Golf and the Environment
No issue will have as significant an impact on golf design in the 21st century than that of a golf course's relationship with its environment.
Golf finds itself approaching some new and difficult challenges. These challenges all echo the question of whether or not golf courses can, or should, be built, especially on sensitive landscapes.
With the realities of a changing climate, environmental awareness continues to grow around the world. Within golf, the momentum and focus of this awareness is beginning to shift towards practicing better resource management, minimizing inputs and waste, and improving the overall habitat value of our developments.
As such environmental awareness and ideas gain traction, golf course development will eventually have to adapt and follow suit - or risk being left behind. It all comes down to one basic question:
Can golf courses exist and function more harmoniously within the natural environment?
If proven possible, the game of golf will not only continue to thrive in the decades going forward, but can also play a very important role in environmental and habitat stewardship.
Alternative measures and practices such as sensitive routing strategies, minimal earthmoving, and reduced course inputs (water, fertilizer, pesticides, etc.) greatly reduces golf's environmental footprint. In fact, if done properly, golf courses are proven to actually become environmental stewards of sensitive landscapes.
Golfers expectations will also play a role in the future. By letting go of outdated notions such as “green and pristine”, golfers can expect to see more effort placed on producing quality playing surfaces - not endlessly striving for lushness and vibrant colors.
It is the belief of Integrative Golf that continual environmental awareness and solutions will be crucial in the coming decades if this ancient game is to undertake a “sustainable” transformation.
