The EFSG: An Environmental Voice for European Golf

In only two years the European Forum for Sustainable Golf (EFSG) has established itself as a vital component of European golf’s long term health and development.

Launched in June 2005 by the European Commission, with support from WWF International, the Forum brings together representatives from a multitude of golfing organisations, with the very highest technical competence of experienced golf environment specialists.

Speaking at the launch of the Forum in 2005, Catherine Day (then Director General of DG Environment) said: “The European Commission is pleased to see the golf sector take this important step towards sustainability. Without the correct mechanisms in place golf would remain unable to tackle the environmental and social challenges and opportunities which it faces. The independence of this Forum is paramount, adding credibility to the work of the diverse range of organisations within the sector“.

The Forum was established in response to requests for greater participation and collaboration amongst golf organisations, where common goals could be established and a single collective voice on environmental issues created.

Coordinated by Golf Environment Europe, it operates with full transparency and objectivity over golf’s positive and negative environmental impacts – vital in establishing the credibility of the sector’s efforts. Areas of high priority for the Forum are: Greening of golf events; Environmental management systems and certification programmes; Guidelines for new golf development; and an Environmental Resource Centre which disseminates technical environmental information.

The Forum has helped to raise understanding as to how environmental issues are fundamentally important to growing the game – by strengthening the reputation and protecting the business of golf. It has also brought a tremendous new enthusiasm and passion to the golf environment debate – establishing widespread agreement that ‘doing nothing is not an option’, and demonstrating that environmental issues are a binding factor for the entire industry.

The importance of a collective effort within golf was recently reinforced by Gordon Shepherd, Director of International Policy for WWF International, who commented: “In recent years WWF has been involved in a number of sustainability initiatives in different land management and tourism / recreation sectors. In a short space of time, Golf Environment Europe has stimulated valuable action within golf, engaged with many environmental actors, and produced a strong vision and long term strategy. In the future, the Forum is well placed to offer solutions to course developers and managers, and also encourage golfers to back environmental programmes at their courses and at golf events. There is a genuine opportunity for golf to be the first leisure industry to become part of a sustainable approach to living - such as promoted by WWF in its "One Planet Living" initiative.”

For Golf Environment Europe’s part we are delighted to now be moving on from the development of a strong environmental platform and strategy for golf, towards the implementation of projects which provide the sector with genuine solutions for the many opportunities and challenges that we face. The Forum is a core part of our work, ensuring environmental action in golf is collaborative, transparent, objective and ultimately, credible.

The 6th meeting of the Forum takes place at Ljunghusen, Malmo in Sweden on 11th and 12th October 2007.

Jonathan Smith
Golf Environment Europe

LINK :
Golf Environment Europe