It is gratifying to observe that the golf industry has seen an increase in sustainability success stories as of late. Such instances of environmental stewardship are a testament to the industry’s growing consciousness of its impact on the planet and its commitment to mitigating it.
Since 2021, I have been able to write three times about investments made by golf clubs in sustainable golf tournaments.
Through these articles, I aimed to showcase how golf clubs are leveraging their resources to positively impact the environment while providing a high-quality golfing experience for their participants:
- Hero Dubai Desert Classic (2023) – achieved GEO Certified Tournament.
- INFINITUM hosted the DP World Tour’s ISPS Handa Championship in 2022 & invested in new turfgrass species (e.g. Bermuda Tifway 419) for the sake of sustainability.
- Al Hamra Golf Club: it became the first golf club in the entire Middle East region to go fully plastic-free. The club hosted a European Tour tournament in 2022.
Sustainable Earth Course enhancements at Jumeirah Golf Estates
The Earth Course at Jumeirah Golf Estates has undergone a sustainable rejuvenation ahead of the DP World Tour Championship, the final event in this year’s Race to Dubai.
With multiple course changes designed to improve the aesthetic and playing experience, one of the notable upgrades is the complete replacement of sand in all 100 bunkers on the Earth Course.
In a commitment to environmental responsibility, the additional sand is both new and recycled, with a particularly vibrant white appearance that complements the desert backdrop.
On the 10th hole, the bunkers have undergone a more comprehensive refurbishment to ensure optimal playing conditions and a strategic challenge.
The main playing areas on the course are flanked by wood chips to contrast the green course and sandy desert.
To recreate the bright red aesthetic that has become synonymous with the Earth Course, the team has replaced all wood chips surrounding each hole on the course ahead of this year’s DP World Tour Championship.
The red-colored wood chips provide a vivid color contrast and are all produced on-site by the maintenance team.
Stuart Horwood, the club’s Superintendent, added:
“It is a huge undertaking for us to totally remove and replace the woodchip around the course and the sand in each bunker, but something that we feel is crucial in order to maintain the famed aesthetic that the Earth Course has earned.
It was also important that we completed this task in the most sustainable way possible, so we used recycled sand and produced our wood chips on-site. The team have done a great job of enhancing the course for what is a key date in our calendar.”
The Earth Course at Jumeirah Golf Estates has been the host of the DP World Tour’s pinnacle event for more than 10 years and will remain the host venue until 2031.