Stewart Cink signs on in support of Georgia golf and the environment

Former British Open champion and five-time U.S. Ryder Cup player Stewart Cink has joined the Georgia Golf Environmental Foundation as honorary ambassador, the foundation stated in a news release. In the role, Cink will promote the foundation’s goal to enhance the industry’s environmental sustainability.

Cink, 38, has many connections to Georgia. He is a Georgia Tech graduate who lives at TPC Sugarloaf in Atlanta.

Cink’s six PGA Tour wins include the 2009 British Open Championship. He has also played on four U.S. Presidents Cup teams. “Golf is a great way for people to get outside and appreciate nature,” he stated in the release. “I am proud that the Georgia Golf Environmental Foundation is committed to making the game the best possible environmental citizen it can be. I’m honored to be involved in this effort because I really believe in what the foundation is doing.”

Cink’s support of the foundation makes him the latest golf star from Georgia to hop aboard the environmental bandwagon. Georgia GCSA President Anthony Williams, CGCS of Stone Mountain Golf Club in Atlanta, recently was named Environmental Communicator of the Year by the Turf and Ornamental Communicators Association (TOCA). Williams also was awarded the 2010 President’s Award for Environmental Stewardship from the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America.

“Golf courses provide green space, wildlife habitat and play an important role in filtering run off and cooling the atmosphere,” Cink stated in the release. “Of course, we can always do better and that is why the foundation funds research and education to find and communicate those ways to improve. It’s great work that benefits our game and our environment.”

“Stewart will be a tremendous asset to the work of the Georgia Golf Environmental Foundation,” foundation president, Tim Cunningham, said in the release. “He is one of the best known and most likeable guys on golf’s professional stage and is very genuine in his commitment to support the foundation. Having him come on board is a major step in the growth of the foundation’s work.”

Cink has a reputation as one of the Tour’s “nicest guys” and has a significant social media presence, the foundation stated, citing a New York Times article that reported Cink has 1.2 million Twitter followers.