Partnerships

Swiss Golf Swiss Golf wants to firmly establish the subject of sustainability in the Swiss golf industry and encourage its members to engage in sustainable management.

Partnership with GEO

The Golf Environment Organization (GEO) Foundation is an international not-for-profit organisation, which helps golf to achieve positive effects on man and nature.

GEO

The organisation founded by Jonathan Smith in 2007 is based in North Berwick (Scotland). GEO is the world-leading sustainability system for golf. As the only label in the field of sport, the non-profit organisation is a member of the ISEAL Alliance and is highly regarded worldwide.

In a hundred countries around the globe, golf facilities and tournaments allow their sustainable action and behaviour to be inspected and certified by GEO. GEO has designed its sustainability system for three spheres – golf facility operations (GEO- certified facility), development and renovation of golf facilities (GEO-certified development), tournaments (GEO-certified tournament).

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Partnership with the “Drehscheibe Kreislaufwirtschaft” (circular economy hub) for Swiss Recycling

In the context of this partnership, specific projects are implemented to increasingly close the loop.

The umbrella organisation of Swiss Golf and the “Vereinigung Drehscheibe Kreislaufwirtschaft Schweiz” (circular economy hub Switzerland association - for Swiss Recycling) are jointly involved in the field of sustainability. The partnership agreement signed by Swiss golf and the “Drehscheibe Kreislaufwirtschaft” for Swiss Recycling on 29th August 2019, provides for the targeted optimisation of closed-cycle capability and waste streams within the Swiss Golf industry by means of specific projects and activities. They seek to do this, for example, through an improved collection infrastructure for drinks packagings in golf clubs and at golf facilities.

Swiss Recycling – “Drehscheibe Kreislaufwirtschaft” (circular economy hub)

Swiss Recycling stands for high quality, transparent and sustainable development at all levels of recycling – from separate collection via logistics through to the utilisation and use of secondary material. The members undertake to implement the standards defined in the Swiss Recycling charter: these are, in particular, transparency in the flow of substances and finances, optimised take-back schemes, and sustainable development.

swissrecycling.ch

Partnership with PUSCH

Pusch stands for a healthy environment, the sustainable use of resources, and diverse and species-rich habitats.

PUSCH

For this, Pusch offers a wide range of continuing education and training courses, conferences, aids for public relations work, publications and environmental lessons. More than 60,000 school pupils and several thousand adults benefit from these every year. Pusch is independent of party politics, is not-for-profit and entitled to appeal.

pusch.ch

Partnership with The R&A

The R&A is not only the guardian of the rules of golf, it also offers best practice guidelines on all aspects of golf course management, in order to promote the worldwide growth of golf in a cost-effective and environmentally-acceptable way.

The R&A

The R&A, established in 2004 and based in St. Andrews (Scotland), pursues and supports activities which benefit the sport of golf. (The enterprise is completely independent of the Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews.) In order to promote golf worldwide in a cost-effective and ecologically sustainable way, The R&A has developed a Golf Course 2030 programme with best practice guidelines..

It is involved, among other things, in greenkeeper training and works closely together with the GEO Foundation. One product of that cooperation is the “On Course” programme.

The R&A holds the view that a lasting commitment can influence the impact of golf on nature and resources with the aim of leaving a positive sporting, ecological and social legacy for future generations.

randa.org

Declaration of intent with the Ornithological Institute Sempach

Birds are welcome on golf courses. Swiss Golf and the Swiss Ornithological Institute Sempach would like to increase the value of golf courses as habitats for birds.

Vogelwarte Sempach (Sempach Ornithological Station)

Golf courses can be suitable habitats for numerous species of birds. Surveys by the Swiss Ornithological Institute Sempach at the golf facilities of Andermatt, Holzhäusern, Oberkirch, Leuk and Hildisrieden show that the great variety of birds and other animal species on golf courses with generous ecological offsetting expanses is often greater that in surrounding areas. It is even possible for rare species to be specifically encouraged.

In early March 2020, Swiss Golf and the Ornithological Institute agreed to support each other, and to exchange experiences around encouraging the variety of species on golf courses. Both the Ornithological Institute and Swiss Golf are convinced that golf course habitats can be improved even further for birds and the diversity of species in general.

Golf facilities which are members of the Swiss Golf umbrella organisation can turn to the expertise of the Ornithological Institute for any questions on protecting and supporting the bird world. Every golf course must be judged as an individual case on the strength of its individual condition. A list of the breeding and migratory birds species present or even an inventory (number of pairs per species) is a valuable basis for this. If ornithologists would like to draw up lists of species or even carry out an inventory of breeding birds on golf courses, the Ornithological Institute is prepared to support them. Volunteer ornithologists can also advise golf facility managers on where it would be useful to put up (additional) nesting boxes for birds, and which kinds.

However, the upkeep of the course by the greenkeepers remains decisive for the animal world on a golf course, in particular the way in which the non-playing surface areas are organised and tended (ecological offsetting areas).

vogelwarte.ch