From water conservation to reducing tournament emissions, this episode offers a detailed look at the work happening behind the scenes that could help reshape the future of golf.
Why wouldn’t the PGA Tour help lead the charge in golf sustainability? I’m joined by Brazos Barber, the Director of Sustainability for the PGA Tour for his insights in sustainable golf and the PGA Tour. As golf faces growing environmental challenges, Brazos shares his personal journey with me: leading sustainability efforts within one of the world’s largest sporting organizations.
His work has quietly but powerfully transformed sustainability initiatives at both PGA Tour events and TPC (Tournament Players Club) golf courses across the country.
We talk a lot about exactly how the PGA Tour is taking meaningful strides toward environmental responsibility, with the WM Phoenix Open serving as the gold standard for zero-waste events.
Brazos shares the bigger goal of integrating sustainability into the DNA of all PGA Tour operations while highlighting the tour’s approach to climate action, nature promotion, and sustainable partnerships.
From water conservation to reducing tournament emissions, this episode offers a detailed look at the work happening behind the scenes that could help reshape the future of golf.
Topics covered:
- Opening and Introduction to Sustainability at the PGA Tour [00:00]
-
-
- Brazos Barber introduces his role as the Director of Sustainability for the PGA Tour.
- He talks about how sustainability efforts vary by location, with the WM Phoenix Open standing out as the pinnacle of environmental efforts in sports.
- I reflect on how the PGA Tour's sustainability efforts deserve more recognition than they currently receive.
- Brazos Barber’s Career Journey from sports management to sustainability [01:28]
-
-
- Brazos shares his path from sports management at Florida State University to sales within the PGA Tour, eventually leading to his role in sustainability.
- His turning point came in 2019 when players pushed the tour to eliminate single-use plastics, which led Brazos to form a task force dedicated to sustainability.
- His passion for environmental issues began to merge with his career in sports, culminating in his appointment as Director of Sustainability in April 2023.
- The PGA Tour’s Sustainability Philosophy [04:23]
-
-
- Brazos mentions the unique relationship between golf and nature, noting how climate directly impacts the sport.
- The PGA Tour developed a mission statement focused on leadership in climate action and nature promotion.
- Brazos introduces the organization’s four pillars of sustainability: Leadership & Influence, Climate Action, Purpose-Driven Partnerships, and Promotion of Nature.
- Sustainability at TPC Courses and Establishing Baselines [07:31]
-
-
- Overview of the three areas Brazos oversees: Tournaments, TPC courses, and PGA Tour offices.
- The TPC courses have been Audubon International certified, and the tour is working towards GEO Foundation certification to set sustainability baselines for emissions, water, and waste.
- Water use management is critical, particularly in areas like Phoenix, where protests have arisen over golf courses' access to water during droughts.
- Sustainable Golf Practices at PGA Tour Events [14:09]
-
-
- Detailed exploration of efforts to make PGA Tour events more sustainable, particularly highlighting the WM Phoenix Open as a leading example of a zero-waste sporting event.
- Challenges of working in different markets, where access to recycling or sustainability programs can vary greatly.
- Waste management and how the PGA Tour leverages partnerships with companies like WM (Waste Management) to set standards for other events and improve overall sustainability.
- The Importance of Partnerships in Sustainability [18:48]
-
-
- The role of Waste Management is to provide advisory services to help with emissions, water use, and waste across TPC properties and events.
- Collaboration with the GEO Foundation for Sustainable Golf, a Scottish nonprofit that provides certifications for sustainable golf courses and tournaments, helping to validate the PGA Tour’s efforts.
- Green Sports Alliance and other partnerships enable knowledge-sharing across leagues and sports organizations.
- Challenges of Tournament Attendee Travel and Emissions [23:09]
-
- Scope 3 emissions, particularly from attendee travel, make up a large part of the PGA Tour's carbon footprint.
- Discussion on how the tour is considering new ways to mitigate the impact, such as enabling fans to offset their travel emissions.
- Future plans to carefully commit to sustainability goals while considering the complex nature of event-based emissions.
Resources & People Mentioned
Connect with Our Guests
Connect With Golf Sustainability
Subscribe to Golf Sustainability
Note: Timestamps provided are approximate.
Thank you for listening to the Golf Sustainability podcast. If you found this episode interesting, don’t forget to subscribe and leave a review! For more insights and updates on sustainable energy solutions, visit our website and follow us on social media.
Audio, Video, and Show Notes by - PODCAST FAST TRACK
LISTEN ON