The Golf Environment Awards 2010 launched 25 May 2010, with news that Justin Rose has become the official ambassador of the awards.
The awards, now in their 13th year, are managed by STRI and recognise and reward both individuals and golf courses for the time and focus they have put into environmentally sustainable management projects.
As well as receiving official recognition for the development of outstanding environmental projects, the awards also gives winners the opportunity to travel to some of the USA’s world’s most famous golf venues, including Pine Valley and Shinnecock golf clubs.
Speaking about his new role, Justin Rose said: “I am honoured to become an ambassador for The Golf Environment Awards. It’s great that these awards are helping to promote and highlight the work that many golf clubs are performing to improve the environment and support a positive future for golf within the UK.“
One of Justin’s first official duties as ambassador of The Golf Environment Awards was to meet the 2009 winners at the PGA Championship at Wentworth, where Rose finished one under par for the tournament.
He added:” It was great to meet last year’s winners and hear why their specific projects have been so successful. We need to do more to highlight how golf clubs can introduce their own environmental projects and shout more about the achievement and success of current schemes.”
Justin Rose, ambassador of The Golf Environment Awards, pictured with the 2009 award winners at Wentworth
Gordon McKillop, STRI’s chief executive said “We are delighted that Justin Rose is supporting the awards in this way. Having the backing of a high profile figure within the golf industry is invaluable as it shows that the importance of environmental issues is recognised at the very top of the game.”
He added: “We would encourage any golf club that focuses on environmental issues to enter – the winners are chosen for their dedication and enthusiasm to succeed, and not on the scale of project or size of golf club.”
The Golf Environment Awards are sponsored by turf care equipment companies Ransomes Jacobsen and Campey Turf Care Systems, turf company County Turf, fertilizer and plant protection company Scotts, seed and plant protection company Syngenta and media sponsors Golf Monthly and Pitchcare.
Entry to the 2010 awards is now open. Entry is free and details can be found on the new website http://www.golfenvironmentawards.com/
There are 11 awards split into three categories.
Environmental Improvement – four awards recognising projects involving:
Nature Conservation Management
Turfgrass Management
Waste Management
Water Management
Environmental Achievement
Five regional awards and one overall winner award recognising golf courses that have implemented a successful environmental management strategy, with clear objectives and targets on how this strategy will directly contribute to a better environment
Conservation Greenkeeper Award
To recognise an outstanding individual contribution to the success of environmental and ecological management
