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Tommy Williamsen

  • Total Karma: -4
environmentally friendly courses
« on: January 13, 2006, 01:42:57 PM »
Yesterday I overheard a discussion between a Marlyland State Senator and a developer who wants to build a golf course.  The discussion was cordial but the senator was very firm in his opposition.  He mentioned the negative impact it would have on the Chesapeake Bay.  He brought up Pine Ridge that is on a resevoir and uses no chemicals.  I know many courses are using fewer harmful chemicals but does anyone know trends and courses that do not negatively impact the environment?  It seems to me that golf courses have taken major strides in protecting the environment.
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Ryan Crago

  • Total Karma: 0
Re:environmentally friendly courses
« Reply #1 on: January 13, 2006, 01:53:17 PM »
tommy,

I'm sure you'll get many responses... this is a common discussion here.  search 'environment' or 'sustainability' for a few interesting discussions.

you're right, golf courses have taken strides in protecting and (perhaps more importantly) enhancing the environment, and there is still potential to do more.  As for the state senator, it sounds like he's towing the all too familiar (and in some part, misinformed) public line... i would doubt highly that he has any idea of where the proposed site even sits in the watershed....
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Joel_Stewart

  • Total Karma: -11
Re:environmentally friendly courses
« Reply #2 on: January 13, 2006, 02:13:02 PM »
Probably the best example is The Honors Course in Tennessee.  Not all courses are blessed with a huge budget allowing research like the Honors but its a good example.

The worst that I know of is Squaw Creek in Squaw Valley, CA (Lake Tahoe) area.   The restrictions are so severe the course is a virtual weed/clover patch.  Its amazing because they still get $150 green fees.
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A.G._Crockett

  • Total Karma: -2
Re:environmentally friendly courses
« Reply #3 on: January 13, 2006, 02:16:09 PM »
Depends on what you mean by environmentally friendly.

Mike Young's Cateechee in GA, in addition to being an Audubon and wildlife refuge, is also a site for recyling treated waste water from the town of Hartwell, I believe.

Additionally, there are a number of courses built on the sites of old landfills, some of them notoriously bad landfills.
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Steven_Biehl

  • Total Karma: 0
Re:environmentally friendly courses
« Reply #4 on: January 13, 2006, 03:30:04 PM »
It is a shame that golf courses will never be able to shed the image that the misinformed few continue to give them.  Even today with the bulk of research that has been done, and it still being done, to refute the negative impact of golf courses, some just will not acknowledge the fact that golf courses are not bad for the environment.  On a 160 acre property, a golf course will be much more environmentally friendly than a development of 200 houses.
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Mike Vegis @ Kiawah

  • Total Karma: 0
Re:environmentally friendly courses
« Reply #5 on: January 13, 2006, 03:34:11 PM »
Check out http://www.auduboninternational.org/ and look up their Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary System.
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