Estonian Golf and Country Club, part of the European Tour Properties network, has earned certification from the Golf Environment Organization for its sustainability programmes.

The international ecolabel is the global benchmark for sustainability in golf businesses and is administered by GEO according to strict codes set by ISEAL, the global leader in defining credibility in sustainability standards.

GEO chief executive Jonathan Smith said: “Estonian Golf & Country Club has viewed its operations through a sustainability lens since opening, evidenced by the natural look of the courses and the ever higher standard the team is achieving. The independent verifier who visited the course noted, in particular, excellent use of its geographic location, drawing irrigation water directly from the Jägala River, just before it flows into the Gulf of Finland, plus the venue’s efforts to move closer and closer to organic.”

Estonian employed the expertise of agronomist Ian MacMillan, who said: “We are using naturally occurring products instead of chemicals, which nullifies the requirement for imported supplies such as fungicides and ultimately minimises the club’s carbon footprint by using locally sourced products.”