Although a home grown champion continued to elude the Canadian Open last weekend, sponsors of the PGA Tour tournament at Oakville’s Glen Abbey Golf Club could boast carbon neutral status for a seventh consecutive year. RBC’s drive for sustainability combines renewable energy, carbon offsets and waste reduction to hit the leader board as one of the PGA’s greenest annual events.

RBC contracted with a renewable energy and green natural gas supplier to account for Glen Abbey’s electricity and gas consumption, then purchased carbon offsets to neutralize emissions from diesel generators and shuttle buses required for the event. Zero-waste sorting stations for spectators’ cast-offs, and water stations offering free filtered water and reusable bottles were located in high-traffic areas of the course.

More than 100,000 visitors over the four-day tournament were encouraged to cycle, and leave their bikes with the complimentary valet service at the course, or take advantage of a free shuttle bus service from nearby GO Transit stations. Cycling and transit should also be easily accommodated next year, when the Canadian Open is slated to move to a springtime date, June 3 to 9, and a new venue at the Hamilton Golf and Country Club.

Like Glen Abbey, the Hamilton club is a participant in the Audobon Cooperative Sanctuary program for golf courses.