A new collaboration between England Golf and the
international non-profit Golf Environment Organization (GEO), represents another
milestone in the longstanding promotion of sustainability across English
golf. Building on more than 15 years of support for environmental action by England Golf, the partnership will see both organisations working together to encourage clubs to participate in the online guidance programme, GEO OnCourse™, to attain golf’s international ecolabel, GEO Certified™.
Paul Keeling, England Golf Club Services Manager, expressed enthusiasm to progress along the new avenue that the partnership has created: “Over recent years we have carried out a huge amount of work in this field - We have supported technical research; offered guidance; subsidised direct advisory support; collaborated with government on key policy issues; regularly promoted the subject in communications; and educated clubs and golfers through seminars and workshops.
“We felt it was time to take another step and promote the GEO Certified ecolabel which will bring our affiliated clubs much deserved local, national and international recognition. The GEO OnCourse programme compliments our existing suite of guidance and resources, helping clubs practically as they work toward achieving the ecolabel.
“We particularly like the fact that now, clubs can easily and publicly take action that benefits their business, and attain official recognition of their environmental efforts."
Jonathan Smith, GEO Chief Executive added: “We are delighted to work with a golf association with the tradition and stature of England Golf, and look forward to jointly promoting sustainability. Together, our aim is to make it easy for clubs to get involved and easier to work toward achieving the GEO Certified ecolabel - and all the practical benefits it can help bring about.
“We’ll be working hard to encourage and support as many golf clubs in England to put their clubs OnCourse - for free in only a few minutes - and then become GEO Certified in the years ahead, which will be a visible testament to the leadership English golf has taken around sustainability. Every GEO Certified club will reinforce how a golfing nation, with such a rich history, has been working hard to make a positive contribution to people and the environment.”
ABOUT GEOGEO is a stakeholder-funded, not-for-profit organization, dedicated to helping the global golf community establish leadership in environmental enhancement and corporate responsibility.
GEO works with golf, government and environmental organizations worldwide, including The European Tour, United Nations Environment Programme, The R&A, and many national golf federations, managers associations, owners groups and greenkeepers/superintendent associations, including England Golf and the British & International Golf Greenkeepers Association.
GEO Certified™ is the world's most comprehensive and transparent third party verified ecolabel, specifically for golf course and club management.
For more information, please visit www.golfenvironment.org
