Is golf doing enough for the environment?

So why do golf courses need all the extra water and the various chemical feeds/fertilizers that get applied ?

Could it be that we as golfers set our expectation of what a course should be like too high ?

What happened in the days before automated irrigation systems ?

We have many great courses that were built long before all this 'modern' technology was available. Greens were designed with a sub-base to allow retention of water to help with irrigation. Nowadays we want a green to be USGA standard and to drain all but the worst deluge at the drop of a hat.

Fairways don't need irrigation in this country. Why should we allow courses to be designed with grasses that are too suceptible to condition change to be built in the uK. It's because we see the manacured green swards on TV an we want those looks at our courses.

Anyway, once the government start all their energy and carbon taxes it will probably change the way we maintain our courses as it will become too costly to pamper the grass !

;)
 
I seem to remember our greenkeepr members on here putting a pint across that the EU were doing away with a lot of the chmeicals they were going to be allowed to use. If thats still the case (the post was early season and my I'm going on memory) then surely we'll see a return (at least at forward thinking places) to a more sustainable way of doing things.
 
interesting first post?
suspicious_smiley.gif
 
But aren't golf courses excellent examples of the environment?

For all the wooly do-gooders that think that golf is a scab on the wildlife and natural environment, my cat Eric would like to respectfully disagree. If he was to ever accompany me on to the course, I think his little head would explode at the sight of all those bugs, flies, birds, squirrels, stoats, hares, rabbits, mice, voles etc. that are everywhere.

I see more nature on the course than anywhere else. So before we start wringing our hands in liberal guilt at the resources golf course use, can we acknowledge that the resources used create wonderful natural environments?

As opposed to all those other things that use huge natural resources but provide no natural environment e.g. oh I don't know, let's say Wembley Stadium for one or the £12b they want to plough into the Olympic stuff - none of which will have an ounce of the naturalism of a golf course.

Yes to biodegradable tees, litter and recycling facilities on courses, schemes for the recycling/redistribution of old clubs/equipment etc. but lay off the greenkeepers!
 
Read this great article and I must admit i think there is a serious point to this.

http://edition.cnn.com/2009/SPORT/09/23/golf.eco.solar.green/index.html

Golf's a great game but there can't be many other sports that have such an impact on the environment -- greens and fairways need an unbelievable amount of the water to stay in good condition. Surely the game can do more to go green?
Click to expand...



I dont think there is another sport in the world that does more for the environment than golf.
 
Can't believe I'm agreeing with a mag but Toonarmy is right.

I also recently read an article about what golf is doing to make the courses more enviromentall friendly and it was all positive news to come over the next decade.
 
Have just read the article about Machrihanish Dunes in the November issue of GM (just arrived in the post yesterday) which is along the same lines. I think it's pretty environmentally friendly in the UK. Not so sure about Dubai and the like.
 
I think golf really is going to have to get to grip with environmental issues soon. I also don't think that nearly enough is being done. Far too much water is needed, so there must be better irrigation and conservation of water. There's plenty of water about the trouble is this country now experiences either deluge or drought. The damage caused by chemical feeds/fertilizers cannot be understated, apart from the petrochemical industry's alleged links to cancer, the amount of oil used to produce and transport these chemicals isn't good and will only cost more as oil reserves slowly dwindle. The golf industry should get ahead of the game while it still can, and we as golfers should be willing to except a lower standard of golf course. If tough choices need to be made in the future (a long way off I hope) about precious supplies of oil, water and food, the concerns of us golfers will, quite righty, amount to very little.
 
golf does a lot, more than any other sport.
yes, it could do more.

but I think as a first post, this smells a bit fishing?

(any coincidence that the new Uni term is underway?)
 
Dont dare try to make me feel guilty about playing golf. Im sick to the back teeth of this politices of fear. Terrorists around every corner, obesitity in every mars bar, cancer with every tomatoe and now global warming because my greenkeeper finally decides to water the greens.

Sod off and let me enjoy life.
 
Dont dare try to make me feel guilty about playing golf. Im sick to the back teeth of this politices of fear. Terrorists around every corner, obesitity in every mars bar, cancer with every tomatoe and now global warming because my greenkeeper finally decides to water the greens.

Sod off and let me enjoy life.
Click to expand...




Fantastic, well said
 
Touched a nerve there, fellas?

Justhitthething: I too hate the politics of fear, I just feel that if golf gets its house in order it won't attract unwanted criticism from the anti-golf green lobby.

Vicount: I left uni many years ago.

I'm certainly not trying to make anyone feel guilty.
 
Most UK golf courses don't need heavy irrigation. Those in warmer climes that do, tend to recycle the water they need. This is why most of these courses have such large water hazards. These lakes and ponds are in fact reservoirs for the water required to irrigate the course. I would suggest that there is far more water wasted due to broken pipes in towns and cities that is ever used on golf courses.
Do we want to return to fairways like this? (Cruden Bay circa 1960)

WinniesPhotos040.jpg
 
Wyatt,

I am afraid that golf's perceived image is very poor in regards to environmental excellence, but there are many examples of great ecological practice out there. Please have a look at this site


Golf environment awards

I was part of this process and my team was fortunate to be chosen for the overall achievement prize for all the hard, labour intensive,sustainable work we undertake.

Regards
Tommy
 
Touched a nerve there, fellas?

Justhitthething: I too hate the politics of fear, I just feel that if golf gets its house in order it won't attract unwanted criticism from the anti-golf green lobby.

Vicount: I left uni many years ago.

I'm certainly not trying to make anyone feel guilty.
Click to expand...

Hogan, I was referring to the OP, it's certainly not your first post.

and we have more than enough water. for about 3 weeks a year too * much.

and we must be doing something right, never seen so many green woodpeckers.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

C
The difficulties in arranging golf holidays for groups. Spain or Portugal or somewhere else. Everyone has different opinions on the golf courses...
2
Replies
36
Views
2K
mister v
mister v
need_my_wedge
Île aux Cerfs Golf Club
Replies
0
Views
1K
need_my_wedge
need_my_wedge
G
My top 5 golf courses in Almeria and Costa Calida
Replies
0
Views
3K
golferinspain
G
Grant85
the Kings Course, Gleneagles
Replies
11
Views
7K
Deleted member 35599
D
Grant85
Machrihanish Championship Course
Replies
17
Views
4K
azazel
azazel
Top