The mayor of San Lorenzo de El Escorial, Carlota López, presided over the presentation of the Complutense Summer Course of San Lorenzo de El Escorial, 'Golf and Sustainability', promoted by the Real Club de Golf La Herrería, which will take place on July 15, 16 and 17, at the RCG La Herrería, and will be inaugurated by José Luis Escrivá, Minister for Digital Transformation and Public Function; and closed by Rosario Sánchez Grau, Secretary of State for Tourism.

During her speech, Carlota López emphasized that, “golf is a driving force for job creation and economic development and experiential tourism in San Lorenzo de El Escorial. Furthermore, the RCG La Herrería is an example of sustainability and preservation of our natural spaces.”.  

Along with the mayor of San Lorenzo de El Escorial, the following also participated: María Paz García-Vera, director of the Complutense Foundation; Natalia Abuín Vences, director of the Complutense Summer Courses; Juan José Cerrón Reina, director of the 'Golf and Sustainability' Course; and Enrique Gil Octavio de Toledo, manager of the Real Club de Golf La Herrería and president of the Association of Golf Courses of Madrid (ACGM).

“Sustainability is one of the main challenges we have to face in the coming years and this course addresses precisely the role of the golf sector in Spain as a national and international leader and example in relation to climate change, water efficiency, biodiversity protection and economic development,” said the director of the Complutense Foundation, María Paz García-Vera. 

“It is essential that all sectors, including sports, align themselves with the sustainable development goals. Golf, as a sport with a long tradition and prestige, is no exception,” added Natalia Abuín Vences, director of the Complutense Summer Courses. 

For his part, Juan José Cerrón, the course director, explained that the course aims to leverage the knowledge and experience of companies in the areas of environment, sustainability and governance (ESG); and to learn, through the administration itself, what is to come in terms of sustainability regulations. 

“We want to open the eyes of this sector to a reality that is no longer the future but the present, so that the golf industry can transform this challenge into an opportunity to better manage our assets. All of this through digitalization and the ecological transition,” explained Cerrón Reina. 

The Complutense Summer Course 'Golf and Sustainability' will address the interaction between the golf industry and sustainable practices in areas such as the economy, digitalization, and the environment. Authorities and experts from public administration, business, and academia will discuss and address, from a comprehensive perspective, how golf can be a catalyst for sustainable economic activity in Spain.

“This is a very important point for us, since one of the main challenges of the Club has always been to reconcile the sporting interest required to manage a golf course, with the environmental interest required to preserve a unique environment,” said Enrique Gil Octavio de Toledo, manager of the Real Club de Golf La Herrería, located in the natural area of El Bosque de La Herrería, belonging to Patrimonio Nacional.

The Complutense University Summer Course 'Golf and Sustainability', sponsored by Iberdrola, NTT Data, and Altadis, can be taken both online and in person. To attend in person, you must register on the Complutense University of Madrid Summer Courses website. https://cursosveranoucm.com/cursos/73307-2/

SOURCE: Event Organization