Thanks to its craftily named SustainabiliTee project, Golf Park Tervuren now has €54,809 from the province to cut CO2 emissions by installing solar panels, electric mowing robots, more bicycle parking, sustainable water management and even some left overs for biodiversity.
Members are also set to get extra incentives if they come to the club by bicycle with awareness raising leaflets ready for members and business partners. But could €55,809 have been better given to other Tervuren sports clubs, schools or local associations to cut CO2?
The club’s SustainabiliTee project was one of just ten privileged winners in the whole Vlaams-Brabant province to win a climate grant in this year’s round of funding, worth a total of €465,000.
“The projects are analyzed by an evaluation committee, made up of expert provincial officials and under the authority of governor Jan Spooren,” says opposition councillor Serge Liesenborgh. “The province must also achieve objectives as part of its climate engagement. And that does not come for free,” he told Tervuren+.
Golf Park Tervuren membership starts at just under €1000. And Tervuren has a nice little concession running until 2040 for the Duisburg Polygoon defense sports site. Handing over the golf terrain to the club in 2020, former Tervuren mayor Jan Spooren talked of a ‘mega’ jump forward for sports infrastructure.
Located in Duisburg, Golf Park Tervuren aims to make the exclusive sport accessible to all with membership starting at just under €1000.
Too pricey, a Golf Park member tells Tervuren+. But that’s the verdict for Tervuren’s invitation-only Royal Golf Club of Belgium, apparently a €2000/yr if you have the connections. Unlike Golf Park, the country’s most prestigious club merrily communicates not in Dutch, but French, and even English for ambassadors and other high-standing foreigners. Founded by King Leopold II in 1906, with King Philippe I now president of honor, the private members club upholds tradition. Ambassadors are apparently even accompanied by a golf playing foreign ministry official.
On the field, sleeveless and collarless shirts, polo shirts and t-shirts, of course, are prohibited for men. But the royal club has moved somewhat with the times, tolerating jeans of a classic cut to gain youthful members, including the sons of Tervuren’s prince Laurent. Smartphone usage, though, remains prohibited, both on the pitch and in the club house.
