Environmental Impact of a golf course

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Definition of golf course architecture
Golf course architecture is defined as the design where the
starting and ending points within an area are arranged so one
can play golf. This sport is played on a well sustained turf
grass and it is an arrangement of holes of different lengths
(Dr. Hurdzan, 2006, p. 3).
Image1
Feasibility Study and Site Analysis
When there is a desire to build a golf course, the client must conduct two studies before
starting the design and construction, which include feasibility study and site analysis.
According to Dr. Hurdzan (2006), the feasibility study is the study of all the potential effects
on a future golf course site and therefore, the owner has to make a decision whether or not the
development of a golf course will meet his goals. Also, feasibility is the study of what is
currently happening in the market, normally done by an organization that is specialized in
economic study. This research will illustrate, if the golf course will be profitable or
economically self-sustained (pp. 207-208).
The second step the construction firm has to conduct is the analysis of the site. According to
Dr. Hurdzan (2006), "eight or 10 years ago this was less important" since there was no
concern about the impact on the environment of such a construction can have (p. 209). In fact
this study deals with the "physical, environmental, legal, social, historical, and political
characteristics of the site and surrounding areas as possible" (Dr. Hurdzan, 2006, p. 209).
These studies help the designers to understand which area can or cannot be utilized for the
design and illustrates the existing vegetation in the area.
Environmental Effects of a golf course
The extensive use of land Alteration to the environment
Destruction of ecosystems and the natural environment
The problems of pesticides and fertilizers for maintenance
The extensive amount of water used to maintain a green turf grass




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Land use
According to Mintzer and Grossman (1997), in the United States only, 2.5 million of acres
are used as golf courses (p. 186). This fact is alarming since they are taking a lot of the
natural space, interfering with course of nature. He further states that these golf "courses have
been built on landfills, around volcanoes, over marshland and in other areas that have seen
much of their natural resources disappear" (p. 187). According to these authorsthat golf
courses are build in areas where much of their natural resources are disappearing. For
example the Hilo Golf course was build on the rim of the active Kilauea volcanic crater
where last eruption was last March, 2011 (Paiva, 2011). The golf course without any doubt
improves the environmental quality of the site but what about the increased risks placed on
the people if/when the volcano erect. According to Cain (2009), active volcanoes erupt
frequently, thus the safety factor should come into play when constructing a golf course near
a volcano. Designers and engineers may argue that they
have taken all the precautions needed to secure the area,
but unexpected things always happen in nature. No one
was expecting that the tsunami in Thailand was going to
be so powerful and destructive. Therefore when one
interferes with nature, there are always going to be
consequences that are going to affect us after many
years. Image 3: Hilo Golf course
The problems of pesticides and fertilizers usage for maintenance
Mintzer and Grossman (1997), points out that "sick trees, drying up streams, polluted waters,
and grass with diseases are not found on golf courses because courses are well maintained"
(p. 187). They are right in stating that, in a golf course, the environment is very pleasing to
the eye and one is not going to find unmaintained environment.But they did not consider the
fact that in order to keep a well maintained environment a lot of pesticides and fertilizers are
used. According to the World Watch (2004), an average of 18 pounds of pesticides is used
per acre, per year. These harm the existing and surrounding environment and ecosystems.
One also needs to mention the drastic effects they have on the streams. According to
Metcalfe, L.T., Dillon, J.P., and Metcalfe, D.C., (2008.), the Precambrian Shield region of
central Ontario, Canada, is a recreational siteveryparticularlyvulnerable to the influences of
thetwo golf courses situated in the Muskoka region. In 2002 a study was conducted to
monitor the streams at the two golf courses during the seasons. "Semipermeable membrane
devices (SPMDs)" were installed into streams that drain them. The extracted water was tested
and it was found to have "up to 334ng/SPMD."This is very alarming because all these toxic
materials are influencing the "aquatic organisms in adjacent watersheds."
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The extensive amount of water used to maintain a green turf grass
What about the amount of water used.According to the World Watch (2004), the amount of
water used per day by 60,000 villagers in Thailand, amounts to 6,500 cubic meters which is
the same amount of water consumption, to irrigate one golf course in Thailand. The water
consumption by 4.7 billion people per day in UN is 2.5 billion gallons which is the same
amount of water required to irrigate all the worlds, 3,030 golf course (World Watch, 2004).
This is seriously sick because you have places where are dying due to the lack of potable
water in developed and non developed countries, and then, in golf courses, water is used
without caution to maintain the beautiful green turf grass.










Image 4: The extensive amount of water used







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Reference:
Cain, F. (22 April, 2009). Active Volcano. Retrieved
fromhttp://www.universetoday.com/29662/active-volcano/
Dr. Hurdzan, J.M. (2006). Golf Course Architecture. Evolutions in Design, Construction, and
Restoration Technology(2nd ed.). New Jersey: John Wiley & Sons, Inc., Hoboken.
Metcalfe, L.T., Dillon, J.P., & Metcalfe, D.C. (2008).Detecting the transport of toxic
pesticides from golf courses into watersheds in the Precambrian shield region of Ontario,
Canada.Environment Toxicology and Chemistry , 27 (4), 811-818. Retrieved from
http://web.ebscohost.com.ejournals.um.edu.mt/ehost/detail?sid=9ea1e9b4-02e6-4550-b10e-
42a6bce74063%40sessionmgr104&vid=1&hid=125&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWhvc3QtbGl2ZQw
%3d%3d#db=eih&AN=31317800
Mintzer, R., & Grossman, P. (1997).the everything golf book: essential rules, useful tips,
amusing anecdotes, and fun trivia for every golf addict! United States of America: Adams
Media Corporation. Retrieved from
http://books.google.com.mt/books?id=b0KFe8cDCHAC&pg=PA186&dq=environmental+im
pact+of+golf&hl=mt&sa=X&ei=MmsJT8XaLYWD4gTCwsXPBg&redir_esc=y#v=onepage
&q=environmental%20impact%20of%20golf&f=false
Paiva, D. (10 March, 2011). Video: Dramatic new footage of Kilauera volcano crater floor
collapsing. Retrieved from
http://www.hawaiimagazine.com/blogs/hawaii_today/2011/3/10/video_released_Kilauea_vol
cano_crater_collapse
World Watch, (2004).Matters of scale. Retrieved from
http://web.ebscohost.com.ejournals.um.edu.mt/ehost/detail?sid=0afa9310-bf23-4bc9-9d95-
464b46a976ba%40sessionmgr111&vid=2&hid=104&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWhvc3QtbGl2ZQ
%3d%3d#db=eih&AN=12356593
Image 1. Retrieved from
http://www.golfcoursepublic.com/index.php/2011/08/fox-creek-golf-club-3/
Image 2. Retrieved from
http://blogs.knoxnews.com/flory/2010/08/
Image 3. Retrieved from
http://www.seasite.com/KnowledgeCenter/golf/hawaii_golf_courses.aspx
Image 4. Retrieved from
http://darlingjosh.blogspot.com/2010/04/environmental-impact-of-golf-courses.html