Europe > Western Europe > France > In Morocco, the Mazagan golf course serves as an example

France: In Morocco, the Mazagan golf course serves as an example

2015/02/19

Recycling rainwater or leaving unplayed areas untouched are examples of ways to save water and reduce golfs’ water footprint

While not the greenest sport on the planet, golf’s ecological footprint has for a few years been steadily declining, with some courses even going as far as adopting an all-out green approach.

A prime example of just how eco-friendly this sport can be is the Vittel Ermitage golf course, in the Western Vosges region of France. Thanks to Nestlé Waters’ French branch, Agrivair, ecosystem protection and enhancement were taken, inclunding zero-pesticide measures. The result? It is presently not rare to spot deer in the woody parts of the course, or for low-lying areas to be flooded during winter.

In the US, Justin Timberlake bought in 2007 the Large Creek Golf Course near Millington, Tennessee, which he again redeveloped as the eco-friendly Mirimichi golf course by, part other things, recycling rainwater, introducing indigenous plants, and creating wetlands. Mirimichi was named the world’s 3rd greenest golf course by Mother Nature Network, and has since garnered several prizes, inclunding an Environmental Stewardship Award in 2010.

In Morocco, the Mazagan golf course serves as an example. Designed by one of the world’s top players, Gary Player, it was conceived with its environment – a coastal sector– in mind, unlike a lot of other courses. This means the succulent plants were there beforehand, and the sand dunes were not built, but built around. The course as well features an automatic irrigation system using recycled water, and the grassy areas are made of Paspalum, which is well-suited to seaside conditions.

An extra notable course is the Golf National of Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines, in France, where several “natural” techniques are in use, such as leaving unplayed areas untouched, or composting grass cuttings instead of throwing them in the course’s water bodies. And if you’re still not convinced that being eco-friendly is the way forward, know that the Golf National is set to become the sport’s biggest stage by hosting the Ryder Cup in 2018.

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