Photo: Chris Fama/WBZ NewsRadio
BROOKLINE, Mass. (WBZ NewsRadio) — Golf is going green at the U.S. Open in Brookline this year thanks to several initiatives by the United States Golf Association.
The 122nd U.S. Open is being held at The Country Club in Brookline from June 13 to 19, and the USGA is taking several steps to help reduce the carbon footprint of the event. Dave Aznavorian, the senior director of the USGA, told WBZ's Chris Fama the USGA has a had division focusing on sustainability.
The USGA is in the process of planting 122 trees in Brookline ahead of the event, as a nod to this year's event being the 122nd U.S. Open. Some of those trees are going up at the Robert T. Lynch golf course, which Aznavorian said was important to their goal.
"We know the role that the Robert T. Lynch golf course plays to the town of Brookline so it seems fitting that we'd have our first tree planting here," Aznavorian said. "Over the course of 50 years, [these trees] will take out about 20 tons of carbon from the environment."
Along with the 122 trees, the USGA s also eliminating more than 500,000 single-use plastic cups and replacing them with more easily recycled aluminum cans. The USGA is also promoting the use of public transit to spectators. Aznavorian said it's all part of their goal to leave every golf course which hosts an event "better than they found it."
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"When you look at a town like Brookline, that has a long-term climate resiliency plan to reduce their carbon footprint, you want to be part of the solution and not part of the problem," he said.
The U.S. Open Championship rounds begin on June 16.
WBZ's Chris Fama (@CFamaWBZ) reports.
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