Sustainability is to be at the heart of the Commercial Bank Qatar Masters.
Golf events are increasingly focusing on sustainability best practices to reduce their carbon footprints. Efficiencies and waste reduction can be improved significantly with effective planning and close monitoring of branding, infrastructure, and hospitality catering, not only helping the tournament operate and save costs, but also supporting right from the onset.
With next year’s event, Education City Golf Club (ECGC) will be looking to better highlight the positive social and environmental impact on the tournament.
According to ECGC General Manager Michael Braidwood, they are committed to sustainability, ensuring it a key pillar of their organisation.
We strive to embrace sustainability in all its forms – social, human, economic and environmental. We now look to continue our commitment to sustainability with Hamad Bin Khalifa University.
ECGC is currently aligned with the GEO Foundation for Sustainable Golf programmes for golf facility development and operations. Ultimately, the goal is to meet the international standard for sustainable golf tournaments, with the Commercial Bank Qatar Masters becoming a GEO certified tournament over the coming years.
Sustainable Golf
During the 2021 tournament, an audit took place to develop an action plan for next year’s edition. It was conducted by students from the Master of Science in Sport and Entertainment Management (MSEM), offered by the College of Science and Engineering at HBKU.
The HBKU MSEM programme is a joint degree with the University of South Carolina – the first master’s degree in sport and entertainment management in Qatar and one of only a few in the MENA region. The programme trains and prepares students for management and leadership roles in the sport and entertainment industries.
Several MSEM students, including three Qataris, carried out the study across golf’s three main sustainability themes – nature, resources and community – looking at ways to improve efficiencies. GEO Foundation provided guidance to the students to focus the study on the key areas of impact across the tournament.
Libi Newell, Tournament Support for GEO Foundation, said they are delighted to see the partnership between HBKU and the Commercial Bank Qatar Masters and look forward to working with the two entities as the tournament’s sustainability programme develops.
The HBKU students interviewed all relevant suppliers, such as temporary infrastructure, energy and waste contractors, tournament organisers, and other relevant stakeholders to complete the study. Observations were also conducted on-site, following strict social distancing protocols. Once completed the document will be utilised to develop the 2022 tournament concept with emphasis on enhancing sustainable practices.
MSEM Associate Professor Dr Kamilla Swart Arries expressed her gratitude to ECGC and GEO for providing students with the opportunity to collaborate on such a prestigious European Tour event.
We have a shared responsibility and commitment to build local capacity within the sport management industry and to integrate sustainability best practices in the learning experiences of the next generation of sport managers in Qatar.
For more information about the upcoming tournament, visit qatar-masters.com. You can also visit ecgolf.com for updates and related information.
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