Fore! Ideas to Green Up Your Golf Game

With tournaments abounding, summer vacations and extra daylight for outdoor activities, golf is in full swing so here are a few ideas to consider to green up your game along the way.

1.  If you want to play a truly “green” golf course, look into The Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary Program for Golf Courses.  This is an award winning education and certification program to help golf courses to protect the environment and preserve the heritage of the game.  Search the directory to locate an eco-friendly golf course in your area.

100% Recycled Polo Shirt

2.  Skip the traditional polo and consider one made of recycled bottles.  It’s true, 8 Bottles offers a comfortable,  100%post-consumer recycled performance polo made from PET bottles.  For every 8 bottles saved, a shirt is made thus the name.  Since there are no additional dyes involved the shirt comes in only one color – a light green reflecting the color of the bottles it is made from.  I ordered one for my husband and it’s a nice, well-made shirt. Shipping was fast and the packaging was all recycled and recyclable which was much appreciated.

Dixon "Earth" Golf Balls

3.  It’s estimated that over 300 million golf balls are discarded every year.  Though I do not have personal experience, I’ve read good things about Dixon Earth‘s eco-friendly golf ball.  Unlike other balls which are made of harsh heavy metals like  tungsten and lead, the Dixon Earth core is made up of a polymer that is 100% renewable.  The other components of the ball itself can also be recycled into other products and the packaging is made from 100% recycled material.  Even better, the company gives a $1.00 ball for ball credit towards the purchase of Dixon Earth golf balls for every Dixon ball recycled in a Dixon Golf Recycle Center located at a participating retailer.  They will also give a $0.50  ball credit for any other brand of golf ball recycled in a Dixon Golf Recycle Center.  Here’s a past article from Golfers with some commentary on the performance of the ball.

photo 8bottles

4.  Take the Green Golfer Pledge through Golf and The Environment, a partnership with US Golf Association, The PGA and Audubon International by committing to specific actions such as:

• Voicing support for the environmental efforts undertaken at your course.
• Using trash and recycling receptacles appropriately and encourage others to do the same.
• Purchasing environmentally-friendly products for the game.
• Encouraging others to learn about the benefits of environmentally responsible management on the course and in their community.

So get out, green up and get your environmental golf score on par.

Jeanne Blaisdell

Jeanne Blaisdell publishes TheGreenSamaritan.com, her personal blog highlighting green living tips and information in order to help herself and others on their journey towards greater environmental awareness. She has also launched EcoAvenueLtd.com, an online shopping site featuring the latest deals and promotions from a collection of earth-friendly merchants. Jeanne lives in Greensboro, North Carolina with her husband Tom and two boys, Jack (10) and Ben (7). Find The Green Samaritan on Facebook, follow on Twitter @GreenSamaritan and @EcoAvenueltd.