Courtesy of Troon International (5)
Troon is continuing to champion sustainable practices at its clubs, with remarkable initiatives across the world in the spotlight.
Responsible environmental management is a key component of Troon International’s ethos, and their facilities are relentlessly dedicated when it comes to environmental stewardship.
In the quest for sustainable excellence, Troon recognizes the pivotal role of technology. Leveraging the power of innovation, Troon employs OnCourse, an advanced online platform, which empowers club and course managers to navigate through the intricate landscape of modern sustainability with precision and effectiveness.
With backing from many golf industry bodies and wider environmental and government support, the online tool helps facilities evaluate, develop and report their sustainability actions. The program also leads facilities towards golf’s accredited international label of environmental and social excellence, GEO Certified.
A new alliance for Troon in 2024 was Oman’s world-class oceanfront golf destination, Al Mouj Golf. The club’s reputation as a premier golf destination is amplified by sustainability commitment. Al Mouj Golf has been re-certified in the industry-leading GEO and Audubon standards for 2023, making it one of only a few golf clubs in the world to maintain both certifications. It is home to five natural water ponds and actively conserves six nesting areas for the 173 bird species that make use of the golf course for resting, nesting and migrating.
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“I feel it’s our responsibility to preserve and protect the wildlife and habitat on our golf courses,” said Steven Johnson, the golf course superintendent at Al Mouj Golf. “It’s also important to promote the sustainable programs that take place on the courses and the positive impact these have on the environment and greater community. By embracing natural ecology and enhancing the golfing experience, we uphold our commitment to sustainability.
“Through our partnership with Haya Water, for example, we ensure the responsible collection and composting of landscaping green without disrupting golfers. This partnership exemplifies our dedication to environmental stewardship and the preservation of our world-class resort."
Driving Long-Term Sustainable Changes
Costa Navarino in Messinia, Greece, is the latest facility to become GEO Certified, joining several other international facilities including Al Zorah Golf Club in Ajman, United Arab Emirates, and PGA National Czech Republic in Prague, Czech Republic.
For Costa Navarino, this distinction for The Bay Course and The Dunes Course marks a significant milestone in a long-standing dedication to nature, conserving resources, adding community value and taking meaningful climate action.
Diving into their diverse initiatives, Costa Navarino leads Europe with its olive tree transplantation program, and their innovative Bay Course clubhouse stands as a beacon of sustainable design, constructed in line with cutting-edge Bioclimatic Architecture principles.
Nestled along the picturesque Algarve Coast, Salgados Golf Club in Portugal isn't just a golfer's paradise, it’s a haven for migratory bird species and majestic flamingos. With a deep reverence for the local ecosystem, the club takes great care to preserve and protect this natural sanctuary, ensuring that the birds find an authentic habitat to call home amid the lush greens and azure waters of the stunning course.
From land to sea, the team at Velaa Private Island in the Maldives continue to develop their unique Coral Restoration Program as part of their environmental stewardship locally. The resort is achieving big things underwater, with the successful transplantation of more than 4,200 nursery grown corals, with a survival rate of more than 80 percent.
Most recently, the resort has welcomed the installation of Biorock reefs, an electrical reef regeneration technology that produces natural building materials in the sea through safe, extremely low voltage currents. The slow-trickle charge makes corals more resistant to stress and accelerates growth, settlement and survival, of all marine organisms, increasing the biodiversity of the reef as well as protecting it from future bleaching.
Dubai Hills Golf Club is focused on sustainability implementing energy-efficient practices and enhancing biodiversity on their grounds to their latest initiative, going plastic-free, and encouraging all members and guests to bring their own water bottle and use accessible water points around the club.
The club is also committed to the growth and conservation of Ghaf trees. These trees are thriving abundantly in the club’s landscape areas, and the club actively supports their growth during the initial years. Being highly drought tolerant, Ghaf trees require no irrigation and subsequently help reduce resource consumption.
“Witnessing the unwavering dedication of our clubs to sustainability initiatives is truly inspiring,” Troon International EVP DJ Flanders said. “From eco-tourism destinations that serve as sanctuaries for local wildlife to implementing innovative measures that minimize environmental footprints and conserve precious resources like water, and even embracing the challenge of going plastic-free, each proactive step leaves a lasting and positive mark on our planet.”
