Home of Golf to champion sustainable golf

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VisitScotland, the national body for the development and promotion of tourism in Scotland, has become the first national tourism body globally to become a strategic partner with GEO Foundation to support the advancement of its mission to help accelerate sustainability in and through golf.

This means there will be a focus on boosting direct support for Scottish golf clubs, including the provision of OnCourse® Scotland, a national version of the international programme for sustainable club and course management. Club engagement will be delivered in collaboration with Scottish Golf, helping bring significant awareness-raising to the effort, to involve more Scottish clubs in actions that can help strengthen efficiency, sustainability and popularity of clubs across the country.

Culture minister Neil Gray said: “I’m confident that the GEO Foundation’s expertise will not only deliver clear benefits to clubs across Scotland, but also encourage others around the world to take climate action.”

Malcolm Roughead, CEO of VisitScotland championed the announcement, saying: “Given that golf represents such a large part of our tourism sector, we want to align with our overall approach to responsible tourism and help golf facilities and high-profile tournaments on their journey.”

Jonathan Smith, executive director of GEO Foundation, added: “We are extremely proud to carry the support of VisitScotland out across the non-profit work we do to inspire, guide and promote sustainability in and through golf.  We are particularly excited about how the collaboration will help connect sustainable tourism and sustainable golf; support the leadership of leading events; and how together with Scottish Golf we can guide and reward clubs across the country.”

Karin Sharp, chief operating officer of Scottish Golf, said: “As part of our strategic review, clubs across the country have told us sustainability is important to them, and that they’d welcome more guidance, direction and recognition. We are excited to work with VisitScotland and GEO Foundation to further develop and provide that.”