Belfry Receives Green Award

The Belfry, venue of next September's Ryder Cup match, and Gleneagles, front runner to stage the biennial transatlantic confrontation in 2009, are among the first 15 European golf clubs to be commended by the Brussels-based Committed to Green Foundation.

David Stubbs, the Foundation's executive director, said: "All these clubs have shown a commendable effort to prove their concern and care for the environment. Many are 'typical' small golf clubs, simply wishing to be seen to be responsible managers. But whatever their situation, large and small clubs alike have devoted time and effort to achieving worthwhile environmental improvements. It is still an early stage in our programme and we are delighted to have such committed pioneers to help us in our mission."

The recognition process involved clubs submitting an environmental statement
reporting on their policies, achievements and future targets across eight
categories. To ensure the credibility of the programme, each statement was
subject to on-site verification by independent specialists.

The other British courses to be recognised are Kilmacolm, Linlithgow and
Elmwood College in Scotland and Kenwick Park in Lincolnshire. The
commendation also went to Vilamoura and Carvoeiro in the Algarve, Belas near
Lisbon, Faaborg in Denmark and five Finnish clubs - Kurk, Rantasalmi, Ronnas,
Tarina and Sarfvik.

Several more clubs across Europe are in the final stages of preparing their
Committed to Green statements and further awards of recognition will be
announced during 2001.