Sustainable development
Golf courses are intrinsically located in densely vegetated natural areas that need to be irrigated and protected. Golf courses bring a breath of fresh air to surrounding towns and residential areas. They are green lungs in the same way as the green belt that surrounds the city of Rabat. In this respect, golf courses are preserved spaces that are also home to wildlife, which finds a natural refuge there, and flora, which benefits from the upkeep of these areas to flourish. In this way, golf courses help to reinforce biodiversity.
For many years, the Royal Moroccan Golf Federation has attached great importance to the eco-responsible management of golf courses and the natural resources within these structures. In this context, the Federation supports national efforts in terms of sustainable development and promotes the environmental efforts made by clubs. The goal is to support clubs in their sustainability efforts, through an integrated approach that reconciles human, agronomic, environmental, and economic requirements.
Under the High Instructions of His Royal Highness Prince Moulay Rachid, the Royal Moroccan Golf Federation, aware of the importance of preserving the environment, is committed to promoting and encouraging eco-responsible management of golf courses around the kingdom, notably through the creation of its Water and Environment Commission in 2019 and the launch of the Golf Go Green strategy in 2021.
Through its Water & Environment Commission, the RMGF works to:
- • Raising awareness of water conservation among clubs and greenkeepers.
- • The adoption by golf courses of best practices in water conservation and rationalization.
- • The organization of federal competitions and events only in golf courses that comply with water resource conservation and use only non-conventional water.
- • Liaising with the relevant ministerial departments to monitor and support golf courses in implementing their environmental approach.
- • Communicating respect for golfer etiquette to protect the golf course.
GOLF GO GREEN strategy
National survey to identify the environmental assets and sustainable development actions undertaken by golf courses, and to define the issues they face in terms of eco-responsible course maintenance and management.
- Technical support for clubs on the technical and environmental challenges they face, particularly in terms of improving their experience of reusing unconventional water.
- Training field teams in sustainable development best practices.
- Implementation of an environmental charter in collaboration with the RMGF, potential institutional partners and clubs.
- Promotion of scientific research and technical innovation in the reuse of treated wastewater.
- Raising awareness of environmental issues and best practices for golf course use.
SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH
As part of the Golf Go Green strategy, scientific research is of great importance. The goal being to find effective, economically viable and eco-responsible solutions to the technical problems encountered by clubs.
Several research projects have been carried out in partnership with the Hassan II Agronomics and Veterinary Institute, notably concerning the reuse of recycled water for watering golf courses.
MOROCCAN GOLF COURSES: ECOSYSTEMS TEEMING WITH ANIMAL AND PLANT BIODIVERSITY
Golf courses provide a breathing space for surrounding towns and residential areas. They are green lungs in the same way as the green belt that surrounds the city of Rabat. As such, golf courses are preserved spaces rich in biodiversity. Over 40% of a golf course's surface area consists of untended natural spaces.
Golf is therefore a vector for environmental development, as it is one of the leading users of recycled water in Morocco, and more than most golf courses use non-conventional water for their irrigation.
