EUROPEAN TOUR AND THE GOLF ENVIRONMENT ORGANISATION

Environmental issues play an increasingly significant part in the development and management of golf courses. The European Tour recognises the need to demonstrate its commitment to environmental good practice and sustainability, and has pledged ongoing support for the Golf Environment Organisation (GEO).

GEO is a non-profit organisation established to support and report on golf’s environmental activities, in Europe and beyond. The body is led by an Advisory Council comprising senior figures from the golf and environmental sectors.  GEO also convenes an Industry Forum, which brings together all major European golfing organisations to form collective strategy and drive environmental programmes.

The GEO strategy covers five main areas:

• Environmental communications both within golf and externally;
• The greening of golf events, including The Ryder Cup;
• Propagating cutting edge technical information across the sector;
• Administering the GEO Certification programme for new and existing golf facilities;
• Publishing guidelines for the sustainable development of new golf courses.

GEO is assisting The European Tour and Ryder Cup Europe in developing an ever-strengthening portfolio of environmental action related to the staging of golf events. 

You can find further information on the work of GEO at www.golfenvironment.org

The ongoing environmental actions supported by The European Tour continue to deliver the principles of the ‘Valderrama Declaration’ on golf, environment and sustainability. This was issued on 8 November 1999 as a joint statement by the governing bodies of golf, the European Commission, United Nations Environment Programme, WWF International and the International Olympic Committee. The Declaration sets out the principles for a joint cross-sectoral approach to environmental issues, and specifies direct, long-term support for practical programmes.