It was more than a decade ago when the issue of sustainability was brought to the attention of the golf course industry in Asia. It was raised in the context of the impact that the 5000 over golf courses in Asia have on the environment and the vital role it had to play on helping Planet Earth protect its environment.
Since that first airing at the Inaugural Asia Pacific Golf Summit (APGS) in 2007, very little has really been done to create and grow the awareness of sustainability. It has now reached a stage when nations and governments, corporations and NGOs have come to the realisation that something has to be done urgently.
It is serious – serious enough for the 10-nation bloc of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to have just inked the historic SINGAPORE DECLARATION on environmental sustainability which calls for urgent collective action and support of all in society, from individuals to businesses and across government and civic organisations. The call is out and it is a serious one.
The golf industry has to respond and it is not something to be kicked under the rug and to be forgotten!
The 2018 Asia Pacific Golf Summit will be staging SUSTAINABILITY as one of its key points of focus and in this context, it will be showcasing the giant Mission Hills Group of China and how it is delivering on its commitment to sustainability across its 22 golf courses, the world’s single largest golf complex!
To narrate the Mission Hills success story, APGS is proud to announce that Tenniel Chu, Group Vice-Chairman will be in Bangkok to deliver in person what is being done in the area of sustainability practices.
A quick overview will reveal that Mission Hills’s award-winning practices have achieved the following outstanding results:
• Energy savings of more than 4,050,000kWh annually (equivalent to the electricity consumption of 1,700 families). This is achieved through efforts such as heat recovery from air-conditioning, usage of solar energy in solar-powered golf carts and street lighting etc., as well as LED lightning upgrades.
• Water conservation of more than 4,000,000 cubic metres annually (equivalent to 22,000 families’ consumption) with on-site greywater treatment to be used for irrigation, as well as artificial lakes for storage of rainwater and surface runoff.
• Carbon sinks – Mission Hills’ resort destinations absorb more than 26,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide annually. It has more than 17.5 million square metres of vegetated land with over 3,440,000 trees and will continue to plant more than 20,000 trees annually.
• Rich biodiversity – Mission Hills is home to a rich biodiversity of 706 plant species and 305 animal species, including rare and protected species such as the Dalbergia Odorifera, Floating Fern, Chinese Pangolin, Collared Scops Owl, Tailed Jay butterflies and more.
• Suppliers – a commitment to sustainable sourcing with more than 90% of its suppliers being within a 15km radius from its resorts, further lowering its carbon footprint. In terms of F&B offerings, this also translates to providing guests with local produce.
• Herbicides – reduced usage of herbicide by more than 50% with the help of 3,000 caddies in turf grass maintenance.
• Fertilisers – the conversion of more than 300 tonnes of plant waste annually to fertilisers.
And the benefits go on. The point is made! It’s time for Asia’s golf courses to step up to the plate and join in the sustainability movement. Come listen to the people who are making sustainability really happen!
Watch video:
Register now to hear Tenniel Chu speak at the 2018 Asia Pacific Golf Summit –
secure.golfconference.org/event/asia-pacific-golf-summit-2018
APGS 2018 – Engagement – Golf’s New Engine For Growth!
Bangkok – November 1 – 3 * Hyatt Regency Bangkok Sukhumvit * Thailand
APGS – The 12th edition. One Of The Industry’s Best!
asiapacificgolfgroup.com golfconference.org
