USGA, TCC, Brookline Plan Environmentally Friendly Open
Golf fans, players, vendors, volunteers and others from Massachusetts and around the world will take part in delivering the most sustainable U.S. Open Championship on-site experience to date, thanks to a collaborative effort among the United States Golf Association, the Town of Brookline and The Country Club.
In line with the UN’s Sports for Climate Action framework, the sustainability plan for the 122nd U.S. Open will significantly reduce the championship’s carbon footprint and reinvest dollars in the Town’s proactive environmental programs, leaving a lasting legacy well beyond this year’s event.
For the first time in its history, the USGA has also committed to baseline measurement and analysis of the 2022 championship’s carbon impact through third-party experts, which will lead to continuous improvement of the USGA’s operations and ultimately further reduce the environmental impact of the championship, scheduled for June 13-19.
“This is one of the many ways we’re acting on our commitment to advance the game and leave the planet better than we found it, so the next generation can enjoy playing outdoors as much as we do,” said Mike Whan, CEO of the USGA. “The U.S. Open is a great week to spotlight what we do to sustain the game today, to show how collaboration can lead to greater action long into the future, and to illustrate that every step forward leaves an incredible impact.”
“We are proud to partner as one of the five founding members of the United States Golf Association and as a neighbor within the Town of Brookline, to implement and promote joint sustainability initiatives that will produce the greenest U.S. Open to date,” said Lyman Bullard, president of The Country Club.
"Sustainability is a core principle and a top priority for our whole community,” said Heather Hamilton, chair of the Brookline Select Board. “We are grateful to the USGA for its deep commitment to ensuring that the U.S. Open not only takes meaningful steps throughout the championship to promote sustainability but leaves behind a lasting positive impact."
The 2022 U.S. Open sustainability plan is rooted in three main areas of focus:
Reduce: Significant energy and fossil-fuel conservation measures will be employed throughout the U.S. Open, combined with a program to divert landfill waste and dramatically reduce single-use plastics. Direct efforts include:
Renew: The USGA will invest in community renewable energy projects and purchase Renewable Energy Credits to reduce the U.S. Open’s footprint.
Re-invest: The USGA has collaborated with the Town of Brookline, local citizens groups and The Country Club to identify three community programs to improve the town’s owned green spaces, increase its tree canopy and advance carbon sequestration plans:
The USGA is committed to educate key stakeholders and fans about our sustainability programs. Fans attending the championship will be able to play an active role in sustainability efforts through:
The 2022 plan aligns with the United Nations’ Sports for Climate Action framework, which provides global leadership and commitment from more than 275 sports organizations to take responsibility for their climate impact. The program is rooted in five principles that commit to undertaking systematic efforts to promote environmental responsibility, reduce overall climate impact, educate for climate action, promote sustainable consumption and advocate for climate action through communication. The USGA has served as a signatory of Sports for Climate Action since 2020.
The U.S. Open sustainability plan also advances the Association’s deep commitment and proven work in sustainability for more than 100 years. The USGA invests $10 million each year in science, research, agronomy and course consulting that has been independently proven to provide more than $1.9 billion in savings back to golf each year. These savings are realized through more efficient water, fuel, labor and nutrient management practices from which the entire game has benefited. Drought and pest-resistant turfgrasses developed through USGA funding are used on athletic fields, parks, lawns and golf courses worldwide.