What Are They Doing?
As mentioned, many golf organisations are already addressing environmental issues within their particular field of influence. This activity is briefly summarised below. N.B. This is not a fully comprehensive list of organisations and activities. Please also see the pages on NATIONAL PROJECTS which give details of environmental activity within various countries.

R&A
The R&A are, along with the USGA, the world's governing body for the Rules of Golf. For many years they have considered the environmental aspects of the game, through their Technical Advisory Panel, which in 2001 became the Golf Course Committee. This Committee allocates funds, generated by the Open Golf Championship, back into research and development projects relating to golf course management and development. There is a particular focus on environmental best practice and sustainability. The R&A Best Practice Website sets out a wide range of guidance for golf course management and development. The R&A has also project funded many golf environment projects, and are an active player in the ongoing sustainability debates within the golf sector.

Click here for www.bestcourseforgolf.org

European Golf Association
The EGA are the umbrella organisation for the national golf federations, who govern the amateur game in each country, and to whom golf clubs and golfers are affiliated. The EGA was integral to the first formal discussions on golf and environment in the early 1990's, when it established the European Golf Association Ecology Unit, which later became the Committed to Green Foundation. The EGA have long promoted the principles of golf development and management that are in harmony with the environment.

Click here for www.ega-golf.ch

European Tour
As the main organiser of professional golf tournaments, located around the world, the European Tour have long recognised the need for an environmentally responsible approach to planning, operating and dismantling their events. This culminated in 2002 with the joint publication of the Committed to Green Environmental Guidelines for Golf Events. These guidelines have been applied at the 1997 Ryder Cup in Valderrama, at the 2002 Ryder Cup at the Belfry, and are currently being plan ed for the 2006 Ryder Cup at the K-Club.

Click here for The European Tour Environmental Policy Statement

Click here for European Tour Environmental Action Plan

Click here for www.europeantour.com

European Institute of Golf Course Architects
As one of the few formal professional bodies involved in golf course planning, design and construction, the EIGCA have a pivotal role to play in ensuring the sustainable development of new golf courses. The Institute are currently drafting their own environmental principles and policy statement, to which their members will have to abide. In addition they are a lead partner in a project to produce environmental guidelines for new golf course development, through the EFSG. For many years their Diploma and MSc courses in golf course architecture have been underpinned by very detailed and credible environmental content. They are committed to the communication and application of EIA processes within golf course planning, design and construction. Environmental information is regularly communicated to members via a range of media.

Click here for The EIGCA Environmental Policy Statement

Click here for EIGCA Environmental Action Plan

Click here for www.eigca.org

Federation of European Golf Greenkeepers Associations
FEGGA have long worked to an environmental policy statement, which sets out the environmental reposnibilities of the greenkeeping sector as a whole, and those of individual greenkeepers. As a founder member of the CTG Foundation, and a lead partner in the EFSG, FEGGA have done much to communicate policies and guidance to national greenkeeper associations and through to individual greenkeepers in the field.

Click here for The FEGGA Environmental Policy Statement

Click here for FEGGA Environmental Action Plan

Click here for www.fegga.org

PGAs of Europe
Given the increasingly important and influential role of golf club professionals, and with the PGAs of Europe providing a vehicle to spread environmental information within this sub sector, the PGAs of Europe have become an active member of the EFSG. They themselves have also recognised the need for PGA members to be aware of environmental issues, and the catalytic role golf professionals can often play in getting golf facilities to develop their environmental programmes.  

Click here for PGAE Environmental Policy Statement

Click here for PGAE Environmental Action Plan

Click here for www.pgae.com

European Golf Course Owners Association
The EGCOA have expressed considerable interest in and commitment towards communicating with their members on environmental issues, which they recognise are fundamental to efficient business development. A new website has been established for all European members, with a section detailing what environmental issues are, how they can be addressed and the benefits of adopting an approach to the sustainable management of the golf facility as a whole.

Click here for The EGCOA Environmental Policy Statement

Click here for EGCOA Environmental Action Plan

Click here for www.egcoa.org