The 2010 Ryder Cup

The 2010 Ryder Cup showcased leadership in sustainability as the world's greatest golfers did battle at Celtic Manor Resort in the valleys of South Wales.

Harnessing the advocacy power of an event that engages and entertains millions, the Ryder Cup Green Drive has again played its part in golf’s wider sustainability efforts, and in aligning the contest with government and public expectations.

A key focus was to proactively deliver the event in line with One Planet One Wales, the Welsh Assembly Government’s world leading sustainable development strategy.

From 18 months out a muti-partner initiative, coordinated by GEO and involving local to international golf, governmental and environmental bodies, focused on four key action areas:

Celtic Manor Resort

Event venues lay the foundations for a sustainable tournament. The Green Drive supported Celtic Manor Resort in their progress to level 4 of the Welsh Assembly Government’s Green Dragon Environmental Awards; inspired the resort’s enrolment in GEO Certification; and led to an overall expansion in the breadth and depth of the site’s environmental management programme.

In contributing to the Green Drive, the resort delivered a number of key achievements, including:

• All resort energy transitioned to renewable power grid supplies, generated by wind, wave and solar, accompanied with a reduction of energy use during 2009 of 13% through the installation of almost 10,000 energy saving light fitments and a voltage optimizer in the 2010 Clubhouse.
• The resort also increased its sector leading recycling and re-use rates, including all glass, aluminium, plastic, paper, cardboard, food and green waste.
• Through a re-appraisal of rough grassland across the site, in association with remodeling of the 2010 golf course, the course manager was able to establish over 25 hectares of new rough grassland and scrub habitat across the floodplain and the sides of the river valley, incorporating dormouse conservation and a new woodland management programme.
• Extensive archaeological digs were carried out of the Roman remains, with artifacts going to the local Roman museum for display and interpretation.
• A new maintenance facility was constructed which incorporates all the latest in pollution prevention features, including a closed loop washpad and water recycling system.
• A new irrigation pond was constructed to enable rainwater and surface runoff to be utilized for the irrigation of all three estate golf courses.

Staging

In a concerted effort to reduce the environmental footprint of the event, Ryder Cup Europe brought sustainability into the heart of product and service procurement. All contractors were asked about their own sustainability policies and track records, and an emphasis was placed on sourcing locally, ethically and on the basis of life cycle analysis.

Local, organic and Fairtrade food and produce was incorporated into the Taste of Wales menu, and a 90% recycling rate was achieved through well planned front and back of house waste separation and sorting.

The entire tented village was powered by generators that used recycled vegetable oil, all paper was Forest Stewardship Council certified and a number of merchandise and official publications and packages utilized recycled and recyclable cardboard.

All of these efforts have been quantified by Greenstone Carbon Management, who’s official carbon footprint report will be published before the end of 2010.

Communications

The 2010 Ryder Cup sought to raise widespread awareness about sustainability issues as they relate to golf and sporting events, and actively engage spectators in reducing the footprint of the event.

A number of traditional and innovative communications measures were adopted, that ranged from the incorporation of environmental messaging into the events core branding, through official programme and spectator guides, to ticket holder e-newsletters and via on site signage.

A number of environmental vignettes were also produced, that were played during the week of the event across the Tournament Television - into all hospitality units and across the tented village big screen.

Legacy

An important aspect of the Green Drive was to ensure that Ryder Cup achievements had a multiplier effect across golf and environment, in Wales and internationally.

The critical legacy aspects were:

• Ryder Cup Europe’s integration of new sustainability criteria into the selection process for the 2018 Ryder Cup bidding nations
• The production of new international Guidelines for Sustainable Golf Events, led by Ryder cup Europe and The European Tour
• An official Sustainable Golf reception and meet and greet, aiming to share the Green Drive experience and bring momentum and cohesion to golf’s future sustainability efforts
• An official Green Drive Report and Carbon Footprint, which will provide a benchmark of experiences, standards and methodology for greener golf events around the world
• A demonstration that integrating sustainability into golf events is not only possible, it is positive and highly productive to event organisers and the industries for which these events are the standard bearers