Uganda’s AFRIYEA Golf Academy clinches global gong | Golf Environment Awards 2023

Golf Environment Awards 2023:

• Special Recognition Award: AFRIYEA Golf Academy – Toro Club Uganda
• Operation Pollinator Award: Iestyn Carpenter (Corhampton Golf Club)
• Conservation Greenkeeper Award: Nick Lawson (Sleaford Golf Club)
• Sustainable Project Award: Hever Castle Golf Club
• International Environmental Golf Club Award: Al Mouj Golf Club (Oman)
• UK Environmental Golf Club Award: Nairn Dunbar Golf Club
• Ecological Project of the Year Award: St. Andrews Links Trust

AFRIYEA Golf Academy – Toro club has been rewarded with a special recognition at the 2023 Golf Environment Awards (GEAs) that have spanned for now 28 years.

The awards were held at Crown Hotel, Harrogate in New Yorkshire, England in appreciation of the sustainability across nature conservation, turf grass, waste and water to achieve environmental sustainability, protecting and encouraging habitats and biodiversity, while continuing to maximize the enjoyment of golf.

The special recognition award was to appreciate AFRIYEA Golf Academy – Toro club for their efforts in ecology and sustainability on the golf course in Fort Portal, Western Uganda.

Besides teaching the young golfers with the basics of the game, AFRIYEA Golf Academy has been at the forefront of placing environmental concerns.

In particular, AFRIYEA Golf Academy – Toro club has been engaged in afforestation drives, cleaning of the environment with proper management of wastes especially plastic wastes.

Isaiah Mwesige, CEO of AFRIYEA Golf Academy openly expressed delight upon this special award of recognition, a big push motivational element.

AFRIYEA Golf Academy Uganda is honored to be recognized at the 2023 Golf Environment Awards. This is going to increase our motivation in preserving the golf course and educating the young the generation about the values of environment protection. Also, this is trust and manifestation of the good deeds being executed. Nature is one most invaluable assets in the realm that everybody must shield from being polluted with plastics, chemicals and many other contaminants that result from human misuse of nature. While plastics have many valuable uses; our generation has become addicted to single-use plastics which have severe environmental consequences. It’s a collective responsibility to reduce the usage and improve the way we manage plastic waste.

Isaiah Mwesige, CEO of AFRIYEA Golf Academy

The latest nature conservation drive that AFRIYEA Golf Academy was engaged in was dubbed “clean up campaign, free Fort Portal city and River Mpanga from plastics and polythene bags”.

AFRIYEA Golf Academy becomes the first African golf institution to receive this prestigious award but this is also an indicator of the expansion and impact of the golf environment awards.

They are deeply rooted in the core values of academic excellence, hard work, inclusiveness, results-based, accountability, friendliness, sportsmanship, and environment consciousness.

They are arguably Uganda’s leading golf Academy that is bringing the game of golf and its benefits to all the youth and underprivileged children.

This is by enriching them with various professions including the game of golf, education, life skills, environmental and social opportunities with juniors’ progressive assessment.

AFRIYEA Golf Academy with the unique golf in schools project has several partners as Tooro Golf Club, Aspire Sports Scholarship, Masindi Golf and Sports Club, Mizuno, Golf Industry Guru (GIG) and Mountains of the Moon University.

Chairperson of the board Leighton Walker received AFRIEYA Golf Academy’s award.

Other awards:

Operation Pollinator:

Iestyn Carpenter from Corhampton Golf Club won the Operation Pollinator Award for 2023.

Corhampton was ahead of Goring and Streatley Golf Club and Bamburgh Castle Golf Club.

Conservation Greenkeeper:

Nick Lawson from Sleaford Golf Club clinched the Conservation Greenkeeper of the Year Award.

Sleaford Golf Club was preferred at the expense of Garmouth and Kingston Golf Club, Newquay Golf Club and Warren Golf Club.

Sustainable Project:

Hever Castle Golf Club won the Sustainable Project of the Year Award ahead of Pannal Golf Club, Royal Mid-Surrey Golf Club and St. Andrews Links Trust.

International Environmental Golf Club:

Al Mouj Golf club triumphed in the International Environmental Golf Club Year Award.

The Oman based golf club beat AFRIYEA Golf Academy – Toro Club, Finca Cortesin and Sentosa Golf Club.

UK Environmental Golf Course:

Nairn Nairn Dunbar Golf Club won the UK Environmental Golf Course of the Year Award, beating At Annes Old Links, Gog Magog Golf Club and Elmwood Golf club.

Ecological Project:

Castle Course St. Andrews Links Trust won the Ecological Project of the Year Award beating Cirencester Golf Club, Clitheroe Golf Club and Pannal Golf Club.

These awards were organized by STRI Group to recognize, reward and promote outstanding individuals and golf courses, for the time and effort they put into protecting and preserving their unique surroundings.

The 24 finalists spanned from three different continents: Africa, Europe and Asia.

The different winners were also rewarded with a grant to help fund further ecological and environmental projects at their clubs and entry to the Foundation Award in Amenity Horticulture Course.

The 2023 Golf Environmental Awards were sponsored by Aquatrols, BIGGA, Syngenta, Tillers Turf, Textron and the R&A.