Our Changing Planet

A common point of discussion across both the golf industry and the environmental community is the issue of whether a golf development is a valuable contributor to local economies, communities, and the environment, or whether it is perceived as damaging to landscapes and ecology, a burden on local infrastructure, harmful to cultural heritage, and detrimental to the quality of people's lives.

The need to demonstrate social and environmental value is rising all the time. Land and water resources are under pressure as populations grow. Fossil fuels are becoming more costly and scarce. Consumers, investors, communities, governments and tourism organizations are increasingly setting higher expectations for social and environmental responsibility. Scientists and the public are recognising that the conservation of ecosystems and biodiversity is vital to environmental and human health.

In this context, golf can only grow its game by acknowledging its place on the global stage, building on its strengths and opportunities, and recognising the need and potential to improve practices.

Developments that are valued as social assets, which give back to a region through a package of multiple social, economic and environmental benefits, are more likely to appeal to consumers and to benefit from customer and staff loyalty.

So what do these sustainable golf courses look like? Sustainable courses typically:

• Conserve and enhance the natural landscape and much of its natural contour and character, or rehabilitate brownfield and other degraded sites
• Retain much existing mature vegetation and plant local-adapted, native plant species
• Select grassing plans that genuinely minimize maintenance, chemicals and water consumption
• Retain the best parts of the site, and thoughtfully utilise vegetation, ponds and other topographical features to achieve sustainability goals
• Create eco-friendly buildings and hardscapes
• Enhance natural sanctuaries for plant biodiversity, wildlife, and human access to greenspace
• Use recycled materials and local supply chains
• Bring real long-term benefits across the local economy and community.

Sustainable courses work to avoid and design out unnecessary social and environmental impacts and seek the points of compatibility between the need for profit and the needs of people and the planet.

Working in this way, with these kinds of goals, opens the way for a surge of creativity that allows golf development to evolve in step with contemporary issues. Such an approach encompasses the entire development process with the principles of sustainability fully integrated from the very start.