ASIAN GOLF INDUSTRY FEDERATION

IGF’s Commitment to Sports for Nature

IGF Sports Nature1
IGF’s Antony Scanlon (far left) on site at Le Golf National with IUCN’s Meredith McCurdy (second left), FFG’s Christophe Muniesa (centre), IOC’s Tania Braga (second right) and Swiss Golf’s Etienne Marclay (far right). Picture by IGF.

Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines, France: Olympic festivities at Le Golf National – site of the Paris 2024 men’s and women’s golf competitions – officially kicked off with the Olympic torch relay making its way down the field of play and multiple national federations joining the International Golf Federation (IGF) in their formal commitment to the Sports for Nature Framework.

Sports for Nature, which aims to deliver transformative action for nature across sports, is a joint initiative of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), International Olympic Committee (IOC), United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), the Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) and Dona Bertarelli Philanthropy.

The organisation, which aims to halt and reverse bio-diversity loss by engaging with the sports community, welcomed the IGF, French Golf Federation (FFG) and Swiss Golf Federation as signatories of its Sports for Nature Framework.

“By signing the Sports for Nature Framework, the IGF reinforces its commitment to sustainability and recognises the leadership role we play in guiding the sport of golf to make a positive impact on the environment,” said IGF Executive Director Antony Scanlon. “It’s important that those in the golf industry do everything we can to protect and restore nature, especially at golf courses around the globe,” added Scanlon.

The Sports for Nature Framework features four principles to guide sports organisations at all levels:

· Protect nature and avoid damage to natural habitats and species;

· Restore and regenerate nature wherever possible;

· Understand and reduce risks to nature in respective supply chains;

· Educate and inspire positive action for nature across and beyond sport.

Tuesday’s ceremony was a formal declaration from the IGF, FFG and Swiss Golf Federation to support Sports for Nature’s mission to drive positive change and lead by example in the golf community.

“Sports for Nature is honoured to welcome these three signatories, expanding the commitment of both the Olympic movement and the golf communities,” said Sports for Nature Programme Leader Meredith McCurdy.

“It’s especially unique that we can officially welcome these organisations at Le Golf National, a course that has made significant efforts towards protecting and restoring on-site bio-diversity,” added McCurdy.

Scanlon also thanked the FFG and Swiss Golf Federation for their activism and commitment to exploring and implementing sustainability measures to ensure golf’s well-being for future generations.

“My accolades go to the staff at La Golf National,” said PGA Tour Senior Vice President of Agronomy Paul Vermeulen, who also is serving on the Paris Olympics agronomy team.

He added: “They’ve done a great job of investing in their future through conservation, through investing in their infrastructure, the irrigation system, the drainage system, the equipment inventory and most importantly, their staff.

“They actually have individuals on the staff that are dedicated to accomplishing a sustainable future for golf course management. That’s where I applaud them.”

Le Golf National, site of the FedEx Open de France on the DP World Tour since 1991, is regarded as a model of exemplary commitment to sustainability. Under the leadership of the FFG, the venue installed a state-of-the-art irrigation system that helped reduce water usage across the property’s two golf courses by 40 per cent from 2018 to 2023.

In preparation for and during the Olympic golf competitions, the all-electric fleet of mowers have been equipped with sensors to monitor soil moisture for even greater precision for watering measurements and interventions.

Vermeulen said: “We get to scan the fairways every day, and we can see exactly how much moisture has been lost through evaporation … and we can programme the irrigation system to replace that lost quantity of water or use our staff and support staff to target specific areas with handheld hoses.

“It’s going to be, I think, the most sophisticated effort to manage golf course irrigation to date.”

Vermeulen also noted Le Golf National has several designated and protected wildlife areas, and a recent study of Le Golf National’s bio-diversity conducted by the National Museum of Natural History in Paris determined that the property is home to 409 different species of flora and fauna, including 13 heritage species and 33 species in decline.

The formal signing of the Sports for Nature framework agreement included McCurdy, Scanlon, FFG General Manager Christophe Muniesa, and Swiss Golf Board Member and Sustainability Committee Chair Etienne Marclay.

Other Sports for Nature framework signatories include the IOC, Association of National Olympic Committees (ANOC), World Triathlon and World Taekwondo.

*Article by Lisa Antonucci/IGF.

Share with your Friends

View More Articles

Beach Walk Underlines Climate Impact

Beach Walk Underlines Climate Impact

Posted on July 12, 2024
North Berwick, Scotland: Golfers from the DP World Tour and PGA Tour joined forces with local organisations and resident...

About AGIF

The Asian Golf Industry Federation (AGIF) is a non-profit organization dedicated to supporting all facets of the golf industry across Asia. Our members and partners involved in to advance sustainable practices and drive the industry’s growth. Join us in taking the next step towards a sustainable industry.

Contact

Asian Golf Industry Federation
18 Howard Road, #08-07 Novelty Bizcentre,
Singapore 369585
Chief Communications Officer
communications@agif.asia
Membership & Administration Manager
membership@agif.asia

Connect With AGIF

Copyright © 2023 Asian Golf Industry Federation.