I am so happy that the organizers of the 2021 AIG Women’s Open (16-22 August 2021) at Carnoustie Golf Links will not offer single-use plastic bottles instead will offer water refilling stations and reusable stainless steel bottles.
It is fair to say that replacing single-use plastic bottles in golf clubs is not a totally new initiative but a very welcomed one. Among the first golf clubs in the world these golf clubs gave up single-use plastic bottles:
- Arabella Golf Mallorca;
- Al Hamra Golf Club (managed by Troon International);
- Saadiyat Beach Golf and Yas Links Abu Dhabi (managed by Troon International);
- Oaks Prague / PGA National Czech Republic (managed by Troon International).
I go even further. The R&A turned the 2019 Open Championship into a single-use plastic bottle-free event! They collaborated with the Swedish firm Bluewater.
Not-too-flattering statistics
- 40% of all plastic produced is for single-use plastic packaging, totalling 161 million tons annually.
- Over 52% of the plastics thrown away each year are from plastic packaging.
2021 AIG Women’s Open without single-use plastic bottles
Following on from the successful launch of the Open Water initiative at Royal Portrush, where 123,000 single-use plastic bottles were removed from The Open.
The R&A, in collaboration with Mastercard and adidas, will bring the Open Water Initiative to the 2021 AIG Women’s Open as part of its commitment to embedding sustainable practices across R&A championships.
If I were the R&A or the USGA I would make this initiative as a must-have for every golf tournament regardless of their size.
Working with Bluewater, free water refilling stations will be installed across the 2021 AIG Women’s Open with fans encouraged to bring their own refillable water bottles from home. Special edition stainless steel reusable bottles will also be available to purchase at the Championship for £5.50.
All golfers playing in the 2021 AIG Women’s Open will be gifted a personalized players’ edition stainless steel water bottle with their name laser-engraved on it.
If you go to the 2021 AIG Women’s Open then you can contribute to the global reforestation drive through The R&A and Mastercard’s Priceless Planet Coalition.
Whilst water refills are free at the Championship, all Bluewater refilling stations will be equipped with contactless modules for fans to make voluntary donations of £1.50, as well as a £1 donation from the sale of each commemorative water bottle, being directed to the Priceless Planet Coalition.
Did you know that the PGA Tour, Pebble Beach Resort, and the Arnold & Winnie Palmer Foundation are among the partners of the Priceless Planet Coalition?
Adidas’s partnership with the 2021 AIG Women’s Open extends to
In addition to the Open Water Project, Adidas’s partnership with the 2021 AIG Women’s Open extends to the championship’s official uniform.
Continuing their commitment to help END PLASTIC WASTE and bring more sustainable products to golfers everywhere, adidas will provide all staff and marshals at the 2021 AIG Women’s Open with PRIMEGREEN product, made with recycled materials, as part of their kit.