The more you lean into environmental issues, and the more proactive you are, the more you bring it into contact with your community, the more money you’ll save. You’ll make wiser long-term investments.
Jonathan Smith is the founder and Executive Director of the GEO Foundation for Sustainable Golf and one of the foremost authorities on golf sustainability in the world. His foundation focuses on creating a symbiotic relationship with strategic partners to help golf clubs, architects, and individual tournaments reach their sustainability goals.
The majority of golf facilities need to know how sustainability benefits the business and the steps they can take to unlock those benefits efficiently and effectively. However, there are numerous areas in which someone can start with sustainability efforts, which can be challenging and overwhelming. The GEO Foundation seeks to hone that pathway for its members.
The more you lean into environmental issues, and the more proactive you are, the more you bring it into contact with your community, the more money you’ll save. You’ll make wiser long-term investments. You’ll generate more access to funding and sponsorships from local businesses.
- Jonathan’s career journey and the origin of the GEO Foundation [1:28]
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- Jonathan grew up in a typical Scottish family, playing golf from the age of 4.
- He studied geography and environmental science and did some work with the Scottish Golf Union as an Environmental Manager.
- A small think tank led to the formation of his non-profit foundation for the good of golf: The GEO Foundation for Sustainable Golf.
- The mission of the GEO Foundation for Sustainable Golf [4:04]
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- The issues of sustainability within golf are diverse, complex, and global. To do something meaningful, the GEO foundation covers a large scope.
- The guidelines, programs, and tools spawned from thinking about the impact of golf and opportunities that could arise.
- They help tournaments, golf developments and renovations, professional players, and associations with strategies, leadership commitments, and plans.
- They have a growing number of collaborations internationally (50+ associations and governing bodies in 25 countries) and their programs and tools are used by thousands of golf facilities in 65 countries.
- They nurture their community and share what the community is doing to breed more passion for sustainability. It’s about finding simple and clever ways to bring people into the collective effort.
- How to get organizations to take the first step toward sustainability [14:55]
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- Facilities can start by embracing the GEO’s ”Sustainable Golf Pledge,” and use their highlights hub to create sustainability stories to shine a light on the movement.
- The third step is using their free OnCourse® program. It’s full of industry best practices and key data. You can collate information to make better business decisions. It provides reports and scorecards back to the clubs.
- Jonathan recommends spending time looking at what you’re doing. How many of the best practices are you delivering? What does performance look like? Are you efficient?
- You can get certified through the GEO Foundation to gain recognition for your sustainability efforts.
- Every course will still suffer from droughts and flooding, pests and diseases, and living without products that can help. Sustainability practices will help with their business through these struggles.
- The importance of association partnerships and relationships [21:48]
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- Their foundation exists to drive impact for the larger society. Over the years, they’ve shown that they’re committed to being a good partner to the industry. That can mean pushing the boundaries in an open and collaborative way.
- If they can do something in partnership with a major golf association as a result of the tools they provide, that’s a win. They’re a supportive act to the golf industry.
- How the different regions of the world incorporate sustainability practices [25:13]
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- Every country has a slightly different strategy for engaging their memberships. Ultimately, it’s about getting calls-to-action right and gaining consumer engagement.
- Canada, the Netherlands, and Switzerland are all embracing simple strategies that are having a profound impact.
- The journey leads to an uptick in stronger sustainability in their clubs, leading to more efficient, popular, and profitable golf clubs.
- How regulations drive sustainability in golf regionally [29:53]
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- It’s important to do this work proactively and voluntarily and get ahead of regulations. You want to get industry in position to influence regulations in a favorable way.
- The word “golf” is appearing in regulatory texts for the first time. The window of opportunity for co-regulation is narrowing. Sectors need to bring their A-game.
- Regulation and environmental activism against golf in Europe have prompted more awareness. That’s why there needs to be a commitment to a plan.
- Democratizing access to the game of golf [32:20]
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- We are responsible to communities and people as well as the environment. If we don’t engage people, and they don’t feel passionate about the environment, initiatives won’t work.
- Golf has a carbon footprint because it’s productive in some way. The outputs are social. Social value is incredibly important.
- If you fill the potential of every golf club on the social and environmental side, the economic side becomes stronger.
- What drives Jonathan? Who inspires him? [42:44]
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- We’re only on the planet for a finite amount of time. Jonathan wants to have a positive impact on the world and a sport that he loves and cares about.
- Jonathan is inspired by Gordon Shepherd, who used to work as Head of Policy for WWF International in Switzerland. He’s also inspired by Lewis Pugh, an extreme swimmer and Ocean ambassador for the UN, who brings awareness to the plight of the oceans.
- The volume of ideas and information can lead to a fragmented industry. Everyone is doing something different. Jonathan hopes for more collaboration and alignment in the future.
Resources & People Mentioned
Connect with Jonathan Smith
Connect With Golf Sustainability
Subscribe to Golf Sustainability
Note: Timestamps provided are approximate.
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