Luxembourg
Sustainable Golf Week, coming to an end today, presents a chance to celebrate and reflect on sustainable initiatives in golf.
Earlier this year, the Luxembourg Golf Federation (FLG) and Kikuoka Golf & Country Club welcomed 144 of Europe’s best senior (50+) amateur players for the European Senior Championships over three days.
The organising committee of the tournament, which worked in collaboration with Golf Planet Events, had the ambition to maximise the sustainability of the event.
To do so, the tournament hosts coordinated with the ‘Green Events’ organisation, which is an initiative of the Luxembourg Ministry for Environment, Climate and Biodiversity.
To achieve the sustainable certification label, more than 30 criteria were required to be implemented. These included numerous sustainable initiatives ranging from material use, choice of vendors, transport, food options, communications and more.
Among the most important criteria in the eyes of the organisers were raising awareness with all stakeholders of the event. The attendees, of course, but also staff and volunteers. Being mindful of sustainability from the get-go led to smarter choices for even minor elements such as re-usable tee signage structures.
Specific sustainable examples implemented at the tournament include grouping players transport through the naming of an official hotel and providing shuttles for them, coordinating with the golf club kitchen to source local organic products, and minimising single-use materials.
The tournament also had a positive impact beyond environmental considerations. This year’s Sustainable Golf Week is focused on the theme of #GolfforCommunities, a central pillar of sustainability. Golf events can act as a catalyst to strengthen local communities, bringing together the participants and also local volunteers. More than 40 volunteer workers were involved in organising the event at Kikuoka Golf & Country Club.
The championships also ended with a ‘sustainable bang’, as the closing Gala Dinner was held with a menu of 100% Luxembourg-sourced products.
More information on the Green Events organisation can be found here: https://www.greenevents.lu/
Read more about golf’s benefits to society and sustainable golf week here: https://sustainable.golf/sustainable-golf-week-2024/
The EGA's Renewed Sustainability Drive
Building on a longstanding involvement in environmental sustainability, and more recent efforts in 2022 and 2023 focused on pesticide regulation emerging from the European Commission, the European Golf Association embarked on a renewed and strengthened sustainability drive earlier this year.
With 50 member associations, the EGA will look to leverage its unique position in European golf to help align outlook, commitments and pathways from different golf authorities across the continent and help ensure knowledge is appropriately developed and used effectively.
The EGA’s role in sustainability going forwards will be focused on three key action areas; coordinate, develop and advocate.
To effectively address this mission, the EGA has set up a new collaborative structure which involves the participation of experts across Europe.
Read more about the EGA's renewed sustainability drive here: https://www.ega-golf.ch/content/ega-embarks-renewed-sustainability-drive
