For club managers throughout Europe, environmental issues will be increasingly important factors to be aware of – whether related to the use of energy at the club, waste management, irrigation and water usage, pesticides and fertilizers on sports surfaces or the protection of environmentally-sensitive flora and fauna within their property.
Continuing from this, the association is currently involved with two environmental initiatives:
The purpose of the Committee is to present a single European voice to the EU, representing the game of golf on environmental matters to build relationships with appropriate contacts in Brussels. The Committee will anticipate and recommend compliance with EU legislation which may affect golf courses in Europe, communicate when necessary and report on such legislation to relevant organisations (notably the national associations who are members of the European organisations represented on the Committee) to raise awareness and to encourage them to act at a national level.
The Committee is comprised of representatives of eight different pan-European golf bodies:
- European Golf Association
- The R&A
- Club Managers Association of Europe
- European Golf Course Owners Association
- Federation of European Golf Greenkeepers Associations PGAs of Europe
- European Institute of Golf Course Architects
- PGA European Tour
For details of the members of the EGA GCC and other information, please click here.
The Committee has published seven factsheets to help national associations and golf club owners and managers. These factsheets can be downloaded here:
- EGA GCC Pesticides Directive Factsheet
- EGA GCC Water Directives Factsheet
- Biodiversity Factsheet
- River Basin Management Engagement Guidance
- WFD National Authorities
- EGA GCC What is Golf?
- EGA 10 Step Biodiversity Guidelines
The Committee hopes that these factsheets will help golf clubs to understand the EU issues and the position that the golf industry is taking on these issues.
The Golf Environment Organisation
An environmental partner for the CMAE and the sector as a whole, the Golf Environment Organisation (GEO) supports golf in understanding the issues and improving performance, whilst working closely with government and environmental bodies.
The CMAE is a member of the Golf Environment Organisation’s ‘European Industry Forum’. The membership of the Forum comprises a group of strategic leaders that are working towards a future where golf will be internationally recognised for enhancing environmental quality and human wellbeing. It was set up to enable the international non-profit body to formally engage with Europe’s golf bodies.
Discussions within Forum meetings centre on the fundamental importance of a visionary and collaborative approach; on GEO projects and programmes; on practical ways to improve environmental communications within and out with the sector; and broadly on how the game might secure a future where it was unequivocally regarded as an asset to both people and the planet.
GEO’s highly anticipated new website – featuring the GEO Certification programme – launched at the BMW PGA championship in May 2009. The site delivers relevant, user-friendly knowledge and guidance that will help CMAE members maximise efficiencies and improve their product.
GEO Certification is the world’s most efficient, most credible and most cost effective environmental recognition programme for golf. The user-friendly on-line system presents a framework through which any golf club, anywhere can set about improving performance and raising its profile within the local and international community.
For more information, please visit www.golfenvironment.org
