A little over five years ago, Sentosa Golf Club in Singapore made history as the first golf club in the world to sign the United Nations’ Sports for Climate Action initiative, which positioned the club at the forefront of environmental responsibility in sport. Since then, Sentosa has become a global benchmark for sustainable golf course management, combining world-class playing conditions with a deep commitment to reducing its environmental footprint. In this interview, we speak with Andy Johnston, general manager, director of agronomy and resident golf course architect at Sentosa Golf Club, about what motivated that pioneering decision, the milestones achieved along the way, and how Sentosa continues to shape the future of sustainable golf.
It’s been five years since Sentosa Golf Club became the first golf club globally to sign the UN Sports for Climate Action initiative. What motivated the club to take that bold first step back in 2020?
It was a combination of things. We were the first to do it and that in itself was motivating. Nobody else had taken that step before. It also gave us a North Star, a direction to move towards. What the UN climate change agenda stands for are the very things we believe in: reducing our carbon footprint, cutting emissions and becoming a truly sustainable business.
Since making that commitment, what would you say are the club’s most meaningful sustainability milestones or achievements?
There have been many. Perhaps the most meaningful has been the opportunity to spread the word to share what Sentosa Golf Club has been doing with other clubs around the world.
We’ve also made some major changes: removing single-use plastics, implementing a single-head control irrigation system that has reduced our water use by 40 percent, and optimising our pump station operations. That’s a huge impact when you consider the dramatic reduction in irrigation water use and the resulting improvement in playing conditions for golfers
There have been so many achievements, as highlighted, that it’s hard to put one ahead of another.
How has Sentosa’s leadership on sustainability influenced other golf clubs or sporting organisations in the region and globally?
I hope we’re influencing everyone. We want to show that golf can be one of the most powerful platforms in sport to help combat climate change.
Golf courses are living, breathing landscapes and grass is one of the best carbon sequestration tools on Earth. It removes more carbon from the atmosphere than any other plant, and globally there’s more grass coverage than anything else.
By pushing these initiatives, I hope we’re inspiring others, but perhaps the most influential part is our team. Our entire community has come together, members, staff, guests and partners, working toward shared goals not because they have to, but because they believe in it. That’s more powerful than anything else we’ve achieved.
What have been some of the biggest challenges in implementing sustainable practices at a high-profile golf venue, and how have you overcome them?
Overcoming any challenge at a high-profile club is demanding and taking on a sustainability platform is doubly so. But we were fortunate to have an owner who saw the value in it. That support meant the challenges weren’t as tough as they could have been elsewhere.
In fact, our progress even inspired our ownership to develop their own sustainability agenda and business. So, for us, our sustainability journey has not only driven major progress but also inspired others to act.
What does the next phase of sustainability at Sentosa Golf Club look like? What goals are you setting for the next five years?
We’ve accomplished so much that setting new milestones is both exciting and challenging. The next major area of focus is energy use, reducing our energy consumption and improving efficiency.
We’re currently testing innovative solar roofing tiles developed in Korea, which are Spanish-style tiles that generate energy. If test results meet our expectations, we may be able to replace our entire roof with these tiles, potentially cutting our energy consumption by 25 percent.
We’re also working with BECO Ventures, using satellite technology to analyse our property. The system uses infrared and other lenses to monitor our carbon sequestration potential.
A big part of our future involves biochar, a true game changer. Biochar is used to enhance soil health, water management and sustainable practices. By spreading biochar wall-to-wall across the course and measuring its impact through satellite data, we can move closer to becoming fully net zero carbon.
The goal for the next five years is clear: reach net zero the right way.
Carbon sequestration is becoming a major talking point in climate-conscious course management. What role do you see golf courses playing, and how is Sentosa contributing?
Carbon sequestration is a major global topic. The question is how we can collectively remove more carbon from the atmosphere.
Biochar plays a huge role in that. By improving our soils with biochar, we strengthen the plants, enabling them to capture more carbon while reducing the need for inputs such as fertilisers (NPK). Fewer inputs mean less environmental impact.
The potential extends beyond golf to agriculture, parks, recreation grounds and even roadside maintenance. If we can scale the use of biochar, the impact could be transformative worldwide.
How are you using data and technology to monitor and measure your environmental impact?
Working closely with BECO Ventures and their CEO Ben Swan, we’re leveraging satellite technology to study the course.
It helps us understand how the land drains, how grass grows in specific areas, and where soil improvement is needed.
More importantly, it allows us to measure carbon sequestration in real time. This technology is accelerating our progress beyond anything previously possible.
Do you believe sustainability can coexist with premium course conditioning and a world-class tournament experience? How do you strike that balance?
Absolutely. First and foremost, we’re a golf club where delivering exceptional course conditions is our top priority. We live by a mantra of ‘TR365’, which stands for Tournament Ready, 365 days a year.
Our goal is to provide a high-quality, high-impact golf experience every single day and to do it sustainably. When you achieve both together, that’s a true home run.
What would you like to see more of across the global golf industry when it comes to climate action?
I think everyone needs to take it more seriously. Too often, people underestimate the urgency of the issue.
When you look at the coastal impacts, the wildfires, the superstorms these are not isolated events; they’re all symptoms of climate change. If we don’t act now, future generations may not have the same opportunities to enjoy this planet. It’s that serious.
Finally, how proud are you of the leadership role Sentosa Golf Club has taken, and what legacy do you hope this sets for the game?
I’m incredibly proud of what we’ve achieved. I remember one of our leaders once asked me, “I don’t get it, why are you doing this?”
And I said, “Because if we do it, maybe everybody will do it.”
I still believe that today. We’ve shown that golf can be more than just a game. It can be a force for good, and a model for responsible stewardship of the land.
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