About the Guidance

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The GEO Legacy™ Guidance targets two main categories of user: developers, whose chief concern is the realisation of the project, and regulatory bodies and their consultees, whose primary interests are strategic land-use policy and the functioning of the development control system.

There are subtle but significant differences in the type of information the two target audiences require. On the one hand, development teams are seeking a more detailed understanding of the principles of sustainability, but their primary concern is how to apply these to maximise their business returns. Regulators on the other hand, who generally have a professional grounding in the fundamentals of sustainable development, often seek to understand better what a golf development is all about and how to determine if a specific proposal is a sound one in sustainability terms.

The practical components of sustainable golf development can be categorized within GEO's sustainable golf agenda. The presentation of specific issues within this framework helps to ensure that the guidance is:

  • Credible - in step with cutting edge sustainability thinking
  • Comprehensive - embodying all key social and environmental issues related to golf development
  • Practical - providing a logical, structured lead-in to delivering valuable real-world outcomes

This guidance does not cover the operational phase, that is, golf course management and maintenance, which is well-researched and documented in other guidance, criteria, tools, resources and programs.

Partners & Supporters

Without the financial and in-kind support of the following organizations the creation of the GEO Legacy™ Guidance would not have been possible. GEO is grateful to the members of the European Institute of Golf Course Architects, the American Society of Golf Course Architects and the Society of Australian Golf Course Architects for providing the real-world case studies that help to illustrate the messaging in this guidance.

 

R&A Logo
The R&A
EIGCA Logo
European Institute of
Golf Course Architects
European Tour Logo
The European Tour
EGCOA Logo
European Golf Course Owners Association
Jacobsen Logo
Jacobsen
ASGCA Logo
American Society of Golf Course Architects
OE Logo
Oxford Economics
JSGCA Logo
Japanese Society of Golf Course Architects
SAGCA Logo
Society of Australian Golf Course Architects

Guidance Authors

  • Jonathan Smith, GEO

    Jonathan Smith

    Golf Environment Organization

    Since establishing GEO in 2006, Jonathan has led the organization to become one of the most visionary, dynamic and credible sustainability actors in golf, and across the global sport environment movement.

  • Mike Wood

    Mike Wood

    Lead Project Consultant

    Environmental Convenor of the EIGCA, Mike is an EIA specialist and Landscape Architect. He helped to establish a degree course for golf architects and was Programme Director from 2000-2005.

  • Benjamin Warren

    Golf Environment Organization

    An environmentalist with software engineering credentials, Benjamin has been driving the GEO comms strategy since 2007. He is a regular conference speaker and contributes to a variety of golf publications.

  • Keith Duff

    Dr. Keith Duff

    Golf Course Consultant

    A geologist by training and environmentalist by profession, Keith was Science Director of English Nature for 15 years and has served as an Advisory Member of The R&A Golf Course Committee.

  • Dr. Bud Smart

    Sustainable Golf LLC

    A freshwater ecologist with 30 years field experience, Bud has implemented integrated management strategies to protect natural resources across the globe, and in over 275 golf courses and communities.

  • Vincent Hoen

    Ecofys

    A consultant and project manager at Ecofys, a leading energy efficiency and sustainable energy firm, Vincent has experience implementing a wide array of energy saving and sustainable energy solutions.

  • Conor Kretsch

    COHAB Initiative

    Founder and Director of the COHAB Initiative on Biodiversity and Health, Conor’s expertise lies in the importance of healthy ecosystems to human well-being and economic security.

  • Dr. Paolo Croce

    Università di Pisa

    A professor of agronomy and soil science, Paolo comes from a long line of golf professionals. He may have broken with family tradition, but is now a highly respected warm-season turfgrass specialist.

  • Dr. Ole Sandberg

    Landscape Architect

    A professor of Landscape Architecure at the Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Ole is a cultural heritage specialist and has written extensively on the golf course landscape.

  • Dougie Adams

    Oxford Economics

    Director of Consulting at the world-leading Oxford Economics, Dougie has vast experience in analysing social and economic impact issues across a wide range of industries. He plays a bit of golf too.

Other Partners & Collaborators

  • Jeremy Pern

    Golf Course Architect

  • Lodewijk Klootwijk

    EGCOA

  • Steve Isaac

    The R&A

  • The Council

    European Institute of Golf Course Architects

  • David McLaren

    European Tour

  • Gordon Shepherd

    WWF International

  • John Finisdore

    World Resources Institute

  • Mark Sandilands

    KPMG

  • Dr. Charles Peacock

    NC State University

Consultants

  • Ross Perrett

    SAGCA

  • Neil Crafter

    SAGCA

  • Paul Mogford

    SAGCA

  • Adam Lawrence

    Golf Course Architecture

  • Achim Reinmuth

    EIGCA

  • Edwin Roald

    EIGCA

  • Guy Hockley

    EIGCA

  • Brian Phillips

    EIGCA

  • Chad Ritterbusch

    ASGCA

  • Rick Phelps

    ASGCA

  • Bill Love

    ASGCA

  • Steve Smyers

    USGA

  • Kawata Taizo

    JSGCA

  • Sato Takeshi

    JSGCA

  • Sato Kentaro

    JSGCA

  • Tom Doak

    Renaissance Golf Design

  • Scott Ferrell / Brian Lussier

    Gary Player Design

  • Jeremy Slessor

    European Golf Design