Golf Sustainability

About Golf Sustainability

On a mission to drive positive change in the golf industry for a greener future! Host John Failla focuses on advancing the sustainability of both the environment and the game of golf for generations to come through valuable insights, meaningful connections, and inspiring stories. This passionate golfer, who has already played on 39 of the World’s Top 100 Golf Courses, brings together industry leaders and organizations: Greg Nathan, the President and Chief Executive Officer of the National Golf Foundation (NGF), Graeme Beatt, the Course Manager at Royal Portrush Golf Course in Ireland, Dave Barton, the executive director of the National Alliance for Accessible Golf, and many more. John and his guests are united by a shared commitment to the cause. Over the past 15 years, John has created, developed and sold two businesses focused on helping large private and public sector organizations accomplish their sustainability goals and navigate the energy transition to clean energy. Most recently, the research, digital media, events and podcasts created by John at Smart Energy Decisions have been widely recognized for their thought leadership and impact in helping large organizations achieve their sustainability goals and reduce their carbon emissions. John is leveraging his experience in corporate sustainability and his passion for golf in the development of Golf Sustainability as a resource to help accelerate adoption of best practices in environmental, social and economic sustainability within the golf industry to ensure the viability of the game for future generations. Be part of the movement for golf sustainability!

Publisher

John Failla

Category

science · sports

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

19 Oct 2023

Latest episode

9 Mar 2026

Latest episodes

34 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   9 Mar 2026

   Driving the Green: How Golf Ireland Built a National Sustainability Playbook

   Golf Ireland is not easing into sustainability, it is building a national framework around it. With 376 affiliated clubs, over 236,000 registered members, and major events including the Open at Royal Portrush, the Amgen Irish Open, and the upcoming Ryder Cup in Adare, the governing body for golf across Ireland has both scale and influence. In this episode of the Golf Sustainability Podcast, Golf Ireland’s Head of Sustainability, Anne Courtney and sustainability consultant Gráinne Kelleher outline how a blank canvas turned into one of the most comprehensive governing body sustainability programs in the sport. From biodiversity audits and pesticide tracking to decarbonization strategy and GEO certification, “Driving the Green” is structured, measurable, and designed to scale. You will want to hear this episode if you are interested in... [07:30] How Golf Ireland built a sustainability strategy from scratch[11:00] The four pillars of the Driving the Green program[15:00] Biodiversity audits and digital pesticide tracking requirements[19:30] Energy audits, decarbonization, and funding renewable upgrades[28:30] GEO certification and the role of data in long term planning[35:00] Overcoming resistance and engaging members beyond management Building the Foundation: Strategy Before Action When Anne stepped into the role just over two years ago, there was no pre existing sustainability blueprint. The first phase was listening, meeting stakeholders, understanding club realities, and identifying early adopters. From that research came a standalone sustainability strategy called Driving the Green, launched nationally in March 2024. Rather than attempt to manage every specialty internally, Golf Ireland assembled a team of experts covering ecology, decarbonization, waste, funding, and certification. The program was structured around four pillars, fostering nature, conserving resources, strengthening communities, and tackling climate action. The approach is practical. Biodiversity audits now provide clubs with five to ten year ecological roadmaps. A digital pesticide logging portal ensures compliance with new national regulations. Energy audits, delivered in partnership with Sustainable Energy Ireland, establish baselines and funding pathways for renewable transitions. The philosophy is simple, let the figures do the talking. One club reduced energy costs from approximately 100,000 to 25,000 annually through retrofitting and renewable investment. Financial sustainability and environmental sustainability are positioned as aligned, not competing priorities. From Policy to Practice: Engagement at Club Level A strategy is only as strong as its adoption. Golf Ireland focused early on engagement, offering free and impartial support to affiliated clubs. Within twelve months, 27 percent of clubs were actively participating in the program. The work reaches beyond boards and managers. Greenkeepers play a central role, particularly in biodiversity and turf management practices. Volunteer involvement has grown significantly, including one club with 50 volunteers dedicated to biodiversity initiatives alone. Certification through GEO Foundation’s OnCourse portal has provided structure and continuity. The platform centralizes documentation, supports benchmarking, and strengthens Ireland’s position as a sustainable golf destination for international tourism and corporate events. Water stewardship, even in a country known for rainfall, has emerged as a priority. Clubs are investing in rainwater harvesting and storage systems to achieve seasonal self sufficiency. Coastal erosion challenges, particularly for links courses, are being addressed in collaboration with The R and A. The Next Phase: From Engagement to Measurable Outcomes While early progress centered on awareness and participation, the next stage is action and measurable impact. Sixty eight pilot projects are currently underway across clubs, with a growing emphasis on data collection to inf

2. 

   25 Feb 2026

   Designing Golf Courses That Respect the Land

   Water sits at the center of golf’s sustainability conversation. In many regions of the world, it is no longer simply a resource to manage, but a responsibility to steward carefully. Modern golf course architecture increasingly reflects this reality, with efficient irrigation systems, precise targeting of playable areas, and a commitment to reducing unnecessary inputs. Yet sustainability extends beyond water. True environmental responsibility begins in the routing and shaping of the land itself. By limiting earth movement, preserving natural contours, and relying on materials already found onsite, architects can significantly reduce environmental disruption while enhancing authenticity. In many respects, this approach mirrors the philosophy of early designers who lacked today’s heavy machinery and were forced to work with the landscape rather than against it. The modern sustainability movement, in many ways, represents a return to golf’s architectural roots. By respecting the land, minimizing disturbance, and designing with intention, firms like Mackenzie & Ebert continue to shape courses that honor both the game and the landscape on which it is played.Golfsustainability.com

3. 

   31 Jan 2026

   Scaling Sustainability in Global Golf with Maria Grandinetti Milton and the DPO World Tour

   Sustainability in sport is no longer about isolated initiatives or one-off wins. It is about leadership, collaboration, and building systems that others can follow. In this episode of the Golf Sustainability Podcast, John Fahey reconnects with Maria Grandinetti Milton, Director of Sustainability for the DP World Tour, to explore how sustainability programs mature, scale, and begin to influence an entire ecosystem. Maria shares updates on several major initiatives that have taken shape since their last conversation, including the rollout of the DP World Tour Championship Charter, the expansion of the Global Sustainability Awards, and the launch of sustainability forums in Scotland and Ireland. Together, these programs reveal a deliberate strategy focused not just on improving individual events, but on empowering partners, suppliers, federations, and governments to move forward together. The conversation also looks ahead. Maria explains why the DP World Tour became the first professional golf tour to sign the United Nations Sports for Nature initiative, how storytelling around nature can deepen fan engagement, and why the next phase of sustainability leadership is about scaling impact while continuing to learn along the way. Outline of This Episode [00:00] Sustainability as a journey and why leadership requires constant learning[02:00] Maria’s role at the DP World Tour and the evolution of its sustainability strategy[04:00] The Championship Charter and creating a sustainability blueprint for events[10:30] Global Sustainability Awards and recognizing innovation across the supply chain[17:00] Sustainability forums in Scotland and Ireland and the power of collaboration[23:00] Joining the UN Sports for Nature initiative and focusing on biodiversity[27:00] Updating the DP World Tour sustainability strategy and looking ahead Creating a sustainability blueprint through the Championship Charter One of the central updates in this episode is the launch of the DP World Tour Championship Charter. Designed as a practical guide for staging events sustainably, the charter breaks sustainability down into clear, accessible steps across areas like water, waste, transport, and logistics. Rather than overwhelming promoters or operators, it offers entry-level actions, more advanced practices, and examples of best-in-class execution. Maria explains that the charter serves both internal teams and external partners. With more than 40 events across 25 countries, consistency is challenging, but shared principles provide a foundation. The charter creates alignment, lowers barriers to entry, and sets expectations for how sustainability is embedded across global championships. Recognizing leadership through Global Sustainability Awards Recognition plays a powerful role in driving behavior change. Maria shares how the DP World Tour’s Global Sustainability Awards have grown from a regional initiative into a global program spanning Europe, the Middle East, and the rest of the world. The awards highlight excellence across categories such as innovation, technology, catering, venues, and operations. By celebrating suppliers and partners who lead the way, the program creates positive momentum. Winners become case studies, role models, and inspiration for others across the tour’s extensive supplier network. The focus is not just on competition, but on sharing best practices that can be replicated and scaled. Forums that connect golf, government, and communities Another major development is the launch of sustainability forums in Scotland and Ireland. These events bring together national federations, government stakeholders, local golf clubs, and the professional game to discuss shared challenges and solutions. Topics range from climate resilience and biodiversity to community impact and land use. Maria describes these forums as moments of triangulation, where collaboration unlocks progress that no single group could achieve alone. By leveraging the visib

Who has been a guest on Golf Sustainability

Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.

• Damon Di Giorgio
• Sean Pyun
• Will Smith
• Eleanor Brown
• Matteo Serena

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

YouTube views

19,505

Score snapshot 15 Sept 2025

Apple Podcasts (US)

5.0 / 5

3 ratings

Spotify

5.0 / 5

1 ratings

Podcast Authority Score: 63 / 100

A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.

Quality

53

Social presence

100

YouTube

72

Engagement

60

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Guest appearances

Books guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.