Edition #10

'Fore' The Future

Golf and sustainability might not seem like an obvious pair, but there’s so much happening to make the game more eco-friendly. Every month, we’ll dive into some examples of how golf is embracing the environment and share how we’re applying those ideas to what we do at Stanners. It’s all about keeping the game we love sustainable—for the planet, the course, and future generations.

The Solheim Cup: A Transatlantic Stage for Green Innovation

Dates: September 13th–15th

Location: Virginia Water, England

This year’s Solheim Cup lands at Wentworth with an emphasis on environmental leadership across team golf. The European Tour and LPGA have partnered with GEO Foundation to implement a wide-ranging sustainability program, including solar-powered fan zones, free cycling access for local attendees, and a new digital ticketing platform that eliminates over 250,000 printed tickets.

On the course, organic fairway treatments and drought-resistant grass varieties are being showcased, proving that even major championship venues can reduce reliance on chemical inputs. Catering has taken a bold step too, with plant-based menus making up 40% of food offerings, a record for any Solheim Cup. The organisers have pledged a detailed sustainability report within 90 days of the event, underlining the transparency now expected at golf’s highest levels.

This commitment sends a message to other international events that fans care about more than just the score, they care about the planet too. By blending fierce competition with climate action, the Solheim Cup is proving that sustainability can be a winning strategy on both sides of the Atlantic.

Course Innovation Spotlight: Royal Melbourne’s Water Wisdom

Event: Australian Golf Sustainability Summit

Dates: September 20th–22nd

Location: Melbourne, Australia

While players aren’t teeing off in competition, Royal Melbourne is making waves as the host of the Australian Golf Sustainability Summit. The club, already famous for its naturalised bunkering and native grass integration, will use the summit to showcase its cutting-edge stormwater harvesting system that supplies 60% of course irrigation needs.

Workshops will highlight how Australian courses are adapting to drought cycles and extreme heat, and attendees will take part in a “sustainability design sprint,” developing practical solutions for reducing water stress across the golf industry. With a target of net-zero operations by 2035, Royal Melbourne is positioning itself as a global leader in climate adaptation for golf.

The summit will also act as a hub for collaboration, giving greenkeepers, architects, and policymakers a shared space to exchange solutions. By opening its fairways as a living classroom, Royal Melbourne is helping the sport tackle some of the most pressing climate challenges head-on.

Emerging Voices: The Junior Eco-Champions Cup

Date: September 28th

Location: Scottsdale, Arizona, USA

This grassroots youth tournament continues to grow, uniting junior golfers with the theme of “Play Green, Play Clean.” Hosted at a desert-certified course, the Eco-Champions Cup teaches kids how sustainable course management blends with competitive play.

Highlights this year include the “Desert Bloom Project,” where participants plant native wildflowers on the course to support pollinators, and a “Zero Waste Scoring Zone,” where players and families sort and recycle all event materials. The event concludes with a junior-led panel discussion on the future of golf and climate responsibility, giving young golfers a platform to shape the sport they’ll inherit.

The energy and ideas coming out of this youth event prove that the next generation isn’t waiting for change, they’re leading it. Every swing, seed planted, and recycled scorecard shows that sustainability can be embedded into the very heart of the game.

From Course to Closet: What It Means for Us

At Stanners Golf, we take these August stories as powerful signals. Sustainability in golf is no longer a niche concern, it’s embedded in majors, modelled by top clubs, and shared with young players worldwide.

As we launch our new sustainable golf polo in ‘topaz blue’, we’ve leaned into those same values. Made from recycled polyester and containing corozo buttons, it’s a shirt designed not just to play well, but to tread lightly. Whether you’re teeing up at your home club or attending a world-class event, we want you to feel part of something bigger: a game in transition, led by those who care deeply about where it’s headed.

Golf is greening. Let’s keep driving it forward.