Tag Archives: Sustainable Golf

Galvin Green, Golf Apparel, Sustainable Golf

Galvin Green – Leading high-tech golf apparel brand presents its advances in new sustainability review

July 3, 2024 – Leading high-tech golf apparel brand Galvin Green has set out its advances and future goals in a Sustainability Review that includes the company’s environmental progress and views of retail partners, suppliers, Tour players and customers on the importance of environmental considerations.

The latest version of the brand’s groundbreaking review showcases its relentless pursuit to produce responsibly sourced, long-lasting golf clothing that offer golfers the very highest levels of performance, while highlighting the fact that more than 80% of garments in the latest collections are produced using sample-tested, bluesign or Oeko-Tex Standard 100-approved fabrics.

“As this review illustrates, Galvin Green is leading the way when it comes to sustainable golf apparel,” said CEO Nicholai Stein. “I’m especially proud of our continued commitment to making long-lasting garments, because our priority is to craft world class products that are functional, look good and stand the test of time. The future looks bright for Galvin Green as we lead the drive towards recyclable golf clothing,” he added.

The 43-page review, entitled Every Action Counts, details how Galvin Green operates in a responsible manner across every part of its business, plus how it measures sustainability across six different categories – company, sourcing, products, technology, relationships and the future. For example, the rigorous process in sustainable fabric sourcing can take up to two years before a new material is introduced to ensure the wearability is tested in a variety of playing conditions.

“We favour sample-tested materials or globally recognised certifications as they typically offer superior quality in addition to meeting sustainability standards,” said Product Manager Sofia Ask-Klason. “Where possible, we opt for suppliers and manufacturers in Europe, as the transport distances are much shorter and the carbon footprint smaller,” she added.

The product team conducts an extensive annual review of suppliers, measuring key performance indicators to guarantee high standards of product quality and longevity. Each supplier has a protocol and is ranked from 1 to 5 based on key factors, including delivery security, overstock issues, purchasing and product development, plus a host of essential sustainability KPIs.

To ensure its 100% waterproof DRYVR rainwear collection remains unmatched in terms of top performance and long-lasting durability, the premium brand has always collaborated with fabrics renowned for their superior waterproof and breathability capabilities, while remaining alert to any potentially harmful chemicals used in the production process.

According to two-time DP World Tour winner Jordan Smith, who has played in Galvin Green clothing since 2022, the brand’s clothing has him covered whatever the weather. “The waterproofs are easily the best on the market due to their high quality and could literally last a lifetime. For any golfer wanting the best products for all conditions, Galvin Green has it all covered,” he said.

Fellow DP World Tour professional and recent winner of the European Open Laurie Canter believes the superior quality and durability play a pivotal role in extreme conditions. “Galvin Green’s commitment to high-quality, long-lasting apparel is evident in every piece, providing a significant advantage on the course,” he said.

One Galvin Green customer in Scotland sees purchasing a top-quality jacket as a worthwhile investment. “Well looked after and going strong for the best part of a decade now. My Galvin Green jacket still looks relevant to this day and has been a very reliable part of my bag in dealing with the harsh Scottish weather.”

Golf Courses and resorts, Greenkeepers, Sustainable Golf

RCG El Prat – Greg Norman signs the renovation of the Yellow Course under a new Sustainability Plan

May 10, 2021 – The Real Club de Golf El Prat, in Barcelona (Spain), designed a new Sustainability Plan including, among other things, the renovation of the acclaimed Yellow Course.

The prestigious Catalan club took advantage of the pandemic to work on one of its two championship courses to make it more sustainable as well as improve its playability.

The maintenance staff was able to complete the work ahead of schedule without bothering too much our players and the course is now ready for the golf season.

The objective of this Sustainable Plan is to reduce the economic and environmental impact by eliminating some bunkers, modifying others and remodeling fringe areas. Other advantages of this project are the reduction of water consumption, energy and fuel for machineries, and nutrients or phytosanitary products to apply to the course. All of these procedures produce a more “eco-friendly” golf course.

The golf legend Greg Norman was in charge of designing the two golf courses that form RCG El Prat, the Pink and the Yellow. It was in 2004 that, after a match between him and Sergio García, the Catalan club was open to the public.

Greg Norman, who led the renovation, said: “I want to thank very much the Club for entrusting us redoing the 45 holes a few years ago, we had a fantastic journey on that trip relocating the golf courses, but the most important thing that we have come away from all this, is  the sustainability and the playability of all 45 holes. I am proud of the fact that we delivered that to such a great Club.”

Besides improving the sustainability, we wanted to maintain the original design as much as possible. That is why the removed bunkers were turned into rough areas maintaining the original shape.

Around the greens and their sides, the rough areas have been increased to reduce run off. But new maintenance standards are establish for greens, fairways and rough, so that they are always in the best shape as possible. For the entire 2021 for example, greens will be aerated using a new machine that, in spite of having very low impact on green’s playability and not preventing the game, ensures surface quality and speed.

Overall, 56 bunkers have been removed and 31 modified and the players’ feedback has been very positive.

This plan does not only deliver a more eco-friendly course with an improved playability, but also offering members and visitors of RCG El Prat a more varied golf club. Especially, those playing multiple rounds will benefit from the variety of layouts with a demanding Pink course or the easier Yellow, making sure they make the most of their experience.

Golf Courses and resorts, Health, Sustainable Golf

Sustainable Golf – Club de Golf Vallromanes starts the elimination of plastic bottles in its golf course

February 11, 2020 – Club de Golf Vallromanes, in Barcelona (Spain), ​​has begun to eliminate single-use plastic bottles for water and drinks on its golf course. This is the first step in a series of measures that will be taken from winter 2020 onwards, underlining its commitment to sustainable environmental tourism throughout.

For this, the golf club has just installed the first drinking water fountains supplied by the company Agua Km Zero in the clubhouse facilities. In addition, members and visitors can acquire a reusable metallic or ceramic bottle personalized with the club’s logo, or bring their own container from home.

“This initiative aims to start reducing the unnecessary consumption of plastic in the golf club. We have placed some fountains through Agua Km Zero in the ladies’ locker room, in the men’s room, and also for club employees. The next step is to place some on the course, and also in the Restaurant”, says Josué Mascuñán, Commercial Director of Cub de Golf Vallromanes. “The goal is to reduce the use of plastic, since people can refill their own bottle, as many times as they need, and for free.”

Through these fountains the running water receives a treatment that purifies it and makes it suitable for drinking. It is very simple and easy to refill the bottles. The fountains are placed on the club’s personalized benches inscribed with the message “the perfect balance between quality and sustainability is our best shot”, reinforcing the action with the hashtag #golfessalud (golf is health).

“To help players get involved, we offer two types of bottle which can be purchased at the club if they don’t have their own. The simplest one is made of aluminium, and then there is the ceramic one that works as a thermos, for keeping the drinks cold or hot. It can be useful not only for water on the course or also for taking hot coffee from home to the office. Both come with the club logo, which can also become a good souvenir for foreign players.”

The club estimates that with this initiative they can reduce the use of some 10,000 plastic bottles per year, especially in summer, which is when you drink the most.

“This initiative is part of the strategy of the Club de Golf Vallromanes to work with the recommendations of the Biosphere Institute. It consists of action aimed at offering an experience which is responsible with the environment where good sustainable practices prevail, guaranteeing an appropiate balance between the economic, socio-cultural and environmental dimensions,” concludes Josué Mascuñán, who finished by saying: “We expect more clubs to join this initiative”. 

More information at www.clubdegolfvallromanes.com.

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