By Rahul Banerji
Seeking to further establish its eco-credentials, Singapore’s Sentosa Golf Club has announced a collaboration with the international sustainable golf non-profit GEO Foundation.
It brings an integration of GEO’s OnCourse® programme and GEO Certified® label with Sentosa’s ‘green culture’ that makes it a leader in industry best practices, golf operators’ body IAGTO said.
The partnership aims at pioneering innovative practices; gathering, verifying and reporting credible results; advocating similar steps at other courses and elevating Sentosa’s commitment to serve as a centre of excellence.
Andrew Johnston, general manager and director of Agronomy at Sentosa GC, said: “This is an important partnership for us.
“Working with GEO Foundation is a natural next step on our journey to elevate the impact of our sustainability practice; creating new opportunities through education and responsible leadership, providing benefits to stakeholders and championing innovation to set new benchmarks in such a crucial sector.”
Added Jonathan Smith, GEO Foundation founder and executive director: “We are delighted to work more closely with Sentosa Golf Club as it looks to further enhance its reputation for sustainability.
Forwad-looking
“This collaboration will help us work together to identify new projects and practices; track performance using the in-build sustainability indicators in OnCourse®; and achieve new levels of measuring, reporting and communicating.
“We’re particularly excited about doing this in a way that aligns directly with leading approaches in other sectors, businesses and governments.
“We commend their (Sentosa’s) ambition towards positive social and environmental impact, at a time when, as we all know, it is very much needed.”
The partnership builds on Sentosa’s sustainability track record, including continual efforts to highlight the subject’s growing significance, IAGTO said.
“Campaigns such as ‘#KeepItGreen’, introduced at the SMBC Singapore Open in January 2018, highlighted key green features to educate all stakeholders as to the importance of ecological stewardship, a statement said.
“In January this year, the club intensified its focus via its GAME ON campaign, designed to table climate change concerns to help educate, build awareness and illustrate how modernised practice can reduce individual clubs’ environmental footprints.
Detailed analysis
“Working with GEO’s framework for sustainable golf, Sentosa will undertake detailed analysis of practices, key performance data and highlights across environmental and social topics, including: Ecosystems and Biodiversity; Turfgrass maintenance; Water resources; Energy and Materials; Pollution prevention and others.
“Carbon emissions will also be tracked and analysed using the OnCourse® Carbon Calculator. New ideas and opportunities arising will be directly integrated into the Club’s forward plans.
“The partnership is well underway as the team at Sentosa makes positive progress with the renovation of its Serapong Course,” IAGTO added.
Sentosa GC is currently ranked 59th on the ‘Top 100 World’s Greatest Golf Courses’ by Golf Digest.
Leading venues
ItsSerapong and New Tanjong courses occupy the top places in Golf Digest’s latest biennial rankings for ‘Singapore’s Best Courses’.
The club has hosted the SMBC Singapore Open on a record 11 occasions.
Sentosa is also home to the HSBC Women’s World Championship, a marquee LPGA Tour event that has been dubbed as ‘Asia’s Major’.
Sentosa GC currently holds six Asian Golf Awards, including ‘Best Managed Golf Club in Asia Pacific’, ‘Best Maintained Course in Asia Pacific’ and ‘Best Championship Course in Asia Pacific’.
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