Spectators at this week's ISPS HANDA Senior Open will not just be able to take in some of golf's greatest names but also Scotland's remarkable landscape and wildlife.
Sat in 850 acres of Perthshire's 'Big Tree Country', The Gleneagles Hotel is committed to minimising its impact on its surroundings, both from players and spectators.
Its three courses, the King's, Queen's and PGA Centenary, have each been Golf Environmental Organisation certified (‘GEO Certified’® status) since 2014. This accolade recognises exceptional golfing environmental stewardship through protecting biodiversity, using natural resources responsibly and raising awareness for sustainability.
"We want to be responsible custodians," said Mo Mands, Director of Sustainability at The Gleneagles Hotel. "So everything that we're doing is part of our commitment to doing that.
"The breathtaking surroundings at Gleneagles are more than a landscape for us. They're a natural legacy that we're working tirelessly to protect for future generations.
"That is really at the heart of everything that we're trying to do across 850 acres.
"For us, climate change and nature loss are inextricably linked, which is why we're taking steps to ensure that our golf courses are resilient to future climate-related links."
That work is made easier thanks to a Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) survey undertaken in March that is providing vital information for conservation.
As well as revealing that Gleneagles is home to 13,284 trees and 2,159 metres of hedgerows, the survery also showed that the above ground biomass on the property is storing 7,155 equivalent tonnes of carbon.
The aim is not only to make sure that carbon stays where it is but to store more, with hotel staff in 2025 helping to plant an extra 2,000 trees.
These trees are not only for carbon strage but are planted with local wildlife in mind, with wild cherry, hawthorn and rowan providing pollinators with an early source of nectar and birds with autumn berries.
Hazel and Scots pine provide a habitiat for the local red squirrels - which also have their own crossings - while oaks support hundreds of insects and animals as well as being excellent storers of carbon.
The survey also allowed waterflow to be analysed to help with future planting of trees and hedgerows for flood management, with that just one example of how the data can help improve resilience for future climate-related risks.
This week's ISPS HANDA Senior Open will be played on the King's Course which was opened in 1919, meaning its long-established grass species require less aeration, treatment and watering than many courses.
The water that is used for watering comes from on-site reservoirs and dedicated boreholes which naturally harvest rainwater.
Beeches Rigg - the 250-year-old collection of Beech trees which cuts through the King’s Course - is protected by Historic Scotland, while the White Water has long been recognised as a habitat of the highest value and is designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) by Scottish Natural Heritage.
A further five areas of considerable value for wildlife on the Kings Course are fiercely protected.
As well as this, Gleneagles is home to several birds listed on the red list of Birds of Conservation Concern such as House Sparrow, Skylark and Yellowhammer.
And it is not just outdoors where efforts are being made to reduce carbon footprint.
Food served this week will have its footprint tracked from farm to fork, with the absolute kilograms of CO2 per serving on display to diners on a traffic light system.
While much of this happens all year round, when the ISPS HANDA Senior Open is being hosted, the DP World Tour also assists with conservation through its Golf for Good program.
Among this year's sustaiability initiatives are:
• HVO Biofuel being used across site where mains is not possible
• Park & Ride, as well as Park & Walk available for fans, with bicycle parking onsite and step counts encouraged to reach daily exercise targets
• Water refill stations in the fan village and tenth hole catering areas
• Food is locally sourced, reducing hauling and freight emissions
• Compostable packaging used for food, eating utensils and hand towels
• A compost waste stream to support food waste
• Zero waste to landfill with increased waste separation focus on site
• All left over materials to be shared to local charities where possible
