GOLF + SUSTAINABILITY
The case for beer kegs in golf and how they can help reduce waste
Steph Chambers
The Beer Snake—that magnificent slinky plastic stretch of hundreds of emptied beer cups stacked up by golf fans at the 16th party hole at the WM Phoenix Open—might be viewed as the poster child for celebratory waste. That could be especially true considering that the PGA Tour event is ironically sponsored by Waste Management.
There's a debauched pageantry to the Beer Snake, and the showering of beer cups down upon the green. It's fun. And it's also a proudly deviant accomplishment. It's the Waste Management Open—everyone loves it! Not to be a scold. I like a good party as much as anyone. But as those cups rain down, it's difficult not to think of the waste. The statistics of single-use cups are depressing. But there is hope. Namely: Beer! Kegs! Reusable cups!
When it comes to single-use cups—plastic or metal—it really doesn't work environmentally. Only 9 percent of plastic waste is actually recycled, according to an Oceana report, which estimated that in 2022 the global population used about 1.5 trillion single-use plastic bottles and cups. Nearly 168 billion of these containers are expected to become pollution in aquatic systems, and it will take 450 years for plastic cups and bottles to decompose for those that end up in landfills.
Then there's single-use aluminum cans. Better, but still not great. Production is taxing and recycling is demanding, according to a study by Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution. Additionally, single-use cans contribute significantly to landfill waste. By using reusable containers, golf courses can drastically reduce their environmental footprint, the group says.
If implemented, a 10 percent increase in reusable containers by 2030 could prevent over 1 trillion single-use plastic bottles and cups from being produced, thereby keeping up to 153 billion plastic containers out of oceans and waterways, according to Oceana’s analysis. That could drastically reduce plastic waste and also cut down on greenhouse gas emissions. Coca-Cola and Pepsi have already committed to increasing their use of reusable containers, which is a start.
Enter the glorious beer keg, which can help reduce waste and save money. And what's better than a fresh frothy cup of beer on the golf course? The keg is key. Using reusable cups and beer kegs instead of single-use glass beer bottles and cans can annually save more than 400,000 metric tons of greenhouse gases and reduce landfill by 500,000 tons, according to a 2022 Deloitte study.
A study by environmental consulting firm EcoEngineers suggests offering stainless steel or glass bottles—maybe emblazoned with the club or tournament logo that makes it a nice keepsake souvenir—for golfers to buy, incentivizing their use through discounts on beer refills. Bottles could be sold at pro shops, provided as part of memberships, or included in green fees. The study also suggests providing discounts for golfers who bring their own reusable cups or bottles, further encouraging this behavior. Finally, like reusable cup programs at festivals, the venue could offer reusable beer cups and bottles that golfers return at the end of their round, with the deposit refunded or reused on future purchases.
Get Big Beverage involved. EcoEngineers recommends collaborating and partnering to offer drinks in reusable cups or bottles. Suppliers can then provide beer kegs, reducing reliance on single-use plastics. As an added bonus, events could earn potential revenue marketing opportunities from sponsorships as beverage companies could sponsor areas like tee boxes.
Golf Digest reached out to Anheuser-Busch, a sponsor of the PGA Tour since 1994 with Michelob Ultra as the official beer since 2002 and sponsor of the PGA Championship since 2018. They did not return calls or emails.
On a recreational level, the trend is already catching on. Valderrama Golf Club in Spain has already banned plastic bottles. Instead guests and members receive reusable water bottles as a sustainable alternative. Princeville Makai Golf Club in Hawaii eliminated water bottles from carts and halfway stations, offering golfers use paper cups made from recycled materials or the option to buy refillable aluminum bottles. Since 2020, the club says it has saved over 50,000 plastic bottles annually. Sentosa Golf Club in Singapore also banned plastic bottles. Golfers can bring their own or buy refillable ones at the club.
This year, the WM Phoenix Open will limit spectators to a two-beer limit per transaction, and shut down alcohol concessions at an earlier time, which will likely put a dent in the rowdy party vibe as 600,000 fans roll through the gates over the week.
And who knows, it might even reduce waste.