, was awarded the ecolabel in March 2013.
GEO Certified™ recognises golf businesses which demonstrate an operational commitment to the three core principles of sustainability – planet, people and profit. The ecolabel has also been recognised by ISEAL, the global leader in defining credibility in sustainability standards.
Colin Mayes, BGL chief executive, said: “Sustainability is a brand value of BGL Golf, which means we look beyond what awaits us around the corner, working to achieve longer term goals to create a sustainable business.
“As the industry leading award, earning GEO Certified™ at each of our ten facilities is an important goal for us because it proves we are moving in the right direction to achieving our own goals.”
Jonathan Smith, GEO chief executive, said: “Yet again BGL Golf has demonstrated its absolute commitment to run its golf facilities efficiently and responsibly, demonstrating that practical sustainability action contributes directly to players’ enjoyment, value for money and quality of experience. Fantastic leadership in sustainable business management.”
In order to achieve the GEO Certified™ ecolabel, Redbourn completed a report outlining how it fulfilled criteria in six key areas: Nature, Water, Energy, Supply Chain, Pollution Control and Community.
The River Ver flows through the grounds of Redbourn Golf Club and gives its name to the facility’s main 18-hole layout. Ian McDowell, Redbourn Golf Club General Manager, commented on how the management of its flow was an integral aspect of earning GEO Certified™.
“The River Ver carries very pure water from a natural spring and is therefore abstracted for human consumption, causing lack of flow. After consultation and site visits from the Environment Agency, the Chilterns Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty Board and the Ver Valley Trust we found a no-cost solution of narrowing the river channel, which also improves the quality of the river habitat.”
BGL Golf operates 10 golf facilities across the UK and following Redbourn and Hoebridge, the remaining eight, including six public pay-and-play centres, are also on track to becoming GEO Certified™.
GEO is an international not-for-profit organisation working to promote, support and recognise sustainability throughout the golf industry.
More details of the sustainability work achieved by Redbourn can be viewed in its GEO Certified™ Report at www.golfenvironment.org/directory/497_redbourn_golf_club
Redbourn Golf Club www.redbourngolfclub.co.uk