The Road to Mallorca continues this week with Real Club Sevilla Golf taking a strong approach to sustainability as the host course of the 25th edition of the Challenge de España.
Implementing sustainable practices is part of the European Tour group’s commitment to Driving Golf Further in an environmentally and socially sustainable way, and this is evidenced in Seville.
Irrigation at the golf course is one of the key focusses of the club in Andalucia, as they use 100% recycled water to maintain the parkland layout.
Solar plants are also used, with the majority of the club’s energy supply coming from this form of power.
More recently, the club began switching to automatic and electric mowers in order to cut their use of petrol. They currently use two such machines, with their next step moving to full automation of the rough on the back nine.
Buggies used by golfers at the club, and the majority of buggies used for maintenance of the course are also electric.
The site of Real Club Sevilla Golf was used as a landfill site prior to its inauguration in 1992. Almost 32 years on, they have invested in a year-long study to understand how many species of birds live on the land. Set to be published next month, and with roughly 121 different species sighted, the course is now seen as a paradise for birds.
Enrique Martin, General Manager at Real Club Sevilla Golf: "Recently we have made several renovations of the facilities, with a special care for sustainability; apart from irrigating the whole golf course with recycled water, we have made a significant investment in solar panels.
“We also have the automation of several areas of our club with electric robots, both in gardening and in other areas of the course, and almost all the vehicles of our maintenance staff. It is also a paradise of flora and fauna, being able to see around 121 different kind of birds while playing the 18 holes.
“We are very proud of the good shape of the course, which is ready at any time. This is not only for the tournament; we keep this high standard throughout the year, so that members can play every day on a course prepared for high-level competition.”
The European Tour group became the first professional golf Tour to pledge towards net zero carbon emissions when they signed the United Nations Sports for Climate Action Framework, and the Framework’s Race to Zero pledge – requiring all signatories to commit to reducing direct emissions by 50% by 2030 and achieving net zero by 2040.
