Fore! Look out, the 2013 RBC Canadian Open is going green!

Mike Weir will be playing at the 2013 RBC Canadian Open

This year, from July 22 to 28, Glen Abbey Golf Club in Oakville will be hosting the 104^th Canadian Open golf tournament. This week long tournament showcases the abilities of over 26 amateur and professional Canadian and international golfers.  It is a spectator event that requires more than 1,500 volunteers, corporate sponsors, and many months of planning.  The entire event will be broadcast worldwide in over 520 million households in 221 countries.

This year, the RBC Canadian Open will be going “green,” promoting various environmental initiatives, including waste diversion, bike valets, water refill stations, and green golf management.

The Canadian Open is a great venue to showcase Halton Region’s ability to provide waste diversion programs.  We were lucky to be a part of the tournament in 2009, and will be building upon our success for this event.  Halton Region will be providing all the necessary tools to divert recycling and organic material.  And have worked with many partners to ensure the event diverts as much material away from landfill as possible.

Halton staff are working with the large catering company which provides food for all the corporate tents and skyboxes, as well as concession stands throughout the course.  The goal is to ensure only acceptable recyclable or compostable material is issued on site to serve food. Staying away from non-recyclable packaging helps decrease the event’s overall waste, and decreases the potential for contamination.  As well, the catering company will reduce their waste by using bulk containers for condiments, and will be donating any leftover food to a local charity.

Every tent, skybox and concession stand will have recycling and composting for proper waste sorting.  Halton staff will be on site during the weeklong event to ensure only acceptable items get placed in the bins and to ensure as much waste is diverted as possible.

The Canadian Open has also focused on transportation.  Working with the Town of Oakville, Golf Canada has increased access to public transit, added green vehicles to their shuttle service, and has even created a bike valet service for attendees.  You can avoid all traffic if you ride your bicycle to the event; not only are you saving on gas emissions, you’ll probably get there faster and you’ll get front row parking for your bike in a designated staffed coral area.

Make sure to bring your reusable water bottle, once you get into the event you will notice water refilling stations throughout the course.  These are free of charge, and a great way to get refreshed and reduce unnecessary waste from plastic water bottles.  If you forget your reusable bottle, the event will be selling ones on site for spectators.

The golf course is getting greener as well with golf course maintenance teams using more environmentally friendly golf green upkeep practices; not only during the event, but all year long.  These new practices include, new top dressings that will extend the intervals between applications, and eliminating chemical fertilizers and replacing with a green option.

And finally, to further decrease the amount of overall waste, the entire event has gone paperless. Brochures, course maps, players list and other traditional paper items are now available online. Golf Canada, the catering company and other various partners are doing their part to make this weeklong event as green as possible.

Halton Region is excited to be doing its part to help increase waste diversion and promote more environmentally friendly practices at special events.