Team Europe Solheim Cup hero Suzann Pettersen is collaborating with the GEO Foundation to try and make golf a more eco-friendly sport.
LPGA player Suzanna Pettersen is the first professional golfer to become a GEO Sustainability Champion and she will be working with the non-profit organisation to help accelerate sustainability in and through golf around the world.
The 39-year-old joins an existing and growing community of leaders across the sport, including course and club managers, and association leaders who are making real and measurable contributions to sustainable golf.
The Norwegian star has been a Dow Ambassodor for over 12 years. Dow is also endeavouring to bring new levels of sustainability and innovation to advance the game of golf and the company partnered up with GEO to run the LPGA's Dow Great Lakes Bay Invitational.
Suzann said: "It was fascinating to learn more about all the efforts to run the event in a more environmentally-conscious and community-orientated way. Then, when I saw that my home course, Oslo Golf Club, was also certified by GEO for its great work, I thought this is something I’d really like to get behind.
"As a mother of a young child, it is incredible how concerned you become over the future of the planet, its biodiversity, air quality and climate. These things are absolutely vital to the health and wellbeing of future generations, so we all need to do our best to make things better.
“And golf, perhaps of all sports, has such a wonderful role to play. We can showcase how to manage community landscapes with a low use of resources and leaving space for a lot of wildlife; we can collaborate with communities to make good things happen beyond our boundaries. Much of this has been provided for by golf for many years, but we all need to up our efforts.
“For my part, I’ll be taking this role seriously. I’m so passionate about a sustainable future, and to see golf as a leader. We have already kitted our house out with geothermal energy, have invested in hybrid and electric cars, and with GEO I’ll be carrying out any essential future travel as climate-neutral – using a dedicated golf offset program they have set up. I just hope I can make a difference, and am proud to stand alongside those other amazing and often less visible Sustainability Champions in golf.”
Meanwhile, Jonathan Smith, Executive Director of the GEO Foundation commented: “We are simply thrilled that Suzann has stepped forward to help the great cause to promote sustainable golf. She has had such a fantastic career as a competitor, culminating in the final putt of the 2019 Solheim Cup and securing a victory for the European Team.
"Through our partnership she will continue to play a hugely important role in raising awareness, encouraging action and helping draw attention to successes around some of the defining issues of our generation. We could not have asked for a better ambassador and we’re so excited about what we can help achieve together for golf and society at large.”
To find out more about sustainable golf visit www.sustainable.golf.
