I’m a grandfather, so, like many of my age, I’m keen to ensure there’s a planet for our descendants to enjoy. Hence, I’m always keen to see the golf sector being environmentally friendly… or ‘woke’, if that is your preferred description. And, while I applaud any attempt to reduce single-use plastics, protect wildlife, or cut down on CFCs (etc), I think we need to accept that some attempts, while well meaning, may be counterproductive.

I was struck by this very thought when I went to put my clubs in the car for a trip to the airport for another important winter business trip to a golf resort in sunnier climes. (Well, somebody has to do it…)

Alongside my clubs were around a dozen metal, branded water bottles, generously given to me when visiting clubs and resorts around Europe. Almost all of them were a ‘gift’ to visiting golfers as part of laudable efforts to reduce plastic use at the facility. They’re also, of course, branded for market awareness.

But now, I’m inundated with metal water bottles and, however thirsty I might get out on the course, I’m unlikely to consume 12 bottlefuls. At my age, I’d need to keep dashing into the undergrowth.

The idea, of course, is that golfers can refill the bottle from water dispensers in the pro shop and – ideally – around the course. And I’m all in favour of facilities providing free, chilled water, which is why I was keen for this magazine to partner with Bluewater, which installs such dispensers. They’re likely to become a prerequisite in southern Europe and beyond.

But most golfers already have a water bottle, so, like my collection, soon, many of the complimentary bottles will end up being recycled, donated to a charity shop, or, at worse, sent to landfill. As an industry we should, instead, invest the funds spent on branded bottles into providing fresh, cold, free water. Free water dispensers are a real boon for golfers in hot weather.

And if you really want to give something to golfers as a memento of their visit – and as a marketing tool (and, let’s be honest, that’s just what they are) – why not gift them something that’s unique to your facility, such as a metal bag tag. They’re probably cheaper to make and are more likely to be seen by fellow golfers than a water bottle that ends up gathering dust in a garage.

Whenever I visit any destination, I always take a look around the bag drop, and the majority carry one or more bag tags from a worldclass golf destination as a badge of honour: a branded water bottle, just doesn’t have the same aesthetic impact… or kudos.