From a press release:<\/p>\n
St Andrews Links has become the first Open Championship venue to achieve the prestigious GEO Certified ecolabel in recognition of its sustainability commitment and achievements.<\/em><\/p>\n St Andrews Links Trust, which manages the seven courses at the Home of Golf including the Old Course and The Castle Course, has operated a sustainability programme for many years and this approach was described by Mike Wood, the accredited verifier, as being \u201cclose to defining an ideal model for sustainable management.\u201d<\/em><\/em><\/p>\n The Golf Environment Organisation (GEO) is an international non-profit organisation, supported by stakeholders across the golf community to help build awareness and understanding, provide practical programmes and reward achievements with the GEO Certified ecolabel.<\/em><\/p>\n In the GEO verification report the assessor praised the Trust\u2019s commitment to social responsibility and community engagement as well as the eco-friendly manner in which the clubhouses, retail outlets and other facilities are operated. They said that not only was the Trust nurturing a 600 year heritage as the birthplace of the game, it was a \u201cstandard bearer for 21st Century good practice in golf management.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n A number of sustainability measures at the Links were highlighted by the assessor, including:<\/em><\/p>\n \u2022\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 The high quality of the golf courses\u2019 playing surfaces which are maintained with minimal fertiliser, chemical and irrigation inputs.<\/em>
\n\u2022\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 The restoration of the distinctive dune landscape between the New and Jubilee courses, recreating a natural habitat area.<\/em>
\n\u2022\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Managing the courses in such a way as to contribute to the management of the neighbouring SSSI at the Eden Estuary.<\/em>
\n\u2022\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 The comprehensive range of energy efficiency measures in operation in the clubhouses and facilities.<\/em>
\n\u2022\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 The re-use of organic materials and other recycling activities. <\/em>
\n\u2022\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Working in close partnership and co-operation with the local community. <\/em>
\n\u2022\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 The transformation of intensively managed mixed farmland, into a new golf course (The Castle Course) with an extensive matrix of grassland habitats.<\/em>
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\nGEO has been dedicated to supporting and promoting sustainability in golf since 2006. In the space of two years, more than 250 golf clubs in 34 countries have started the GEO OnCourse programme to achieve the GEO Certified ecolabel. St Andrews Links becomes the 50th golf facility to achieve the distinction.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"