Photo Credit: © Can Stock Photo / Willard
In an era focused on sustainability, golf courses get a bad rap. No matter how much recycled water is used, or how many drought-tolerant grasses are in place, golf courses are often panned for not being environmentally friendly. Additionally, when courses occupy precious acreage in urban areas, they are criticized for serving an exclusive few, rather than the communal “many.” And during financial downturns, when discretionary income dries up, courses are left unused and unappreciated—losing both revenue and public favor.
But there are several simple ways golf courses can be on par with the three pillars of sustainability—economic, environmental, and social—and curry favor with public and private stakeholders. The following ideas from around the world illustrate a variety of ways to improve and maximize space, time, profit, and public perception on a golf course.
Take Flight
Golfers have only two avian friends—eagles and birdies. But for those whose hobby involves all types of birds, a golf course is a prime area in which to spot unique, local friends of flight. Bird watching may be an even slower activity than golf, and that’s a good thing because small groups of slowly shuffling birders won’t damage the greens. Golf courses on the edge of town—closer to quiet, open spaces, patches of forest, or with multiple water features—are ideal habitats for native species. In San Luis Obispo, Calif., for example, amateur birders have seen Say’s and black phoebes, grackles, and red-winged blackbirds on the municipal course a few miles north of the city center. In addition, attracting birds of prey—such as owls and raptors—is a good way to control ground rodents, gophers, or squirrels that can tear up the greens. In another example, an artificial lake at the privately owned Lake Tamarisk Desert Resort in Desert Center, Calif., boasts egret, verdin, and yellow-rumped warbler sightings. Whether near water or dry land, birders with dawn and dusk access could draw a new flock of users and supporters to a golf course.