PART 1: ELEMENTS PRIVATE GOLF RESERVE GO ONE BETTER THIS YEAR, AND WIN THE TOP CLUB AWARD IN 2023/24 JOHN COLLIER AWARDS

By Alistair Collier | The Business of Golf Magazine

The results of the seventeenth John Collier Annual Survey on environmental compliance, social responsibility and good governance (ESG) for South Africa golf courses have been released and the tale of the tape shows Elements Private Golf Reserve as the winner of this year’s top award, with Umhlali Country Club and Olivewood Private Estate receiving honourable mentions.

BG asked Alistair Collier – founder of the John Collier Survey – how the survey’s results were ‘calculated’?

AC: The survey’s data, which is received from golf clubs throughout South Africa, is combined with desktop research and ELEMENTS PRIVATE GOLF RESERVE GO ONE BETTER THIS YEAR, AND WIN THE TOP CLUB AWARD IN THE 2023/24 JOHN COLLIER AWARDS interviews with people knowledgeable about golf courses throughout the region, and then analysed, following which process, we then publish the John Collier Annual Survey in March each year.

BG: Does this determine the overall picture from all the participating clubs, which will then be used both to determine the best clubs overall and the gold, silver and bronze certifications?

AC: Yes – after we have published the survey, we then re-visit the data to ascertain which golf club has submitted the most comprehensive report. Within a 45% participation rate from golf clubs, and a 29% national compliance level, there are always clubs that stand out as being exceptional, and as expected, there were several very strong contenders.

BG: So, which facility took home the big prize this year?

AC: The top club award has been given to Elements Private Golf Reserve, where, it has to be said, the work being done is truly impressive, and so given the context of this award, it is fitting that the club should be appropriately recognised in June, which is the month of World Environment Day (WED).

BG: Can you offer a brief summary of what WED means in environmental terms and its origins?

AC: World Environment Day (WED) is celebrated annually on 5 June, with key objectives being to increase awareness about the environment, enhance political attention and encourage public action. Since its inception, World Environment Day was established by the United Nations General Assembly in 1972, over the past five decades, WED has grown
to be one of the largest global platforms for environmental outreach, with tens of millions of people participating online and through in-person activities, events, and actions around the world.

BG: If the overarching theme is the environment, we assume that there will be a special focus each year – is this correct?

Part 2 Coming Soon…