Are Golf Courses 'Green'?

An appropriate post on the eve of the U.S. Open.

As a youngster I worked summers as a caddy in the fresh air of the White Mountains of New Hampshire and the salt-laden, moisture-soaked air of Cape Cod, Massachusetts. Since I stopped caddying I have picked up golf clubs exactly once, in a moment of weakness about 18 years ago. And that was in Kennebunkport, Maine, at the golf club frequented by President George H.W. Bush. The Downeaster who was the club sentinel chided me for my tacky wardrobe - barely "golf-ready". "The President will be on the course today!" he said. "Of the USA?" I exclaimed. "No," he scolded, "Of the club!"

I'll try to be objective here.  

I remember when many of us - including yours truly - automatically assumed that golf courses were good land uses - after all, they were lush and green, cement- and asphalt-free. Wasn't it much nicer to see a beautiful fairway than a sea of tile roofs? Little did we know what lay under the surface.

But golf courses use a lot of water (and let's not forget the fertilizers and pesticides). The water and chemical use issues have been poorly-kept secrets for years. In general, golf courses are far from being "green". But the water use issue is front and center now, what with water shortages, droughts, global warming, and growth in water short-areas (e.g., Southwest USA) where courses are being built to satify demand.

Frank Deford, well-known sportswriter and commentator addressed this issue today on his weekly commentary on NPR. It's a good commentary. He made some interesting points:

• There are 16,000 (give or take) golf courses in the USA, half the world's total 
• USA golf courses occupy the same area as Delaware
• The courses average 312,000 gallons of water per day (from Audobon International)
• Each of the 57 golf courses in the Palm Springs, CA, area uses 1,000,000 gallons per day (It's a desert, stupid!)
• A poll of golfers indicated that 41% of those polled believe global warming is a myth

I used to go to a conference each summer in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, where the Chamber of Commerce bragged of the 100 golf courses in the immediate vicinity.

Deford noted that the May 2008 issue of Golf Digest featured a candid article by John Barton, "How green is golf?" about golf course water and chemical use and environmentalism. Barton states categorically that golf courses face a crisis over water.

The magazine also interviewed seven leading "thinkers" at the intersection of golf and the environment. Interesting to read what they think.

Although there is quite a way to go, things are getting better at some golf courses with respect to water and chemical use. "Organic" methods are gaining traction. Water use is being monitored. Golfers are becoming more aware. Maybe we'll get that "global warming myth" figure down to 30%.

An inveterate (invertebrate?) golfer-hydrologist once lectured me: "Don't forget - golf courses provide ground water recharge." "But what's in the recharge water?" I replied.

Now, if we could just get golfers out of those carts! 

"Golf is a good walk spoiled." -- Mark Twain

Comments

[Chase - golf fanatic]

Interesting thoughts. I worry about the pesticides used to keep the green so uh, green.