Golf Environment Organization

Torino, Italy - As the first Italian club to achieve golf’s most rigorous environmental certification, Golf Club La Pinetina is spearheading the Federazione Italiana Golf’s drive to be recognised amongst the greenest golfing nations.

In conjunction with the return of the BMW Italian Open to Royal Park I Roveri in Torino, the Federazione Italiana Golf (FIG) staged its annual Environmental Award ceremony. In addition to the presentation of La Pinetina’s international award, a further three golf clubs received national achievement awards, and a new long-term partnership was signed between the Golf Environment Organization (GEO) and the FIG.

Recipients of GEO Certification and the FIG's Impegnati nel Verde awards at Royal Park i Roveri in Torino.

“Working to enhance the relationship between people, nature and golf is intrinsic to the future health of the game,” said Franco Chimenti, Presidente of the FIG, “Our Federation first established environmental programming in the 1980’s and we’ve have full-time staff devoted to supporting sustainability initiatives in member clubs for over ten years. This new partnership with GEO will help to ensure that our efforts exceed modern environmental expectations and support the continuing growth of Italian golf.”

Golf Club La Pinetina, situated in the ecologically rich indigenous forests of the Po Valley in Lombardia, is at the forefront of that drive. Now the club has succeeded in achieving the comprehensive sustainability requirements of GEO Certification, it is using the award to both communicate the back-story of its success, and to drive continual improvement in management practices. “We are extremely proud to be leading Italian participation in this international programme,” said Roberto Tavecchio, President of GC La Pinetina, “We believe that any golf club, anywhere will make genuine and effective improvements to their performance by working to achieve this award. That the FIG has chosen to formalize their partnership with GEO, and officially endorse GEO Certification, is a development that makes all at the club extremely proud.”

After the launch of its National Partner drive in Spring 2010, GEO is delighted with the swift response from a number of European golf federations. FIG General Secretary Stefano Manca was among the first and explains the benefits that member clubs will enjoy:

“GEO provides a wealth of knowledge and support to the world of golf, across the full range of sustainability issues and opportunities. There is only one environment and we believe strongly in connecting action across national boundaries. As GEO Certification evolves into its second major version this summer, the FIG environment team looks forward to supporting its internationalisation by translating core elements of the programme into Italian.”

“We are all delighted that Golf Club La Pinetina has achieved this prestigious international recognition. The hope is that many more clubs in our Federation will follow the lead from Lombardia and drive ahead to showcase their value to people and the planet.”

Among the first ten clubs to achieve GEO Certification worldwide, GC La Pinetina now has three years to continue improving its performance before re-certification. GEO Accredited Verifier Paolo Croce had no hesitation in recommending the club for certification for their initial certification and congratulates the management team on operating an excellent golf facility:

“The obligations for maintaining a golf course in the ecologically rich landscape of the Appiano Gentile Regional Park are demanding. Nevertheless the team at La Pinetina embrace their responsibility with genuine passion and are deserved of this award from GEO.”

“Furthermore, despite the significant challenges of maintaining healthy turfgrass in the climate of the Po Valley, Golf Club La Pinetina has demonstrated a marked reduction of water consumption and nitrogen inputs compared with the generally accepted thresholds in the region. The club is to be congratulated for their enthusiastic approach to sustainable golf management, and they are deserving recipients of the prestigious GEO Certified status.”

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