U.S. Kids Golf and Golf della Montecchia collaborate with Golf Environment Organization (GEO) to bring even greater social and environmental value to flagship event
Galzignano Terme, Italy -The organizers and partners of the 2017 U.S. Kids Golf Venice Open have stepped forward this year to make environmental protection and sustainability new elements of a tournament that already delivers so much social value to the players, families and local communities in which it is played.
Building on the overall ethos of golf as a force for good – at an individual and community level – the U.S. Kids Golf Foundation and Golf della Montecchia decided to add this new and important aspect to the event. To do this in the most credible and effective way, they reached out to partner with GEO – the non-profit body entirely dedicated to advancing sustainability in golf and through golf.
“We are extremely delighted to bring this new initiative to the Venice Open,” said Dan Van Horn – President and Founder of U.S. Kids Golf. “The protection and enhancement of the environment is such an important issue, particularly for future generations, so for us to partner with the Golf Environment Organization is a tremendous privilege. The U.S. Kids Golf Foundation shares a common goal of developing best practices and sharing information with the world so we can help grow the game of golf and ensure its future. We would also like to thank the Play 54 courses – Golf della Montecchia, Frassanelle and Galzignano – for helping bring this opportunity forward by both hosting the event for third consecutive year and by being an early adapter of environmentally friendly and sustainable golf courses. Sustainability is crucial to golf’s future and we are very enthusiastic about promoting this initiative, both in Italy and the rest of the world.”
Paolo Casati, President of Golf della Montecchia added: “This initiative with the U.S. Kids Golf Foundation is a wonderful added value to an already fantastic sporting event for children and their families. It also demonstrates our commitment to advancing sustainability in and through golf.
Our thanks to GEO for all their support in planning, recording, reporting and communicating the initiative.
Alessandro de Luca, Greens Section Director with the Italian Golf Federations said, “For many years, the IGF has supported and believed in all the GEO’s activities. We are focused in the management of the courses across the country, in professional and amateur tournaments and also as a commitment around The 2022 Ryder Cup.
Jonathan Smith, Executive Director of GEO thanked the IGF and congratulated U.S. Kids Golf Foundation and the Play 54 courses on their leadership: “Golf events of all sizes can play a really meaningful part in advancing practical action, awareness and education. With the way that children and families are built into the DNA of U.S. Kids Golf, it makes it all the more powerful to deliver this kind of initiative and connect with the golfers, parents, business and community leaders of the future. We are extremely proud to play our part in supporting and promoting the work.”
A new Sustainability Policy for the Venice Open is ensuring that a range of practical actions are being undertaken to foster nature, conserve resources and support the community across the following key areas of delivery:
• Venue management
• Event staging – including transport, energy, waste management and procurement
• Communications – including player and spectator engagement
• Outreach and legacy projects
As the first year of a more formalised approach to sustainability, 2017 will also act as a baseline for data, ideas and information gathering which will guide the expansion of future efforts at this tournament and at other U.S. Kids Golf events.
2017 objectives
• Bring all three venues (Golf della Montecchia, Golf Club Frassanelle and Galzignano) under consistent approach to sustainable management and achieving distinction for credible standards of operation
• Develop and implement initial practical action plan across key areas of staging
o Use as much public and collective transport as possible, with introduction of clear fuel vehicles
o Recycle as much waste as possible with target of xx% diversion from landfill
o Purchase as many local, season, organic and certified products and materials as possible including construction, food, beverage
• Reach out and engage the players and their families with a new Green Golf Questionnaire
• Monitor all actions and gather key metrics to establish base line and inform future targets
• Create post event Sustainability Review, and action plan for future events
• Help road-test the process of international GEO Certified® Tournament certification for small scale, non-professional tournaments
• Undertake communications to raise awareness of Venice Open leadership across golf and local area
Contact:
Mack Leath
Marketing Manager, Tournaments
mleath@uskidsgolf.com
