Small steps make a big difference when it comes to protecting the planet. Here are seven ways to be more sustainable when you play.

Unless you’ve been hiding under a rock the past few weeks, you’ll be all too aware of the danger the planet is in thanks to COP26.

The summit bought countries together to accelerate action towards global climate change goals, with hard-hitting facts about the consequences that not changing our habits will have on the planet.

It’s fair to assume that as far as sports go, golf’s impact on the planet is pretty minimal.

But it may not be as green as you think; water resources, emission-producing machinery, chemicals – golf’s not quite the Greta Thunberg of sport.

So, what can we do? Quite a lot actually. Small steps make a big difference when it comes to protecting the planet, and we all have our individual part to play.

Here are seven ways you can take to become a more eco-conscious golfer.

Say no to plastic

Whenever you go to the golf club, take your own refillable water bottle and reusable coffee cup and say no to plastic when you play.

Use bamboo tees

Swap your plastic tees for biodegradable bamboo tees instead. Not only are they great for nature but they’re generally a lot stronger too, meaning you can use them for longer.

Carpool

Driving to the golf club? Pick your friends up on the way to reduce pollution from cars.

Take a green taxi

If you’re leaving the car behind and need to take a taxi, choose an electric taxi to help minimise emissions. 

Rent your clubs when you fly

By carrying 15kg less baggage on board – about the weight of your golf clubs – you can reduce your carbon footprint by 15%.

Choose a sustainable flight

Lots of airlines are implementing smart sustainability programmes, meaning you can fly greener when you travel abroad. You can often see which flight is better for the planet too.

Offset your carbon emissions

With a lot of airlines, you can pay to offset the carbon emissions you produce when you fly. That means that for the emissions you create, the same amount is removed from the atmosphere somewhere else.

If you want to learn more about what you and your golf club could do with regards to sustainability then you may be interested to watch the GEO Foundation for Sustainable Golf virtual event - Driving for Net Zero - which explores how golf can collectively drive for more climate action.