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For Immediate Release
Friday June 8 2007
Picture annotation (from l to r) - Jose Castillo, EMAS, European Commission; Jonathan Smith, Golf Environment Europe; Maria Stranberg, Chair of European Forum for Golf and Environment; Nicholas Hanley, Head of Communications, DG Environment, European Commission,; Nick Faldo, current Ryder Cup Captain; George O'Grady, Chief Executive, European Tour; Bernd Liebmann CEO, e/motion, promoters of the Austrian Open.
RYDER CUP 2010 TO ADVANCE SUSTAINABILITY IN GOLF
The Celtic Manor Resort, focal point for last week's Wales Open and host venue for The Ryder Cup in three years time, is back in the full glare of the spotlight again this week with the announcement that The 2010 Ryder Cup will be one of golf's most environmentally sustainable events.
Following a series of meetings between Ryder Cup Europe, Ryder Cup Wales and The Celtic Manor Resort owner Sir Terry Matthews last weekend, all parties have expressed their firm commitment to the match becoming the greenest Ryder Cup ever. The partners in the event will now formulate a detailed environmental action plan, which will also evaluate the potential to become the first international golf event to participate in the European Commission's Eco Management and Audit Scheme (EMAS).
The announcement was made as Austria welcomed Europe's Golf Community to a two-day Congress during the BA-CA Open. The gathering of delegates in the splendid city of Vienna, at the confluence of East and West Europe, follows an initiative by Andy Morgan, the Welsh President of the European Golf Association (EGA), to co-host the multi-nation Congress, along with The European Tour, with the aim of 'Uniting Europe in Golf'.
As a result, both The Ryder Cup administration and The Celtic Manor Resort will work in tandem to meet the high environmental standards expected of an event of this stature.
Making the announcement, Richard Hills, Ryder Cup Director, said: "The Ryder Cup has been cognisant of the need for environmental stewardship for many years. We gained experience of dealing with environmental issues in 1997 at Valderrama, in 2002 at The Belfry, and most recently at The K Club last year.
"However, we have recognised that the environmental debate is moving and there is a need to extend further, into new and challenging areas. EMAS is a very useful mechanism to help us better identify, avoid and mitigate the event's environmental impacts and we will explore further its application for 2010.
"We see this policy of environmental responsibility fitting very well alongside the huge economic and social value of the competition, enabling us to show its true sustainability."
Sir Terry Matthews, Owner of The Celtic Manor Resort and the driving force behind the biennial contest visiting Wales for the first time, said: "There has always been a strong commitment to preservation of the archeological sites of interest within the Resort. This welcome new initiative reflects my own views and the standards we strive for throughout the resort. We already have one of the highest levels of Environmental Awards available in Wales in Green Dragon Level 4 and we are committed to setting new environmental standards in hosting the Wales Open event annually and, of course, at The 2010 Ryder Cup event itself."
The announcement also quickly gained the support of Europe's 2008 Ryder Cup Captain, Nick Faldo, who found time from his hectic schedule to fly into Vienna to participate in the Congress.
He said: "This is wonderful news for The Ryder Cup and for golf as a whole. The essence of The Ryder Cup tradition is integrity and sportsmanship. It is one of the world's great sporting occasions, and it is entirely right that the Ryder Cup should also play its part in setting new standards within event staging and that it takes responsibility wherever possible in addressing the environmental challenges we all face".
"I am honoured to be Ryder Cup Captain for 2008, but equally honoured to know that one of the legacies of 2008 will be a truly sustainable European Match in 2010. I extend my congratulations to Ryder Cup Europe and Ryder Cup Wales for this pioneering announcement and to The Celtic Manor Resort for supporting the programme with an already far reaching environmental programme."
Timo Makela, Director of Sustainability at the European Commission, added his support for the announcement by commenting: "The announcement made by the Ryder Cup is a welcoming reminder as to the role sports events such as golf tournaments can play in tackling environmental issues and reducing the impact they have on the environment."
"Sporting events capture the attention of hundreds of millions of people worldwide. They can help raise awareness of environmental issues and show how good environmental practices such as energy efficiency, water conservation, reduced carbon emissions and biodiversity conservation can best be integrated in day-to-day activities. EMAS is designed to help organisations address such issues and report on progress made."
The work will be coordinated by Golf Environment Europe (GEE), the non profit specialists in sustainability in golf. Their Chairman, Bjorn Nordberg, added: "GEE are delighted to be at the heart of this activity. We have been actively supporting golf organisations in their work to address environmental issues, and commend Ryder Cup Ltd and its partners for now making a commitment which assists in European golf's efforts to play a credible role in the drive for greater sustainability in society."
Rob Holt Chief Executive of Ryder Cup Wales, commented: "The Welsh Assembly Government has a sustainable development duty enshrined in legislation and will be looking to everyone involved in the event to achieve the highest possible environmental standards in 2010. We are delighted to support the initiative of Ryder Cup Europe and The Celtic Manor Resort, which will fully complement the extensive environmental work already being undertaken throughout Wales."
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SWAN GOLF DESIGNS join Golf Environment Europe
Swan Golf Designs, professional golf course architects of international repute and experience, working in some 25 countries has become a Technical Member of Golf Environment Europe.
Howard Swan's practice is the first design firm to do so.
The practice also is sponsoring GEE's Environmental Innovation and Technology Network.
By this agreement Swan Golf Designs marks its commitment to support environmental education and information exchange within European golf.
Swan's support of the Innovation and Technology Network will facilitate practical projects across a wide range of environmental topics and bring to it vast experience in aspects of the game's physical development.
In addition Swan Golf Designs will contribute to the collation and coordination of information on developmental approaches, protocols and procedures on European Golf courses.
Howard Swan, Principal Architect, adds:
"Our mission has always been to couch our designs into the natural landscape and environment" and this is a core philosophy for us. The recent launch of our Environmental Policy Statement is now added to by our membership of GEE.
We are simply delighted to be the first architectural practice to be a member and we shall look forward to work with and support GEE's initiative, particularly in the golf course developmental aspects of provision and management.
Our respective aims and objectives are the same - to lay out ... and see managed ... environmentally sensitive designs, always striving for that sustainable aim, financially and socially too.
"We have always worked hard to ensure our own designs consider fully environmental needs. Our Environmental Policy Statement sets out our principles for the more sustainable use for natural resources in golf course design and construction, for the conservation of landscapes and biodiversity, for adaptation to climate change, for the delivery of environmental enhancements which play a part in improving people's quality of life - both golfers and non golfers."
"Golf Environment Europe is delighted to welcome Swan Golf Designs on board" said Jonathan Smith of GEE. The Company has clearly seen the need for the golf industry to take effective action on this theme and that this action needs to be collective - with developmental organisations like GEE, and individual practitioners like Swan Designs, both having to play a part. We commend them on their vision and readiness to support golf's efforts in this field."
Swan Golf Designs follow the principles and practices enshrined in both the European Institute of Golf Course Architect's Environmental Policy Statement and the Best Practice Guidelines of The R & A.
The Innovation and Technology Network, which this sponsorship supports, was formed by Golf Environment Europe in partnership with the Sports Turf Research Institute, the Scandinavian Turfgrass Foundation, Cranfield Centre for Water Science and the University of Pisa in Italy. It cooperates with other researchers and educators in Europe and North Carolina State University. The Network serves to help coordinate and disseminate technical environmental information within the European golf sector.
The main project currently under development is the Environmental Resource Centre for European Golf - the depository for a wide range of technical information across all key environmental topics relating to different aspects of golf. Key sections focus on the golf course, the clubhouse, the maintenance facility and golf development.
Jonathan Smith continued, "The sponsorship support from Swan Golf Designs and our other Technical Members is directly responsible for our ongoing work to bring technical environmental information to practitioners across Europe. We are looking forward to launch of the resource centre towards the end of 2007."
Technical information will be posted to a central web-based information centre during 2007. In the interim, a number of sources of technical information can be obtained from the Technical Library at www.golfenvironmenteurope.org .
