The international nature charity Friends of Conservation (FOC), widely supported by the UK travel and tourism industry, has announced a partnership with Golf Planet Holidays and French Golf to run two environmental awards. The awards have been introduced to encourage wildlife friendly practices on golf courses around the world.
FOC director Jonathan Hodrien said, “Golf courses can often be bad news for the environment. However, some courses are proving to be havens for wildlife if they are sympathetically managed as they form a buffer against increasing urbanisation, or stand on important migration routes for birds.”
Nominations for the awards can be made by the course manager or someone else with the course manager’s approval. All submissions need to be supported by a named and recognised local wildlife, environmental or conservation body.
Golf Planet Holidays has initiated a “Challenge Fund” into which they will donate £1 for every passenger taking a holiday from their 2003 brochure. The fund will be used to award a (non cash) prize to the golf course that is deemed by the FOC judging panel to have done most to protect wildlife.
A second (cash) prize will be awarded to the golf course that puts forward the best case in its request for financial support to introduce “wildlife friendly” measures that will help safeguard local or migrating wildlife.
Morgan Clarke, managing director of Golf Planet Holidays, said, “It’s no secret that nearly all of the world’s best courses are naturally beautiful and that most golfers appreciate the wonders of mother nature. We’re trying to encourage the golf industry to embrace and promote their local environment and by joining with one of the world’s leading wildlife charities, Friends of Conservation, to launch these awards, we aim to highlight the sporting operators whose example we need to follow.”
Applications should be submitted by 30th September 2003. There is no prescribed format or application/entry form but submissions should be less than 1,000 words The judging panel will be chosen by Friends Of Conservation and consist of experts in tourism, biodiversity and environmental issues. Tel: Int. + 44 (0)20 7592 0110 or email focinfo@aol.com
Friends of Conservation www.foc-uk.com
Committed to Green Foundation www.committedtogreen.com
European Golf Association’s Ecology Unit www.golfecology.com