Minnesota Golfer - Spring 2024 - 36

Golf is
Sustainable and
Environmentally
Friendly
W
hen it comes to environmental sustainability, golf
courses get the rap for being bad for the environment.
Perhaps it's the optics of irrigation on a golf
course that is so visible to the casual observer. But do critics
know that golf courses account for only 0.68% of all water usage
in Minnesota? It seems shockingly wrong, given all the uses of
water in industry, manufacturing and agriculture.
A typical 18-hole golf facility maintains only about 30% to 35%
of its acreage, while the balance is devoted to low-maintenance
rough, natural landscapes and water features. Much of that supports
plant and wildlife habitat. According to Bloomberg, the
approximately 14,000 golf courses in the U.S. represent 2 million
acres, which amounts to only 0.1% of our country's total
land acreage (2 billion acres).
The USGA funded the Commercial Value of Golf Courses
project, conducted by researchers at the University of Minnesota
and Michigan State, as well as over 90 other research projects,
to evaluate the relationship between golf and the environment.
It turns out that there are many benefits to the turf, trees and
natural areas found on most golf courses.
Turf controls erosion by capturing fast-flowing water from
storms and reducing flooding. In fact, it filters and buffers the
water runoff, which reduces the sediment and nutrient pollution
in nearby areas, essentially " cleaning " the water. Golf courses
are nature's rain gardens! Turf is also a good growing environment
for many microorganisms, which help cleanse the water
by digesting the pollutants trapped in it. Closely mowed turf
discourages mosquitoes, ticks and chiggers.
When you think about it, golf courses serve our communities
much like parks, with beautiful, large, open green spaces.
It's a preferable contrast to industrial developments and the
multitude of hardscapes in urban areas. They often have large,
mature trees and shrubs, providing beneficial habitat and breeding
for many animal species, birds and invertebrates. Trees and
turf provide a natural cooling effect and reduce noise pollution.
And, according to studies, as turf grows it absorbs carbon dioxide
from the air and releases oxygen, improving air quality.
The USGA is investing $10 million annually to support sustainability
initiatives with its Green Section course consultancy.
Along with the Golf Course Superintendent's Association of
36
MINNESOTAGOLFER Spring 2024
PRESIDENT'S DESK
" Golf courses serve
our communities much
like parks, with beautiful,
large, open green
spaces. "
America, great progress has already been made in reducing
golf's use of water, pesticides and chemicals. Additionally,
Audubon International created the Audubon Cooperative
Sanctuary Program to support golf courses maximizing their
positive environmental impact. More than 2,200 golf courses
worldwide are registered, including 21 in Minnesota that have
achieved Audubon certification.
Lastly, let's not forget the substantial economic benefits of
golf. According to the National Golf Foundation, golf's economic
impact is more than $100 billion annually, including
$4.6 billion to charitable causes. Post-pandemic, golf has seen
record numbers of people coming to the game. In 2023, 531 million
men, women and youth played golf with over 75% of those
rounds on public access golf courses.
It's good to know that golf courses aren't the " bad guys " after all!
Ede Rice, President
mngolf.org
http://www.mngolf.org
Minnesota Golfer - Spring 2024

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