The VP Bank Swiss Ladies Open, played since 2020 at the Migros Golfpark Holzhäusern near Zug, Switzerland has become the first Ladies European Tour event in continental Europe to become a GEO Certified® Tournament, demonstrating the event’s leadership and commitment to sustainability and climate action.
The 2023 tournament, hosted by Migros Golfpark Holzhäusern, is only the second LET event to become certified after the 2022 Women’s Scottish Open and joins a host of other world-renowned professional golf events on the global stage to achieve golf’s international sustainability recognition.
The widely regarded, credible distinction is overseen by GEO Sustainable Golf Foundation and reflects the tournament’s commitments, actions and positive impacts throughout the planning, staging and legacies of the event.
The criteria assess understanding, actions, and ongoing improvement across key sustainability aspects of golf events, for example, energy, water, waste management, transportation, site preservation, and procurement. Additionally, certification considers social value, ranging from fundraising, youth promotion and involvement of stakeholders to awareness initiatives and other enduring impacts. Certification also includes continual Improvement Points established for future events.
“Together with our partners, it is our clear ambition to develop the VP Bank Swiss Ladies further and lift its quality and impact continuously to another level. The GEO certification therefore is a great milestone and a huge motivation at the same time.” Roman Ziegler, CEO of Migros Golf AG.
Carole Kerry, Credibility Manager at GEO Certification Ltd, said: “A broad range of sustainability initiatives were assessed, and independently verified and positive impacts were evident throughout the event, from staging to communications and legacies. The certification process and its results recognise the progress of the tournament as it continues to develop and expand the positive impacts of the event into 2024 and beyond. We congratulate the VP Bank Swiss Ladies Open on their leadership and commitment to sustainable golf.”
Also, the partners and sponsors of the event, acknowledge the effort, made from the Swiss tournament promoter:
“We’re proud to hear the VP Bank Swiss Ladies Open has become the second GEO certified tournament on the LET schedule. Congratulations to Migros Golf AG and the entire team at Golfpark Holzhäusern for all the hard work they have put in to make this happen. The Tour continues to make progress with sustainability, and this is another great example of the steps being taken,” said Alexandra Armas, CEO of the LET.
The national Golf Association Swiss Golf within its sustainability agenda, strives to reaching the strategic goal in having all Swiss Golf courses GEO certified by 2027.
“We are delighted that the most important professional golf tournament for women in Switzerland has made a formal commitment to continuous improvement in the ecological, economic, and social aspects of its activities. Obtaining the GEO certification marks an important step in the implementation of concrete action plans and helps to reinforce the credibility and visibility of sustainable development in our sport. Congratulations to all the people involved in this process!” said Michel Follonier, Swiss Golf Director.
The naming partner, the Liechtenstein-based VP Bank, supports the effort to develop the event’s sustainability from the first minute of the cooperation with Migros Golf AG, dating back five years:
“Sustainability is a fundamental pillar of the VP Bank Group’s business strategy and a key to long-term success. Our commitment to sustainability extends to our sponsorship programs. As such, we take great pride in the VP Bank Swiss Ladies Open achieving GEO certification, highlighting the tournament’s unwavering dedication to sustainability and climate protection,” said Dr Urs Monstein, CEO a. i. and COO of VP Bank Group.
Some short highlights observed during the event and through submitted evidence include:
- Renewable Energy: The event was powered 100% by grid electricity from renewable sources.
- Local sourcing: Local fruits, juices and other food sourced from the local area in line with Migros procurement code.
- Waste reduction: All catering used reusable tableware, and all waste processed by Migros with zero waste to landfill, 25 tonnes recycled. Refill stations providing mineralized and cooled freshwater are accessible by the public, players, and the event staff as part of the dedicated involvement of official event partner BWT to reduce PET usage.
- Sustainable Transport: Spectators encouraged to use the train, with a 20-minute walk to the club.
- Protecting Nature: Fostering nature is key to Golfpark Holzhäusern, which became a GEO Certified venue in 2022, with the greenkeeping team working alongside ecologists to protect and enhance biodiversity.
- Community Impacts: All official invites from the promoter’s side go to the most promising Swiss Amateurs to gather important experience on the highest professional level. Another outreach to promote junior golf, is the participation of the girls from Swiss Golf’s initiative “Golf4Girls” who are playing a “beat-the-pro” competition during during the final round of the VP Bank Swiss Ladies Open.
- Public Benefit: The entry for all the three official tournament days is free. A strong ethos of making golf accessible to all.The tournament returns for its fifth edition to the Golfpark Holzhäusern from June 28-30 and is televised live in 80 countries world-wide.
The LET is committed to recognising and promoting great sustainable work being done by the LET community as part of the Tour’s initiative LET Celebrating the Green presented by Dow in partnership with GEO Foundation for Sustainable Golf.
