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Gary Player Design Helps The Golf Environment Organization Develop Environmentally Friendly Guide

Jan 26, 2011 | Filed Under: General News   Share


“Only through our connectedness with nature, do we understand our role as human beings.” – Gary Player

The movement towards environmentally friendly golf course design is becoming more prevalent thanks in part to the Golf Environment Organization golfenvironment.org and its recent release of the GEO Legacy Guidance project. 

The GEO formally released the Legacy Guidance project at last year’s Asia Pacific Golf Summit in Bangkok, Thailand.  The project is a culmination of years of research and consultation with some of the leading design firms regarding what techniques, design philosophies, and cutting-edge sustainability concepts to incorporate into eco-friendly design projects.  The goal is to help developers, designers and land owners learn about the benefits of sustainability both in environmental and economic terms and to create golf courses that have a positive impact on the surrounding land. 

“Mr. Player has always talked about how important it is for a golf course to add something to the land rather than take away from it.”  Said Scott Ferrell, President of Gary Player Design. 

“Sustainability is not just a word for us it is a philosophy.  We have been incorporating sustainable design techniques into all of our projects for many years and when GEO asked us to consult on the Legacy Guidance Project we jumped at the opportunity.  Sustainable design is the future of our industry.” He added.

”The release of the GEO Legacy Guidance project is fantastic.”  Said Gary Player. 

“As golf course designers and builders we have a responsibility to create projects that are gifts to nature.  Environmental concerns must be identified and addressed in the design phase, well before any construction begins and we must never forget to respect the land and its natural beauty and bio-diversity.  The design industry needs to take a hard look at itself and realize that sustainability is here to stay.  Saying you have an environmentally friendly course is a nice marketing ploy, but what happens when the regulators, the surrounding communities and environmental groups take a close look at your design and work?  Claiming you are sustainable and actually producing an environmentally friendly project are two very different things.”  He added.

One of the primary goals of the Legacy project is to develop a “guide” to aid in the creative planning and design of golf facilities to help create projects that can be seen as leaders in sustainable economic development and resource management.  In addition, GEO has done an excellent job of addressing the sometimes conflicting goals of golf investors and developers with the needs of regulators, communities and the environment. 

As GEO put it “Working with the environment is always more efficient than working against it.”

The Legacy project accurately points out that all over the globe land and water resources are under pressure as populations grow; fossil fuels are in decline; and citizens, communities, and governments are demanding more social and environmental responsibility. It accurately concludes that “Golf can only progress successfully by acknowledging environmental and social responsibilities, building on strengths and opportunities, but equally recognizing where there is the need and the potential to improve… With consideration for sustainability from the outset, design teams can maximize natural potential, minimize environmental impacts, and lower the need for investment in technology.”

To learn more about The Legacy Project please visit http://www.golfenvironment.org.

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