LIV Golf South Africa delivers lasting community and sustainability impact

JOHANNESBURG, South Africa - Following an historic week at the inaugural LIV Golf South Africa event at Steyn City, the event has delivered a lasting impact across Gauteng through youth development initiatives, community engagement programmes and industry-leading sustainability efforts. 

From introducing young golfers to the game and bringing the tournament experience directly into surrounding communities, to reducing environmental impact through innovative event infrastructure, LIV Golf South Africa demonstrated how global sport can create meaningful benefits beyond the competition and course. 

INSPIRING THE NEXT GENERATION OF SOUTH AFRICAN GOLFERS

A cornerstone of the week’s impact was the Southern Guards GC Academy Development Programme, which welcomed young participants from Diepsloot for an immersive introduction to the game. In the lead-up to the tournament, South African golf stars Louis Oosthuizen , Charl Schwartzel, Dean Burmester and Branden Grace hosted a youth golf clinic at Steyn City, welcoming children from the neighbouring community for a hands-on experience with some of the country’s most accomplished players. 

Delivered in partnership with LIV Golf, the Steyn City Foundation and Element Golf Academy, the initiative forms part of a 12-month development programme supporting 40 participants from three primary schools in Diepsloot, combining golf training with mentorship and life-skills education. The clinic introduced local youth to putting, fun skill-based challenges and friendly competition, while also providing the opportunity to learn directly from professional golfers about discipline, resilience and confidence. 

BRINGING THE TOURNAMENT INTO LOCAL COMMUNITIES

LIV Golf South Africa extended the event experience beyond the course by creating opportunities for surrounding communities to be part of the tournament. 

More than 1,000 youth athletes from golf schools across Gauteng attended the opening day of the tournament, experiencing world-class golf up close and gaining exposure to the highest level of the sport. 

A dedicated community Fan Village in Diepsloot also brought the excitement of the tournament directly to local residents. Running throughout the tournament, the space featured live broadcasts of the inaugural LIV Golf South Africa, creating a shared viewing experience for families and community members who were unable to attend the event in person. 

In partnership with World of Golf, LIV Golf South Africa opened access to the sport to new audiences from March 19-22, offering free access to golf lessons, practice facilities, and a fan-zone style experience where visitors could watch the competition live while trying the game themselves. 

Thousands of residents from surrounding communities were also welcomed onto the course on Thursday, ensuring that the tournament was not only a global sporting spectacle but a celebration shared with the communities that host it. 

DRIVING ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY

Environmental sustainability remained a central focus throughout LIV Golf South Africa, with several initiatives implemented to reduce the tournament’s footprint. 

A Park & Ride transport system played a key role in reducing travel-related emissions, with nearly 19,000 fans using the service across event week. The system is projected to eliminate approximately 540,000 individual travel miles, significantly reducing transport-related environmental impact. 

Water conservation was another priority across the event site and led to the implementation of a high-efficiency infrastructure. Water-saving restroom facilities saved  3,048,203 litres of water, and the use of recycled greywater for irrigation helped avoid the use of a further 318,203 litres of fresh water between the start of event build in December and event week. 

LIV Golf South Africa also embraced circular economy principles through the reuse and repurposing of event materials. Approximately 230m² of PVC signage was donated to female-led micro-businesses Expo Solutions and EyakoGreen, where the materials will be upcycled into eco-friendly shopping bags and reusable products. Other event materials were also repurposed or reused, including shade cloth structures that will be stored and reused at future LIV Golf events, and durable event furniture designed for reuse over multiple seasons. LIV Golf South Africa diverted 85% of event waste from landfill, reinforcing the League’s broader commitment to sustainable event delivery. 

SUSTAINABLE COURSE PREPARATION

Course preparations for LIV Golf South Africa were guided by sustainable land management practices. Trees that needed to be removed to accommodate temporary hospitality structures were chipped and repurposed into mulch, which was used to create spectator walkways and fan activation areas across the course. More than 500 cubic metres of mulch were used to provide durable, natural surfaces for high-traffic areas, which will gradually decompose and enrich the soil following the event. 

As part of LIV Golf’s sustainability commitment, two replacement trees were planted for every tree removed during event preparations. Large areas of the course have also been preserved as natural veld, reducing mowing requirements in out-of-play areas and lowering environmental impact. 

Across the broader estate, more than one million trees, shrubs and ground cover plants have been established, creating a thriving ecosystem that supports wildlife including springbok, impala, Cape rabbits, porcupines and numerous bird species. 

LIV Golf’s sustainability and community initiatives form part of the League’s broader LIV For Good platform, which focuses on expanding access to golf, supporting communities and protecting the environment across all events worldwide. 

Through programmes delivered during the event, LIV Golf continues to work alongside partners, foundations and community organisations to ensure that every event leaves a positive and lasting legacy, globally and locally. 

Learn more about LIV For Good at livgolf.com/liv-for-good and watch the LIV For Good launch video here.