The National Golf Club on the Mornington Peninsula, south of Melbourne, has become the first club in Australia to earn certification for its sustainability efforts from the Golf Environment Organization.

The club, whose three courses were designed by the Robert Trent Jones II, Greg Norman and Thomson Wolveridge & Perrett firms, was commended by GEO and its verifier, golf architect Paul Mogford, for its investment in sustainable irrigation and turfgrass management, which has led to a 35 per cent reduction in water use. Recycled wastewater is transferred to on-site storage for back up irrigation.

The club, whose site is both environmentally and culturally sensitive, has a dedicated bush management team and runs its own native plant nursery, using seed collected on site.
 Archaeology surveys guide the management of historically and culturally important sites.


General manager Jon Gahan said: “The National is thrilled to be the first GEO Certified golf club in Australia. This prestigious award recognises the commitment we have and the work we do to optimise the quality of the golf experience for members and visitors, in harmony with the local environment and communities.”

Mogford said: “The club performs well, and in a number of areas excels across golf’s sustainability agenda, and a commitment to continual improvement is clearly part of the its core management approach. Like many Australian clubs, National's management of water is highly advanced, with technology, sustainable turfgrass practices and golfer education combining to reduce water use by 35 per cent over the last three years.”