GEO’s ‘Sustainable Golf Development Standard’ is released

By Alistair November 27, 2021 08:04 Updated

The Golf Environment Organisation (GEO) has released its latest edition of the ‘Sustainable Golf Development Standard’.

“This simplified new edition raises the bar on sustainability expectations and focuses on the most relevant issues and challenges in the current climate. Renewed emphasis is placed on areas such as increased transparency, carbon impacts, flexible construction timelines, circular economy and the impacts of agronomic decision-making,” said a spokesman.

Sam Thomas, director of Golf Development for GEO, said: “The process of working with public comments and the international expert group’s knowledge was a great insight into what we’ve seen change in the sustainability space over the past five years. There were invaluable inputs shared into the ways in which everyone felt that golf developments, done in the right way, can continue to make real positive contributions to their environment, climate and community. Going forward, we are excited to adopt this second edition of the standard at all new golf development sites seeking to gain GEO certified development status and, over the next five years, see how we can all push on to deliver even greater positive impacts.”

Tom Mackenzie, past president of the European Institute of Golf Course Architects, stated: “It is great to see the release of the second edition of this standard. It now better represents the current sustainability issues we face as designers and I was very pleased to be able to represent the European Institute of Golf Course Architects (EIGCA) on the expert working group. Along with EIGCA’s ‘Raising the Standard of Sustainable Golf Course Design’ educational programme, which was created with GEO, this renewed sustainability standard represents another meaningful point of connection with GEO for our members.”