"On course for disaster"

[David_Tepper]

In regards to the two current threads regarding the impact of golf courses on the environment, I came across a column in the October 6 edition (page 75) of the British magazine "Country Life" that might be of interest.  The column is headlined "On course for disaster" and the sub-headline is "Golf is as much of a threat to the countryside as a supermarket."

The column does not attack a golf course in terms of the direct impact it may (or may not) have on the environment relative to the use of chemicals, fertilizers, water run off, destruction/retention of wetlands, etc. The column does bemoan how even a quiet rural golf club over time changes into a large-scale commercial enterprise. The small proshop is enlarged and becomes a retail emporium, the modest members clubhouse is expanded to accomodate large wedding parties, busines meetings, etc. and the driving range becomes flood-lit for night use and large-scale instructional programs.

For those of you who might not know "Country Life," it is pretty much devoted to the English horse riding, fox hunting set. The goal is to preserve the idol of life in the British countryside.  Suffice it to say that most of their readers probably have never voted Labour in their lives. Tree-hugging liberals they ain't!      

[Mark_Rowlinson]

I have not seen the article.  I am always much disturbed by generalisations of this kind.  Many golf clubs are doing great things for the environment in this country.  

I recall an edition of BBC Radio 4's Natural History Programme which was recorded at Fulford Golf Club in York.  They went with the usual scepticism and left with extraordinary admiration for the conservancy being carried out and the huge variety of wildlife thriving here within city boundaries.  

A friend of mine, who is now a major voice in the big, international field of ecology was once the ecologist for the Surrey Naturalists Trust.  He was consulted over the design and construction of the Edinburgh Course at Wentworth.  He was very against golf intervention in heathland, but when he encountered their total acceptance of what he said in their final design he was convinced of their sincerity.

[David_Tepper]

Mark -

Unfortunately, I was not able to access this column on the Country Life website to link it to my post. You should try to find this issue (October 6) if you can, so you can read it for yourself. Maybe you or your ecologist friend could respond to the magazine with a 'Letter to the Editor.'

However, the thrust of this column was not really about the impact of a golf course on the flora and fauna of the countryside. It was about how golf courses seem to develop into centers of commerce and enterprise that interfere with Country Life's rather idealized perception of what life in the British countryside is supposed to be like.

If you do get to read the article, please let us know what you think of it.

DT    

[Tom_Doak]

David:

"Country Life" has not generally been an anti-golf publication.  They sponsored that competition for golf course design won by Dr. MacKenzie back in 1914, and they've had Bernard Darwin and Donald Steel as contributing editors.  If they're turning anti-golf, that's not a good sign.

[TEPaul]

"For those of you who might not know "Country Life," it is pretty much devoted to the English horse riding, fox hunting set. The goal is to preserve the idol of life in the British countryside.  Suffice it to say that most of their readers probably have never voted Labour in their lives. Tree-hugging liberals they ain't!"

David Tepper;

For those who don't know Country Life magazine?? Are you joking? We on here know all about Country Life Magazine. It's been around for over 100 years and our own "expert researcher and writer" Tom MacWood essentially based his contention in his five part essay on this website entitled "The Arts and Crafts Movement"  that the "Golden Age of Architecture" should logically be renamed "Arts and Crafts Architecture" primarily due to Country Life golf and architecture writer Horace Hutchinson. Tom MacWood went on to contend that Hutchinson, through the vehicle of Country Life Magazine, and his writing in it, should be called the "Father of golf architecture".

Yeah, we on here kinow all about Country Life magazine. I always have since for whatever reason my mother got it every week for my entire life.    

[Jim_Kennedy]

David,
Many private and public clubs here in the states have in-house businesses, i.e., Pro shop, banquet facilities, outings, etc., that would run contrary to the zoning regulations pertaining to their locations unless the town they are in gives them a 'special use' permit or writes them into their zoning laws. This gives them a certain status that would be granted to few, if any, other like/kind commercial ventures in the respective zone. No judgement, just an observation.


   

[T_MacWood]

Country Life was conceived on the golf course. George Riddell and Edward Hudson came up with the idea in 1897 during a round at Woking. Based upon the background of the founders its not surprising that golf (and golf architecture) was given a major place within its pages, first with Hutchinson, then Hutchinson & Darwin, and then Darwin.

Unfortunately in the last few decades--nearly fifty years--golf has been deemphasized to the point of no presence in the magazine. What was once a weekly feature of the magazine, today you are lucky to get one golf related article per year.

I'm not surprised, this ain't the same magazine and hasn't been for years. They produced their 100 year aniversary book a few years ago, and only devoted a paragraph or two to golf to give you an idea. How things had changed, Bernard Darwin wrote the 50th aniversary book. IMO the magazine's high point was the teens and twenties, not just for golf, but in every and all areas.  

I suspect the article says more about the current state of British politcal and social thought.

[Jeff_Brauer]

While I understand the basic sentifment that gc's are as bad as grocery stores as far as saving the countryside (as they do both spur development.... who the hell is gonna live there if ya can't eat or play golf?) I think the words about "disaster" are just typical verbal diarreah on the part of environmental writers. Shock value at its worst.

Hard to believe that with 6 Billion Humans, and maybe three times that many animals of all kinds crapping all over the place, that another 100 acres of turf is going to be the straw that breaks the camel's bacl as far as the eco balance of the earth that end of the world as we know it.

I have been alternating typing posts with consuming Baileys Irish Creme - and its a rarity that I drink much any more.  I think I will nominate myself for the "I'm so damn clever award......"  Can anyone see fit to vote for me?

PS - please excuse greater than normal spelling and grammer errors........

[David_Tepper]

Mr. Paul -

Sorry if I offended your East Coast "sense and sensiblilty" in any way! While I am sure we all aspire to your level of knowledge and sophistication, I was just trying to keep those less fortunate up to speed and in the loop, as it were.  

Even though I have been reading Country Life at the Mechanics Institute membership library in here San Francisco regularly for about 15 years now, I was not aware of the great GCA-related heritage of the magazine.

I would urge all you gentlemen who are aware of that heritage to try to get a copy of that issue, read the column and write a 'Letter to the Editor' reminding Country Life of the heritage they have betrayed.

DT
 

[David_Tepper]

If anyone would like to see a copy of the article, IM me your address and I will send you a copy in the mail.

[Mike_Cirba]

Jeff,

I'm on my 5th beer (I'm a lightweight these days) so you're making a hell of a lot of sense to me!  

Say "Amen" brother!