This is big business sponsoring of a major golf event and trying to bring forward sustainable, environmentally friendly policies. The Deutsche Bank Ladies Swiss Open 2009 will be the first carbon neutral golf event. Great news.
Golf Refugees decided to contact them directly to get some insider information. We were naturally curious to see who their commercial partners were for this carbon neutral event. After some nice banter, we started to dig. Hugo Boss will be supplying the clothing, they are a high profile German brand, so no surprises there. However, when we asked whether this clothing was made from organic cotton and / or carbon neutral, the answers became vague and Deutsche Bank became reticent about discussing the event with us.
Let me say, that Golf Refugees fully support this event and praise sponsors who try and incorporate sustainable policies.
Here lies the problem with carbon offsetting. Carbon neutral is a term most often used to describe a state where CO2 emissions have been negated entirely by the purchase of intangible 'carbon offsets'. This represents the 'lowest quality' means of achieving carbon neutral status. The only course of action is to change business-as-usual practices and where possible achieve genuine reductions in carbon emissions through sourcing of local, low carbon products and lower on-site energy consumption.
-------------------------------------------------
23.2.09
Go for the Green
'Go for the Green' is the marketing slogan to be used by The Deutsche Bank Ladies Golf Swiss Open in 2009. Why? Well, this event is going to be the first ever carbon neutral Golf Tournament.
Event organisers have calculated the total emissions volume in advance, to put it another way the event's carbon footprint. Gone and purchased an emissions certificate, not sure where you buy those from, to neutralise any emissions. I think they call this carbon offsetting.
The money will be used to install 5,500 biogas plants for private households in India, and to increase the efficiency of a renewable energy plant in Brazil.
I wonder if the women golf pro's will be wearing organic cotton carbon neutral clothing or just the usual big brand golf gear made in polluting factories by under-paid, under-aged textile workers?
-------------------------------------------------
Event organisers have calculated the total emissions volume in advance, to put it another way the event's carbon footprint. Gone and purchased an emissions certificate, not sure where you buy those from, to neutralise any emissions. I think they call this carbon offsetting.
The money will be used to install 5,500 biogas plants for private households in India, and to increase the efficiency of a renewable energy plant in Brazil.
I wonder if the women golf pro's will be wearing organic cotton carbon neutral clothing or just the usual big brand golf gear made in polluting factories by under-paid, under-aged textile workers?
-------------------------------------------------
19.2.09
Are you ready for eco golf?
These days you can play with golf balls manufactured from recycled materials, use bio degradable tees, wear carbon neutral organic cotton clothing and if you get caught in an acid rain shower, an eco umbrella made from bamboo. But where do you play eco golf?
Many golf courses use gallons of nasty chemicals to create and maintain a lush green, picture postcard look. I'm thinking Augusta, where everything is plucked and trimmed. This Spring, eco warriors can head for Scotland, where Machrihanish Dunes, the first 'real' links course in over a hundred years will open to the public.
There is no artificial drainage, green keepers are are not allowed to use fertiliser, pesticides or any plant growth regulators on the fairways. A flock of Hebridean Black sheep maintain the delicate ecological balance.
I bet Donald can't Trump that.
16.2.09
It's all balls
When you launch a new golf ball, you should submit samples to the governing bodies; USGA & R&A, for them to test whether your golf ball conforms to the latest rules and regulations.
Naturally they do not do this for free, you have to forward a juicy cheque to accompany your samples. Your balls are weighed and measured, plus an initial velocity test is performed for compliance. If successful, your new golf ball can then be included on the list of conforming golf balls. This also allows you to state on your packaging that this golf ball conforms with USGA and R&A rules.
However, there should be an expiry date too. You need to make additional payments every six months or more to the governing bodies to keep your golf ball on the list. A nice little earner for the rule makers to pay for their lunches and new blazers, should they spill gravy down their lapels. Even though your golf ball conforms, without further payments your golf ball is dropped from the list, though your packaging will probably still state conforms to USGA and R&A rules. Does any of this matter? Well, Professional golf tournaments usually insist that players must use golf balls which are on the current list of conforming balls. Strictly speaking these are the only legal golf balls. Though it is up to individual tournaments and golf clubs to decide whether to enforce the list. I suspect that most golfers entering their local club competitions can play with anything.
Naturally they do not do this for free, you have to forward a juicy cheque to accompany your samples. Your balls are weighed and measured, plus an initial velocity test is performed for compliance. If successful, your new golf ball can then be included on the list of conforming golf balls. This also allows you to state on your packaging that this golf ball conforms with USGA and R&A rules.
However, there should be an expiry date too. You need to make additional payments every six months or more to the governing bodies to keep your golf ball on the list. A nice little earner for the rule makers to pay for their lunches and new blazers, should they spill gravy down their lapels. Even though your golf ball conforms, without further payments your golf ball is dropped from the list, though your packaging will probably still state conforms to USGA and R&A rules. Does any of this matter? Well, Professional golf tournaments usually insist that players must use golf balls which are on the current list of conforming balls. Strictly speaking these are the only legal golf balls. Though it is up to individual tournaments and golf clubs to decide whether to enforce the list. I suspect that most golfers entering their local club competitions can play with anything.
14.2.09
13.2.09
We're in trouble
We've been contacted by representatives of Peter Alliss, a London based firm called Blackburn Blackburn Sachs Associates, not to use our 'Peter Alliss just choked on his cornflakes' advert again. Apparently, we should of asked for permission to use his name, and they don't feel it is particularly flattering. We tried to explain that we thought of Peter Alliss, because he is the voice of golf in the UK. But, this didn't wash with his suited and booted legal team. Nice to see that these bastions of the gentleman's game still have a sense of humour.
12.2.09
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
