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Greenlinks
Greenlinks is the Sustainability Programme of The R&A’s Championships, including The Open, The AIG Women’s Open, and Amateur Championships held around the world. Originally conceived at The Open in 2016, it has evolved into a framework for driving sustainability across The R&As Championship portfolio.
Through Greenlinks, Championships continue to innovate, share knowledge and drive progress each year, delivering initiatives that reduce carbon emissions, create social value, advance circular economy principals and help protect and restore nature.
Renewable Electricity
Since 2021, The Open has been powered using a combination of solar energy and sustainably sourced biofuel derived from waste products, helping to significantly reduce on-site emissions.
Working in partnership with Aggreko for more than 15 years, The Open has reduced on-site emissions by 93% compared with then the partnership began. Battery energy storage, smart energy management and energy efficient equipment all play a role in reducing energy consumption across the Championship.
The Open Water Initiative
The Open Water Initiative, delivered in partnership with Mastercard and the Priceless Planet Coalition, was launched in 2019 and has become a key part of how sustainability is brough to life across The R&A’s Championships.
Since its launch, the initiative has prevented the equivalent of more than 750,000, single-use plastic bottles from being used across Championships.
Sustainable Catering
Sustainable catering plays an important role in delivering more sustainable Championships. We work with careering partners to champion responsibly sourced food and drink, while all tea and coffee served on site is Fairtrade certified.
Careful planning, offering a flexible food menu design help minimise food waste, while surplus food is redistributed to local charities wherever possible, creating benefits for the communities that host our Championships.
Low Carbon Transport
Mercedes-EQ electric vehicles form a key part of the courtesy car fleet.
Sustainable travel is actively promoted through enhanced public transport service, including increased rail capacity, hybrid shuttle buses serving Park & Ride locations, and the You.Smart.Thing journey planning platform, which helps spectators identify and choose lower carbon travel options.
Free secure bicycle parking is also provided for staff, volunteers and spectators.
Moving Towards Circularly
Reducing waste and keeping materials in use for as long as possible is a key part of our approach to sustainability.
By working closely with contractors, suppliers and local and national charities, materials used during the Championship are reused, repurposed or recycled wherever possible. Banners are transformed into bags, wood offcuts become bird boxes, and carpets are recycled into traffic cones — giving materials a valuable second life and reducing the need for new resources.
This circular approach helps minimise waste while creating opportunities for community benefit. Where materials cannot be reused or recycled, they are sent to a waste-to-energy facility, generating electricity for the national grid.
Protecting Nature
Nature is a fundamental part of every Championship venue, and protecting it is a key focus of Greenlinks.
Before each Championship, detailed ecological reviews are undertaken to understand the biodiversity across the golf facility and identify local plant and animal species. The findings help shape Championship planning, ensuring sensitive habitats are protected, wildlife disturbance is minimised, and opportunities to support local species are identified.
More than 1,600 species have been recorded across Open host venues to date, highlighting the ecological importance of these landscapes. Spectator routes and operational areas are carefully designed to preserve natural habitats, while training and guidance help staff, contractors and volunteers understand and support local biodiversity throughout the Championship.
Certified Courses
The R&A works with Championship venues to support continuous improvement in Sustainability practices and encourages independent recognition through programmes such as GEO foundation for Sustainable Golf certification, which acknowledges achievements in climate action, resource conservation, nature protection and community value.
Sustainable Championship Agronomy
The R&A’s Sustainable Championship Agronomy Team works with Championship venues to prepare high-performing golf courses that are good for both the game and nature.
By working with natural systems and selecting turfgrasses that require fewer inputs, sustainable agronomy helps create resilient playing surfaces while supporting local biodiversity. The team also works with venues to adopt innovative technologies, including electric greenkeeping equipment and robotic mowers, helping to reduce environmental impact while maintaining world class Championship conditions.
Through this approach, the courses that host our Championships deliver first-class playing surfaces alongside strong environmental stewardship, demonstrating how high-performance sport and nature can thrive together.
Working in Partnership
Bringing Greenlinks to life is a collective endeavour. From venues and suppliers to staff, volunteers, fans and local communities, sustainability is embedded throughout the planning and delivery of our Championships.
Working together, we continue to innovate, share knowledge and identify new opportunities to reduce environmental impact, create social value and a positive legacy in the places that host our events.
Play Your Part
Sustainability is a shared responsibility. As you plan your visit and enjoy The Open, there are plenty of simple ways you can help reduce impact and support Greenlinks.
• Travel by public transport, bicycle or car share where possible. Our journey planning tool, powered by You.Smart.Thing., can help you identify lower-carbon travel options. Free bicycle parking is also available on site.
• Bring a reusable water bottle and refill it for free at Water Walls across the venue, or purchase a reusable bottle on site.
• Use the recycling bins located throughout the course.
• Keep to designated walkways and crossing points to help protect sensitive habitats and local wildlife.
• Enjoy responsibly sources food and drink from our catering outlets.
• Visit the Sustainable Golf Hub and speak to our Greenlinks Volunteers to earn more about how sustainability is being delivered at The Open and how you can play your part.