The four golf courses operated by The Gleneagles Hotel, including 2014 Ryder Cup venue The PGA Centenary Course, are now On Course to achieve Golf Environment Organization (GEO) certified status in 2010. Alongside fellow European Tour stops Celtic Manor, Loch Lomond and St Andrews, Gleneagles is at the forefront of a drive by major professional venues to showcase the highest standards in sustainable golf course management.
Scott Fenwick, golf courses and estate manager at Gleneagles commented,“With 850 acres of stunning Perthshire landscape under our stewardship, including 19 Sites of Scientific Interest (SSI) and one Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), Gleneagles boasts some of Scotland’s most precious natural and cultural heritage.
“The management team here understand that investment in the quality of our environment is directly linked to the quality of our product. With a long-term sustainability program focussing on landscape enhancement, reduction of turfgrass inputs and minimization of energy and water use, Gleneagles is committed to preserving the environment for future generations.”
Philip Riddle, CEO, VisitScotland concurs.“Scotland is globally recognised for its natural and cultural heritage, from stunning landscapes and wilderness areas, to the world’s finest golf courses. Tourism business has a crucial role to play in conserving and promoting these assets, and VisitScotland is committed to growing the industry sustainably.
“As a major contributor to Scotland’s tourism revenue and profile, golf must strive to assume a leadership role to ensure the Scottish golf experience is not only ranked among the worlds finest, but among the world’s most sustainable.”
Richard Hills, Ryder Cup director is delighted to see Gleneagles working towards further international recognition. “The expectation that European Ryder Cup venues showcase the highest levels of environmental performance is now well established. In fact, the lauded sustainability programme at Gleneagles was one of the key factors in their successful bid to host the 2014 event.
“With the applicant countries for the 2018 Ryder Cup now formalised, it’s critically important that the venues put forward by potential host nations are showcasing pioneering environmental work. This will be an important aspect of the evaluation criteria used to decide the final destination of the contest.”
Jonathan Smith, chief executive of GEO expects to see high profile golf courses around the UK playing a leadership role, but is also keen to stress that certification is not the sole preserve of those golf courses that exist continually within the public eye. “All golf clubs, irrespective of size or operating budget stand to benefit by identifying landscape and environmental priorities and by working towards a resource efficient, ecologically rich golf product. Good environmentalism, particularly in a tight-knit industry such as golf, necessitates the sharing of best practice information between peers.”
The two On Course reports for Gleneagles can be read here:
PGA Centenary Course & Golf Academy:
http://www.golfenvironment.org/certification/participating-facilities/GB/114
Kings, Queens & Wee Courses:
http://www.golfenvironment.org/certification/participating-facilities/GB/126
