Golf Business News – Golf courses must ‘act now’ to tackle sustainability issues, says GEO Foundation founder

Golf courses around the world can play an important role in helping communities meet the environmental challenges of our time, said Jonathan Smith, founder of the GEO Foundation for Sustainable Golf.

Speaking on the latest episode of the Syngenta Golf podcast, which aired during Sustainable Golf Week, Smith says clubs and courses have a unique role to play in promoting environmental restoration, improving resource efficiency, curbing carbon emissions, and creating social value.

He also sees growing opportunities to collaborate with local communities and governments, opening up new funding opportunities to address local and global challenges. He suggests that this approach to golf can also change the image of the community by highlighting the positive impact the course has on community well-being.

Smith is calling on golf clubs to act now, warning that failure to do so could threaten long-term success.

“You have to go out and tell people what you do, what your responsibilities are, what your actions are and what results you are producing,” said Smith.

Speaking to manager Gary Firkins, Smith also talks about the idea that sustainability is expensive for many clubs. He notes that by logging into the GEO Foundation’s free OnCourse program, they can find a range of affordable, cost-effective and cost-effective solutions to get started.

He also highlights opportunities for grants or public-private partnerships if clubs can align their sustainability goals with those of their community.

“The biggest success we see with clubs is when they make sustainability a priority in their decision-making,” he added.

Watch the Growing Up Golf podcast, How to Succeed in Sustainability with Jonathan Smith.