Sustainability is measurable. Golf is leading sport in this area, with its own standards, online reporting and independently verified certification for new developments, existing facility operations and tournament staging. The GEO Foundation, an international non-profit dedicated to advancing sustainability in and through golf, working closely with and supported by industry associations, has developed a credible and practical sustainability system for golf.
Voluntary Sustainability Standards (VSS) have been collaboratively developed to ISEAL Codes of Practice, and reviewed at regular intervals, spanning all key elements of golf’s Nature, Resources and Community (sustainability) agenda.
OnCourse® is a modern and multi-functional online platform that enables grass roots facilities to: access the latest best practices, guidance and resources; record, analyse and track their performance; share and promote their activities and highlights; and gain credible recognition through accredited third-party certification.
OnCourse® also tracks and stores all facility and industry KPI’s to create a database of reportable sustainability metrics for golf – locally, nationally and internationally.
GEO Certified® provides third party verified and transparent certification scheme for golf facilities, new developments and tournaments, based on detailed policies and procedures and in line with ISEAL Codes for Assurance and Monitoring and Evaluation of Impacts. The OnCourse® platform should be the starting point for any golf facility interested in sustainability in and through golf, and in their own sustainability performance, and is the ideal platform from which to achieve certification.
(Read more in the May issue of Golf Digest India. Download here.)