O/T - Environmental change and golf

[Matthew Mollica]

During Al Gore's movie - An Inconvenient Truth, he proposes a rise in sea levels of approx 7 feet. In the not too distant future, and with some degree of likelihood. It might not happen, and it might not sound like a lot but consider this....

Gore suggests that much of Manhattan would be underwater, including the site of the World Trade Centre memorial.

As an aside for us golfers, my reckoning is that a tiny bit of the Jubilee and New courses at St. Andrews would remain above this new level, but that the rest, including the entire Old Course would be underwater.

Matthew

[Joe Hancock]

Just one more good reason to construct shallow bunkers.....one never knows when that water table will come up thru the bottoms of the deep bunkers.....

Joe

[James Bennett]

I can see more 'sea walls' and 'levee banks' like the one at Deal (Royal Cinque Ports) being used.  A pity, but understandable.

James B

[Jon Wiggett]

If they start stripping sand from the beach which is going to disappear anyway they should be able to with an intensive topdressing program lift the level of the golf courses by the required amount by 2065.

[ForkaB]

According to the Independent, in 1850, sea levels were rising at a rate of approximately 3.5 feet/century.  Currently they are rising at a rate of 7 feet/century.  Presuming this continues, there will be pros and cons.  Dornoch may be partially underwater, but Rye may again be a seaside course.

[peter_p]

I doubt that we will be affected during our golfing careers, though it is a different stroy for out progeny. We and they will also have to adjust to flora species migration. What is currently growing on our courses likely will be replaced by something better adapted to any new environment.

As recommended reading I proffer Tim Flannery's The Weather Makers, an easy read designed for the layman.

[PThomas]

what amazes and embarrases  me is the lack of action that the US is taking to confront this problem

[John Kavanaugh]

what amazes and embarrases  me is the lack of action that the US is taking to confront this problem

You are part of a group that travels at the drop of a hat to play a game everytime a new course is built or an old one opens its doors.  How many times in the history of man has waiting for your government to lead the way worked out.  Solutions start at home my friend...Pony up for a golf pass near home and stop the frivolous travel.  Clean up your own house if you want to save the world.  Good Morning..

[Matthew Mollica]

We and they will also have to adjust to flora species migration. What is currently growing on our courses likely will be replaced by something better adapted to any new environment.

Peter, can you expand on that line? I fear I may be misinterpreting you.

MM

[peter_p]

Matthew,
    The trees and grasses currently growing on our courses are adapted to the environment of today. With changes in temperature and precipitation rates, different grasses and trees more suited to the new conditions will take hold.
    Plant species will migrate to seek favorable conditions.
This might be vertically to different elevations, but it also happens on a horizontal scale. If it cannot move it must adapt or perish.

[Doug Ralston]

I told you! I told you!

Mountain golf is great. Now it is obviously the way to go! When wretched old Shinnecock and overstuffed Pacific Dunes are underwater, Eagle Ridge with be awaiting you. And you won't be ready for that kind of golf, having spent too much time on 'fading' flatlander courses!

 

Doug

[Jim Nugent]

According to the Independent, in 1850, sea levels were rising at a rate of approximately 3.5 feet/century.  Currently they are rising at a rate of 7 feet/century.  

Rich, the numbers you quoted surprised me.  Here is what Wikipedia says about the rise of sea levels:

"The sea level has risen more than 120 metres since the peak of the last ice age about 18,000 years ago. The bulk of that occurred before 6,000 years ago. From 3,000 years ago to the start of the 19th century sea level was almost constant, rising at 0.1 to 0.2 mm/yr; since 1900 the level has risen at 1 to 3 mm/yr [1]; since 1992 satellite altimetry from TOPEX/Poseidon indicates a rate of about 3 mm/yr [2]. This change may be the first sign of the effect of global warming on sea level.[citation needed] Warming is predicted to cause significant rises in sea level over the course of the twenty-first century."

If these numbers are right, the average since 1992 comes to 300 mm/century.  Slightly less than one foot.  That is one-seventh as much as the Independent says.  

[JohnV]

Just one more good reason to construct shallow bunkers.....one never knows when that water table will come up thru the bottoms of the deep bunkers.....

Joe

This happened at Sandpines.  The course was designed during a drought period.  When the drought ended and the rains came back to the Oregon coast, the water table rose and many of the bunkers became mini water hazards.

[Jim Nugent]

Just one more good reason to construct shallow bunkers.....one never knows when that water table will come up thru the bottoms of the deep bunkers.....

Joe

This happened at Sandpines.  The course was designed during a drought period.  When the drought ended and the rains came back to the Oregon coast, the water table rose and many of the bunkers became mini water hazards.

What are the bunkers like in New Orleans courses?  As I understand it, the water table is so close to the surface that graves in cemeteries there are not dug, but rather laid above the ground.

[Dan_Callahan]

One of the major magzines—Vanity Fair, perhaps—did a story on the impact of rising sea levels. What struck me was how little a change it would take to dramatically impact low-level regions such as Manhatten and Cape Cod.

I'm no chicken little, but I must admit that such possibilities have impacted my real estate search. I had originally planned on buying on the Cape or in the Newport area. I would be equally happy with a place on a lake in northern New England, where skiing is an option as well. I am now looking north exclusively. I figure that if I like both areas the same, why not cover myself by staying away from the coast. The predictions sound kind of extreme to me, but what the hell do I know. I'd feel like an idiot if my house on the beach washed away in 50 years when there have been all these warnings. The last thing I need is to hear that holier-than-thou, my-shit-don't-stink, condescending Al Gore say "I told you so."