Open host renews sustainability merit

By Alistair October 13, 2019 12:25 Updated

The host of this year’s Open Championship, Royal Portrush Golf Club, has renewed its sustainability distinction, the ‘GEO Certified’ status.

The club first became certified in 2015 and has continued to strengthen its commitment to sustainability and protecting the natural links habitat. Examples of this include grassland and scrub improvement and maintaining a thriving habitat for native bee species.

“The Open is played on some of the world’s most revered golf courses, at venues which represent the many ways that golf can be beneficial to communities and the environment,” GEO Foundation executive director and GreenKeeping editorial adivsory panel member, Jonathan Smith said. “Congratulations to the team at Royal Portrush for their achievements, and for helping to ensure the continuation of The R&A’s leadership policy of high sustainability standards for Open venues.”

“We, as a club, are delighted to renew our GEO certification and are able to track our progress and achieve continued improvement in our commitment to being an environmentally sustainable business,” Royal Portrush course manager Graeme Beatt said.

“We are custodians of the links here at Royal Portrush and take great pride in the flora and fauna within its sand dune grassland while also managing all departments of the business in a sustainable manner.”

R&A director of sustainability, Steve Isaac, added: “Our commitment to only host The Open at certified venues has been very well received and is a good match with The Open GreenLinks initiative across the staging of the Championship related to nature, communities and resources.”

The Open GreenLinks initiative was set up with the assistance of GEO Foundation’s ‘OnCourse Tournaments’ programme, utilising many of the guidelines and resources that are designed to help golf tournaments around the world accelerate their own commitments, actions and results.