Ryder Cup 2010 to Advance Sustainability in Golf


The Celtic Manor Resort in Newport, Wales and host venue for the 2010 Ryder Cup has announced the event will be one of golf's most environmentally sustainable events. Following a series of meetings between Ryder Cup Europe, Ryder Cup Wales and Celtic Manor Resort owner Sir Terry Matthews, all parties expressed a commitment to the matches becoming the greenest Ryder Cup ever. The partners will formulate a detailed environmental action plan that will evaluate the potential to become the first international golf event to participate in the European Commission's Eco Management and Audit Scheme.

In making the announcement, Richard Hills, Ryder Cup director, said, "The Ryder Cup has been cognizant 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 recognized that the environmental debate is moving and there is a need to extend further, into new and challenging areas. The Eco Management and Audit Scheme 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."

Matthews 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 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. Faldo 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."

The work will be coordinated by Golf Environment Europe, nonprofit specialists in sustainability in golf. Its chairman, Bjorn Nordberg, added, "GEE is delighted to be at the heart of this activity. We have been actively supporting golf organizations 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."

Thanks to the GCSAA's Divot Mix e-magazine for the above article. For more, visit www.gcsaa.org.