John Collier Survey

BLAIR ATHOLL IS SOUTH AFRICA’S TOP CLUB

World Environment Day (WED) is celebrated on 5 June each year and its intention is to stimulate awareness of the environment and enhance political attention and public action. Since its inception in 1974, this is the United Nation’s most important day for encouraging worldwide awareness, for doing something to take care of the Earth. That ‘something’ can have a local, national or global focus.

In addition to marking WED, it is also appropriate to celebrate with BLAIR ATHOLL GOLF AND EQUESTRIAN ESTATE on its achievement of winning the 2023 John Collier TOP CLUB Award for good governance and environmental compliance for South African golf courses and a Special Mention Award to Elements Private Reserve.

What BLAIR ATHOLL did so well in its survey was to emphasise not only the physical, tangible aspects of good governance and environmental compliance, which is underpinned by its ethos of environmental stewardship of the land, water, river, fauna and flora. Furthermore, BLAIR

ATHOLL demonstrated a determined and consistent effort, not only to protect and manage the environment in general, but also in protecting the beautiful natural landscape, around the estate.

BLAIR ATHOLL’S commitment to its environmental stewardship role sets a benchmark that many clubs in South Africa should want to emulate.

Notwithstanding BLAIR ATHOLL’s award, special mention must also be made of the Elements Private Reserve, and their efforts towards environmental sustainability.

Winning a TOP CLUB AWARD is achieved through the support of committed and passionate people, who wholly embrace the benefits of good governance and environmental compliance. Therefore, special congratulations must go to the BLAIR ATHOLL’s Chairperson Cindy Page, its governing body, members and residents, the Club Captain Roelf Odendaal, the General Manager Steve van Greunen, The Golf Director Paul Marks, and Golf Course Superintendent Jan-Hendrik Duvenage, and their respective teams.