Chip Shots
Singapore-based club joins prestigious list of sports associations, events, clubs and leagues from around the world in commitment to climate action
Weather experts are calling for an historically balmy fall throughout much of the U.S., and Sept. and Oct. are shaping up to feel a lot like summer, especially in the Southeast, Mid-atlantic, Northeast and Rocky Mountains.
Golfers who typically switch into long pants and performance pullovers might find themselves in need of reloading on summer apparel. If so, there are a couple ways to go. One, they can shop around and mix-and-match a few polos and shorts.
Or, for those who prefer an “easy button” solution, they can opt for a coordinated look to finish off the warm season in style. North Carolina-based Peter Millar is all about coordination (and balmy autumns), and its Crown Sport and Crown Crafted Looks answer the bell.
Crown Sport Look
The Featherweight Polo has proven to be one of the most popular options in the Crown Sport Look and has emerged as a true contender for best golf polo across all brands.
Weighing in at an incredible 2.5 ounces, Featherweight Polos pack all the performance punch of your favorite golf shirt in patterns and prints that look situation appropriate on and off the course.
They’re engineered from super-lightweight performance fabric that stretches four ways for a full-range of motion, wicks away moisture from the body and resists odor.
They come in a classic fit, designed with a standard sleeve length and opening and are relaxed in the shoulder, chest and waist.
The Salem High Drape Performance Short is another smart Indian Summer selection. Crafted from 5.6-ounce polyester woven twill, the short offers two-way mechanical stretch for ease of movement, moisture wicking, quick dry and easy care. It’s an impeccably designed course favorite with visual refinement for easy wearing around town.
Peter Millar is building a sterling reputation in the casual men’s shoe citatory, led by the Hyperlight Glide Sneaker.
Equally at home in casual workplaces or on weekend jaunts, the these insanely comfy kicks are designed with a machine washable, heathered knit upper that offers ample ventilation for breathability and optimal stretch for mobility.
The lightweight, durable outsole and foam insole deliver supreme comfort underfoot. The interior features a woolpolyester sock liner and heel pad for additional comfort and moisture management. It’s finished with stretch laces with T-lock aglets for a secure fit throughout the day while providing easy slip-on/slip-off access.
While designed for life before and après golf, I’ve actually walked more than a few rounds in these shoes. They’re just that comfortable. And in today’s casual business environment, the Hyperlight Glide Sneaker easily passes muster for socially distanced coffee shop or sidewalk café meetings.
Crown Crafted Look
The Crown Crafted Look offers contemporary sportswear blending cutting-edge technical materials with luxury fabrics. According to Peter Millar, it’s a modern, tailored approach to everyday performance apparel.
Communicating casual sophistication, the Stealth Performance Short leverages a high-twist performance fabric to deliver four-way stretch, moisture-wicking, water resistance, quick-dry and easy-care to deliver comfort and style in a variety of settings. It’s styled in a tailored fit, with a shorter rise than mainline offerings. The finish is highlighted by belt loops, quarter-top pockets and a zip fly with a button closure.
The Miles Performance Polo features a tailored fit and is crafted to deliver enduring comfort on and off the course. It’s constructed from an innovative performance-blend fabric with moisture-wicking, four-way stretch, odor resistance, easy-care and UPF 50+ sun protection. Yes, legs need protection, too.
A distinct stripe pattern is added for visual flair and is designed with a trimmer, tailored fit in the torso and sleeves. The Miles Performance Polo is finished with a Sean self-fabric collar and a two-button placket.
Here in Greenville, S.C., the land of Furman University (purple) and Clemson University (again, purple), we test drove the Deep Violet edition for 12 rounds in 90-plus degree heat and humidity. Its overall performance and moisture-wicking was unmatched by any polo we’ve tested outside of the Featherweight. For more information and to shop Peter Millar
visit www.petermillar.com.
Two-for-one Airfare Offer And Unlimited Golf Sweetens A Trip To Villa Del Palmar Beach Resort & Spa At The Islands Of Loreto
LORETO, Baja California Sur, Mexico — A visit to The Islands of Loreto just got easier and more affordable, with two-for-one airfare and unlimited golf on TPC Danzante Bay, adding to the broad appeal of Villa del Palmar Resort & Spa at the Islands of Loreto. This awe-inspiring destination resort is noted for its natural, unspoiled beauty and warm, welcoming staff.
A package is available now through November10, 2020 and includes the following:
• 2-for-1 flights on Alaska Airlines from LAX to Loreto • Five-night stay in a deluxe suite
• Unlimited golf rounds with golf cart per adult, per day • Daily Meals
• Tax and services
The package price starts from $2949 for two adults in a deluxe suite. Meals include daily American breakfasts and lunches at the Market and dinner at Casa Mia.
TPC Danzant TPC Danzante Bay, the resort’s award-winning Rees Jones designed golf course, is a brilliant, multi-themed challenge accented by valleys, arroyos, dunes, and foothills. Holes feature panoramic views of Danzante Bay, the Sea of Cortez, the Islands of Loreto, and the Sierra de la Giganta mountain range.
The resort sits on a sprawling stretch of white-sand beach along Danzante Bay in the Islands of Loreto, where the natural habitat includes 900 species of fish and unspoiled, clear waters. Guests enjoy world-class sport fishing, swimming, snorkeling, paddle boarding, kayaking, and seasonal whale watching.
The property has six swimming pools, tennis courts, miles of well-marked hiking trails and plenty of open space for social distancing. There are four on-property restaurants, with abundant outdoor seating, in addition to a fully stocked grocery and sundries market.
This package can only be booked by calling 1-800-790-4187 and mentioning the promo code FLIGHT2X1GOLF.
Quinta do Lago September breaks are golfers’ new flexible friend
Quinta do Lago is putting the smile back on the faces of UK golfers following the easing of travel quarantine restrictions, with accommodation savings of 20 per cent on offer at the luxury Portuguese resort’s boutique Magnolia Hotel until the end of September.
Players can take advantage of a wide range of benefits when booking a bed-and-breakfast package at the hotel over the coming weeks with the top Algarve resort’s ‘Flexi-booking’ option, with discounted golf and free meals all available.
Bringing a taste of Palm Springs to the Algarve, The Magnolia Hotel offers guests the chance to combine world-class golf with an array of luxury lifestyle facilities that have made Quinta do Lago a favourite with golfers around the world for the last five decades.
Available until September 30, guests can enjoy a fifth off their accommodation when staying for two nights or more, with one free dinner in the hotel’s Mediterranean restaurant included for every three nights stayed.
In addition, kids stay and eat for free when families book one of the hotel’s cottages while golfers can enjoy 18 holes on Quinta do Lago’s acclaimed North and Laranjal courses including buggy for €99 per person per round until September 8 – with transfers to the beach, golf courses or resort’s multi-sports centre The Campus all included.
All bookings – which are based on two people sharing a twin room – can be cancelled 48 hours prior to arrival with no penalty, while the ‘Flexi-booking’ option also offers guests the chance to change their booking dates without any charge.
Located just 15 minutes away from Faro airport, Quinta do Lago is regarded as Europe’s premier golf and lifestyle resort, and was one of the first to be awarded Clean & Safe approval by the Portugal Tourist Board after the Covid-19 lockdown.
The award-winning venue boasts a combination of world-class golf and lifestyle facilities and has invested a further €7m in a golf course improvement programme this summer, including a major overhaul of its famous South Course and the reopening of its main golf clubhouse following a modern and sophisticated makeover.
As well as three renowned golf courses – the North, South and Laranjal – and outstanding practice facilities, guests can stay in shape at The Campus, a world-class sports hub designed for professionals and amateurs alike to keep fit.
Complementing the facilities is a choice of 12 first-class bars and restaurants that deliver a range of delicious world cuisines, including the acclaimed Bovino Steakhouse and recently-opened Dano’s Sports Bar & Restaurant, and accommodation at the boutique The Magnolia Hotel.
For more information on the new ‘Flexi-booking’ stay-andplay breaks and to book, go to www.themagnoliahotelqdl.com/ special-offers/stay-play
Tiger Woods Opens The Playground At Jack’s Bay On Eleuthera Island, Bahamas
Rock Sound, Bahamas – Tiger Woods and Jack’s Bay Company, developers of the new Jack’s Bay private club and community in Rock Sound, Eleuthera, Bahamas, opened The Playground, a spectacular 10-hole, par-3 golf course created by Woods’ TGR Design. The Playground is the first of the club’s major recreational amenities to open with others to follow shortly.
Carefully crafted by one of the greatest talents in the history of golf, The Playground is intended to bring the pure enjoyment of the game to generations of players. The short course sits atop a dramatic bluff, overlooking the Atlantic Ocean. Holes range in length from 55 to 170 yards and can be played in a variety of configurations, making it fun for families and friends, yet capable of challenging the game’s best players. Adding to the experience, a signature Blue Bar is located adjacent to the No. 4 green. Here members will find a treasure trove of treats, ranging from assorted childhood candies, soft drinks and island favorites to exceptional sliders, jerky and other small dishes prepared daily by our culinary team.
“It is great to be part of this spectacular project in paradise,” said Woods. “The natural terrain and coastline are incredibly beautiful and call for an equally spectacular golf experience. The golf course complements the true spirit of the Jack’s Bay development because it’s designed for golfers to have fun, foster friendships, and create memories within an unforgettable setting.”
Located 279 miles SE of the Florida coast, Jack’s Bay is a spectacular 964-acre property with 2 ½ miles of Atlantic Ocean frontage just 10 minutes from Rock Sound International Airport. The community will offer approximately 500 residences including artfully designed golf and club villas, club suites and spacious estate lots. The ruggedly beautiful property features bluffs with elevations of up to 80 feet, offering sweeping views of the Atlantic, as well as spectacular pink-sand beaches.
Jack’s Bay Company is chaired by Sir Franklyn Wilson, KCMG, and is owned by some of the most well-known entities in the Bahamas and an impressive array of investors.
In addition to The Playground, Tiger Woods and TGR Design have been engaged to create a spectacular 18-hole, championship-caliber golf course at Jack’s Bay. Design work is currently underway, and the course will be developed as the community matures. Other soon to open amenities include a thoughtfully designed clubhouse, tennis facility, adventure program, and sustainable aquaponic farm for true organic farm-to-table dining experiences. (www.jacksbayclub.com)
Autumn Golf At Praia D’el Rey To Make Lockdown Blues A Distant Memory
The wait for UK golfers to return to Portugal is finally over after the easing of Covid-19 quarantine travel restrictions, and Praia D’EL Rey Marriott Golf & Beach Resort has the perfect tonic for players eager to forget lockdown and enjoy a five-star golfing break this autumn.
Available until November 16, the award-winning resort’s latest offers include its ‘Links Golf Package’, where players can enjoy four nights’ bed-and-breakfast hotel accommodation and three rounds of golf on any course from only €416 per person. (approx £375)
Set an hour north of Lisbon on Portugal’s stunning Silver Coast, Praia D’EL Rey is renowned as one of Europe’s elite golf resorts and features outstanding sports and leisure facilities including two worldclass 18-hole championship golf courses – Praia D’EL Rey and the spectacular West Cliffs Golf Links.
Few golf courses in the world have received as much widespread acclaim as West Cliffs since it was opened three years ago, while the resort’s other championship layout is also ranked among Europe’s top 50 courses.
Daily bed-and-breakfast accommodation in a garden or golfview room is provided at Praia D’EL Rey’s five-star hotel, together with complimentary access to the resort’s luxury spa and health club, which includes a gym, Jacuzzi, Turkish bath and indoor and outdoor swimming pools.
As well as golf, Praia D’EL Rey boasts an extensive array of world-class sports, leisure and accommodation facilities including a Marriott hotel, a wide selection of villas, a tennis academy, a luxury Spa and health club and numerous watersports and restaurants. Guests have a choice of five restaurants from which to choose, all serving the fresh and authentic produce for which Portugal is
famous, while the comprehensive range of therapies and treatments on offer at the Kalyan Spa promise to restore energy and balance to the body after a day on the fairways.
For more information on Praia D’EL Rey Marriott Golf & Beach Resort and West Cliffs and to book, email golf@praia-del-rey.com. www.praia-del-rey.com or www.westcliffs.com
Autumn Golf In Madeira Is Blooming Good Fun
Golf is blooming in Madeira this autumn with the Covid-19 pandemic offering players the unexpected opportunity to indulge in the world-famous culture and history of the island.
Travelling golfers can combine golf on three outstanding 18-hole courses with the added bonus of experiencing some of Madeira’s most celebrated annual events until the end of September, including its globally-renowned Flower Festival and Wine Festival.
Traditionally held each May and centred around the island’s capital of Funchal, the 2020 Flower Festival had to be postponed and rearranged earlier this year following the outbreak of coronavirus.
Now taking place from September 3-27, the three-week festival offers visitors the unforgettable chance to experience a kaleidoscope of colour and the magic that runs through the municipalities of the Madeira archipelago with an array of unique exhibits made totally from flowers.
Running at the same time, the Madeira Wine Festival invites guests to raise a glass and sample a plethora of the island’s worldfamous fortified wines while tasting a range of regional snacks and enjoying one of the many live concerts.
Madeira and her islands – which were last year hailed as the ‘world’s best emerging golf destination’ at the World Golf Awards, and as Europe’s ‘leading island destination’ for the fourth successive year, as well as the world’s ‘leading island destination’ for a staggering fifth year running in the 2019 World Travel Awards – reopened to international visitors on July 1.
Madeira is home to three magnificent golf courses in total, with Santo da Serra and Palheiro Golf located on the mainland, and Porto Santo Golf located on the nearby island of Porto Santo.
The par-72, 6,656-yard (6,086m) course at Palheiro Golf – designed by Robinson – is situated within the magnificent Palheiro Estate, which is more than 200 years old. At nearly 1,640ft above sea level, the location enjoys dramatic views of Madeira’s mountainous skyline and the ocean, as well as – nestling below, just 10 minutes away – the island’s capital, Funchal.
The original course at Santo da Serra, dating from 1937, was redesigned in 1991 by Robert Trent Jones Snr, who created a new and spectacular 27-hole complex. The third and fourth holes of the Machico course are regarded as the signature holes, sitting atop cliffs more than 2,200ft above sea level, providing views of the bay of Machico, where Portuguese navigators first landed in 1419.
The 27-hole, Severiano Ballesteros-designed Porto Santo Golf is a short plane hop or ferry ride away. The par-72, 7,036-yard (6,434m) course, which opened in 2004, comprises two distinct nines. The southern route – a Us-style layout – is dotted with lakes, requiring a long and precise game; while the northern route is atop fantastic cliffs, near the stunning beach of the same name.
Located approximately 1,000km from the European mainland – and just 500km from the African continent – Madeira enjoys an amazingly mild climate, ranging from 25°c in the summer to 17°c in the winter, with very mild average temperatures and moderate humidity, making it the perfect year-round destination for a golf break.
The best way to enjoy the archipelago’s golf is with a Madeira Golf Passport – available from most hotels and the golf clubs – which entitles the bearer to five rounds of golf across the two ‘mainland’ tracks: Santo da Serra and Palheiro Golf. www.madeiraallyear.com
Private Firestone Country Club Unveils Nonmember Stay-and-play Packages
AKRON, OH – Firestone Country Club, renowned as one of North America’s most historic venues for championship golf, is now allowing an exclusive opportunity for non-members to reserve a limited number of stay-and-play packages and experience its celebrated on- and off-course offerings.
Since the 1950s, the club and its famed South Course has annually hosted the biggest names in professional golf. In addition to being site of three PGA Championships, Firestone was the long-time venue for the PGA TOUR’S World Golf Championships-bridgestone Invitational and its predecessor, the World Series of Golf. It currently hosts the Bridgestone SENIOR PLAYERS Championship, being held this week and televised on Golf Channel.
One-, two- and three-night packages are now available with prices starting at $595 that include lodging and golf. More information can be found here. Packages feature play on the aforementioned South Course, which is highlighted by the famed 667-yard par-5 16th hole (famously dubbed “The Monster” by Arnold Palmer after he recorded a triple bogey during the 1960 PGA Championship); the Robert Trent Jones-designed North Course; and the Tom Fazio-designed West Course.
Accommodation options are villa-style suites bordering the golf courses or recently updated dormitory rooms above the clubhouse and adjacent to the club’s iconic water tower. Dining is available at three on-property establishments, including the clubhouse’s 1929 Grille & Legacy Pavilion and 55th Hole Bar, both of which offer open-air dining and golf course views.
Firestone Country Club - North Course
“Nearly every legend in modern golf has been crowned a champion at Firestone Country Club, names like Tiger Woods, Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer, Gary Player, Greg Norman and Tom Watson,” says Jay Walkinshaw, general manager. “We’re excited to now offer non-members the opportunity to play our 54 challenging, scenic holes and enjoy our club’s warm, welcoming hospitality.”
The South Course has been especially well-liked by the two greatest players of the last 60 years, Nicklaus and Woods. The Golden Bear played in his very first PGA TOUR event at Firestone, the 1958 Rubber City Open, and won seven titles there as a professional, including the 1975 PGA Championship. Woods won the World Golf Championship-bridgestone Invitational eight times, including a remarkable seven in an 11- year span from 1999-2009.
Firestone is conveniently located only 45 minutes from Cleveland Hopkins International Airport and less than 15 from Akron-canton Airport. It is also within easy driving distance of other major metropolitan areas like Columbus, Cincinnati, Pittsburgh and Detroit. Recent research from the National Golf Foundation shows some 75% of golfers are willing to drive more
than four hours to reach their 2020 golf getaway. Nearby off-course attractions include the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton and the Rock N’ Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland, making it especially ideal for buddy trips.
To book or for more information, please visit clubcorp.com/ Clubs/firestone-country-club/stay-play or call 330.245.3280. New national membership options are also available, and non-members are invited to inquire about hosting special events, meetings and weddings.
Giants Ridge Introduces Noteworthy, Attractive Midweek Fall Golf Packages
Giants Ridge – Minnesota’s leading golf resort, set in the rugged beauty of the Mesabi Iron Range – unveils unbeatable Play and Stay Packages for fall, which accentuate the resort’s spectacular golf courses and accommodations.
A convenient three-hour drive along Interstate 35 from the Minneapolis – St. Paul metro area, Giants Ridge boasts two of the highest-ranked layouts in state, The Quarry and The Legend. The aptly-named Quarry is built on the site of a former sand quarry and iron ore mine, and dramatically raised tees and hazards provide dramatic Iron Range vistas. Carved out of the Superior National Forest, The Legend is a true “northwoods” course featuring towering pines, giant fairways and majestic views of Wynne and Sabin Lakes.
The “Fall Play & Stay at Greengate Guest Houses” package includes a three-night stay at the unique Greengate Guest Houses, a round of golf on either course, golf cart, range balls and a yardage book, and starts at $279 per person/per night. Taxes are not included and other restrictions may apply. To reserve, call 218-290-2607.
Valid through October 15, the “Fall Play & Stay at the Villas” package includes one round of golf with cart on either of the resort’s two courses, range balls, a yardage book and accommodations at the Villas at Giants Ridge with 25% off weekday rates and 10% off on weekends. Taxes are not included, and other restrictions may apply. To book a reservation, call 855-373-4231.
More information about these festive fall golf packages at Giants Ridge can be found on the resort’s special offers page.
“Fall is the idea season to enjoy our incredible courses and splendid accommodations at great rates, especially midweek,” said John Kendall, director of golf. “We invite everyone to come visit us and discover firsthand why we’re at the pinnacle of Minnesota golf destinations.”
Earlier this year, Giants Ridge received the coveted “Editors’ Choice Award” from Golf Digest in the “Best Golf Resorts in the Midwest” category for 2020. Celebrating the “best of the best” golf destinations, Giants Ridge was one of only eight resorts listed in the Midwest and the only destination in Minnesota. In addition to the Golf Digest honor, Giants Ridge and its courses have received accolades from Golf Magazine, Golfweek, My Golf Spy, Worldgolf. com and Golf Advisor.
Casa de Campo Resort & Villas Offers Outstanding Array of Vacation Villas
LA ROMANA, Dominican Republic – Casa de Campo Resort & Villas – home to the Caribbean’s premier, luxury golf experiences, including its iconic GOLF Magazine “World Top 100” Teeth of the Dog course – offers a dazzling array of exceptional fullyappointed villas ideal for golf group fall getaways at the world-class destination.
Starting at $599 (per villa, per night) and perfect for creating a tranquil and secure “world of your own,” the luxury villa options range from three to 11 bedrooms with stylish living areas, private pools and myriad creature comforts. From secluded Garden Villas showcasing the area’s abundant flora to the serene splendor of the Caribbean coast in an Oceanfront Villa, each style offers contemporary designs.
Daily breakfast, private maid service and full access to a wide range of on-site activities are additional highlights of villa stays as well as use of four-passenger golf carts for easy transportation throughout the 7,000-acre resort, complimentary Wi-fi and unlimited use of the resort’s fitness center. Through Sept. 30, Casa de Campo is offering a $100 resort credit on three-night villa stays.
For those seeking the opportunity to enjoy the Pete Dyedesigned masterpiece widely acclaimed as the No. 1 course in the Caribbean, the “Unlimited Teeth of the Dog with Breakfast” package starts at $399 for two guests, per night. In addition to “dawn to dusk” play on celebrated Teeth of the Dog, resort guests can also tee it up and play to their heart’s content on two additional Dye gems: Dye Fore (27 holes) and The Links (18).
The offer also includes deluxe accommodations in the resort’s recently renovated guest rooms, daily breakfast, use of a fourpassenger golf cart to travel throughout the resort, complimentary Wi-fi and use of the resort’s fitness center. All golf rounds are based on availability and include arrival and departure days.
The “Unlimited Teeth of the Dog All Inclusive” golf package features all the highlights above plus daily breakfast, lunch, snacks, dinner and drinks by the glass at resort signature restaurants or room service (extra delivery charge), unlimited horseback riding, use of the property’s tennis courts, one round at the 245-acre Shooting Club, non-motorized water sports and family program activities. This offers starts at $599 per night, double occupancy.
For the remainder of 2020, Casa de Campo is also offering the “family-friendly” opportunity for two kids or young adults (21 and younger) to be able to play golf for free when accompanied on the same rounds with their parents during resort visits.
The five-star resort has initiated its “Casa Cares” program touching virtually every area of the property including significant investment in new equipment and employee training. The robust health and safety practices continue to remain a top priority for its guests. A full list of the new measures may be found here.
Since opening in 1974, Teeth of the Dog has been a “bucket list” layout for those seeking to play one of the top 50 golf courses in the world. Dye’s design hallmarks are all present: railroad ties, vast waste areas, peninsula greens and tees, hand-sculpted putting surfaces and a unique assortment of pot bunkers. “The Heaven 7” oceanfront holes are astoundingly beautiful, causing Dye to famously quip: “I created 11 holes and God created seven.”
For more information on Casa de Campo Resort & Villas please call 800.877.3643, email golf@ccampo.com.do or visit: www. casadecampo.com.do/.
Sentosa Golf Club in Singapore made history last month by becoming the world’s first golf club to join the United Nation’s Sports for Climate Action Initiative. The prestigious golf venue, set on Sentosa Island alongside a diverse array of unique leisure experiences, is already highly regarded for its approach to environmental sustainability, and takes this significant step following its collaboration with international sustainable golf non-profit, GEO Foundation.
The UN’S Sports for Climate Action Initiative aims to support and guide sports organisations and their communities on a path to achieving the global climate goals set out by world leaders in the Paris Agreement.
The golf club will add its name to an already impressive list of sporting organisations to have joined including the New York Yankees, La Liga, Sky Sports and the All England Lawn Tennis Club (Wimbledon).
Sentosa Golf Club, currently holding the accolade of World’s Best Golf Club (World Golf Awards), will join these other participants in committing to a set of five agreed principles and incorporating them into their club strategy, policies, and procedures, as well as communicating them to their wider sporting community within Singapore and other golf clubs around the world.
The initiative also provides sports organisations with a forum to pursue climate action in a consistent and supportive manner by learning from one another, disseminating good practices, lessons learned, developing new innovations, and collaborating on areas of mutual interest.
It also aims to pursue efforts to limit the temperature increase well below 2 degrees Celsius, as well as strengthening the ability of countries to deal with the impacts of climate change.
Andrew Johnston, General Manager & Director of Agronomy at Sentosa Golf Club, said: “Becoming the first ever golf club to join the UN’S Sports for Climate Action Initiative is a tremendous honour for everyone associated with Sentosa Golf Club. We have already taken great strides with our sustainability programme in the last two years and are therefore extremely excited to be joining this initiative. We believe it is the right step for us as a club to continue on our journey to tackle climate change throughout the world and the game of golf.”
Sentosa Golf Club also recently announced a new partnership with GEO Foundation, an international non-profit which aims to inspire, support, recognise and share sustainability across golf. Through this collaboration, Sentosa Golf Club’s future sustainability work will be guided and supported by GEO’S sustainable golf agenda; tracked and evaluated using the industry leading Oncourse® program; verified
and assured through the GEO Certified® label. It is also anticipated that GEO will help guide and accelerate sustainability action in relation to Sentosa Golf Club’s course renovations and the hosting of the SMBC Singapore Open.
Jonathan Smith, Founder and Executive Director of GEO Foundation, said: “This announcement underlines the strength of Sentosa’s forward-looking commitment to sustainability and climate action. We congratulate them on taking this important and ambitious leadership step, and look forward to supporting that commitment with the purpose-built tools, analysis and recognition that we provide to golf. Of course, we’d encourage other facilities interested in building sustainability and climate action into their operations to consider joining Oncourse® - as a practical first step to understanding current performance, guiding future efforts and establishing their position in the growing community of sustainable golf.”
Sentosa Golf Club’s green commitment was brought to the world’s attention with the launch of its #Keepitgreen campaign at the SMBC Singapore Open in January 2018. It has seen a number of key environmental features implemented at the club, such as the creation of its own bee colonies; using rechargeable lithium batteries in its golf carts; banning single use plastics from the golf course and replacing them with water stations; as well as building its own sustainable herb garden.
In January 2020, the club unveiled a new sustainability campaign, GAME ON, at the SMBC Singapore Open, that is designed to unite the global golf community in addressing the growing concerns of climate change. It aims to help golf clubs around the world to better prepare for climate change by introducing modern sustainability practices to reduce their own environmental footprint.
The campaign is closely aligned with The R&A’S 2030 Golf Course Initiative that considers the impacts, both positive and negative, of the changing climate, resource constraints and regulation on course condition and playability.
The R&A’S Asian headquarters is based at Sentosa Golf Club and they too are pushing an important sustainability agenda. Dominic Wall, Director – Asiapacific at The R&A, said: “We consider sustainability to be an important priority for golf and is crucial to the sport’s contribution to society, including its impact on the environment and use of resources.
“Our own Golf Course 2030 initiative aims to produce a roadmap that will outline steps to mitigate the challenges created by climate change, as well as taking advantage of the opportunities that exist to provide improved on-course conditions and playability for golfers around the world.”
For more information on Sentosa Golf Club visit www.sentosagolf.com or follow the club on social media: Twitter: @Sentosagolfclub
Instagram: @sentosagolfclub
Facebook: @Sentosagolfclub