Golf Course Impact on the Envirnment

8/10/2019 Golf Course Impact on the Envirnment

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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 turfgrass 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 factthis 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 havebeen 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 neara 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 usedper 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 toxicmaterials 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 waterconsumption 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, andRestoration 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 fromhttp://blogs.knoxnews.com/flory/2010/08/


http://www.seasite.com/KnowledgeCenter/golf/hawaii_golf_courses.aspx


http://darlingjosh.blogspot.com/2010/04/environmental-impact-of-golf-courses.html
http://www.universetoday.com/29662/active-volcano/http://www.universetoday.com/29662/active-volcano/http://web.ebscohost.com.ejournals.um.edu.mt/ehost/detail?sid=9ea1e9b4-02e6-4550-b10e-42a6bce74063%40sessionmgr104&vid=1&hid=125&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWhvc3QtbGl2ZQ%3d%3d%23db=eih&AN=31317800http://web.ebscohost.com.ejournals.um.edu.mt/ehost/detail?sid=9ea1e9b4-02e6-4550-b10e-42a6bce74063%40sessionmgr104&vid=1&hid=125&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWhvc3QtbGl2ZQ%3d%3d%23db=eih&AN=31317800http://web.ebscohost.com.ejournals.um.edu.mt/ehost/detail?sid=9ea1e9b4-02e6-4550-b10e-42a6bce74063%40sessionmgr104&vid=1&hid=125&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWhvc3QtbGl2ZQ%3d%3d%23db=eih&AN=31317800http://books.google.com.mt/books?id=b0KFe8cDCHAC&pg=PA186&dq=environmental+impact+of+golf&hl=mt&sa=X&ei=MmsJT8XaLYWD4gTCwsXPBg&redir_esc=y%23v=onepage&q=environmental%20impact%20of%20golf&f=falsehttp://books.google.com.mt/books?id=b0KFe8cDCHAC&pg=PA186&dq=environmental+impact+of+golf&hl=mt&sa=X&ei=MmsJT8XaLYWD4gTCwsXPBg&redir_esc=y%23v=onepage&q=environmental%20impact%20of%20golf&f=falsehttp://books.google.com.mt/books?id=b0KFe8cDCHAC&pg=PA186&dq=environmental+impact+of+golf&hl=mt&sa=X&ei=MmsJT8XaLYWD4gTCwsXPBg&redir_esc=y%23v=onepage&q=environmental%20impact%20of%20golf&f=falsehttp://books.google.com.mt/books?id=b0KFe8cDCHAC&pg=PA186&dq=environmental+impact+of+golf&hl=mt&sa=X&ei=MmsJT8XaLYWD4gTCwsXPBg&redir_esc=y%23v=onepage&q=environmental%20impact%20of%20golf&f=falsehttp://www.hawaiimagazine.com/blogs/hawaii_today/2011/3/10/video_released_Kilauea_volcano_crater_collapsehttp://www.hawaiimagazine.com/blogs/hawaii_today/2011/3/10/video_released_Kilauea_volcano_crater_collapsehttp://www.hawaiimagazine.com/blogs/hawaii_today/2011/3/10/video_released_Kilauea_volcano_crater_collapsehttp://web.ebscohost.com.ejournals.um.edu.mt/ehost/detail?sid=0afa9310-bf23-4bc9-9d95-464b46a976ba%40sessionmgr111&vid=2&hid=104&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWhvc3QtbGl2ZQ%3d%3d%23db=eih&AN=12356593http://web.ebscohost.com.ejournals.um.edu.mt/ehost/detail?sid=0afa9310-bf23-4bc9-9d95-464b46a976ba%40sessionmgr111&vid=2&hid=104&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWhvc3QtbGl2ZQ%3d%3d%23db=eih&AN=12356593http://web.ebscohost.com.ejournals.um.edu.mt/ehost/detail?sid=0afa9310-bf23-4bc9-9d95-464b46a976ba%40sessionmgr111&vid=2&hid=104&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWhvc3QtbGl2ZQ%3d%3d%23db=eih&AN=12356593http://web.ebscohost.com.ejournals.um.edu.mt/ehost/detail?sid=0afa9310-bf23-4bc9-9d95-464b46a976ba%40sessionmgr111&vid=2&hid=104&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWhvc3QtbGl2ZQ%3d%3d%23db=eih&AN=12356593http://www.golfcoursepublic.com/index.php/2011/08/fox-creek-golf-club-3/http://www.golfcoursepublic.com/index.php/2011/08/fox-creek-golf-club-3/http://blogs.knoxnews.com/flory/2010/08/http://blogs.knoxnews.com/flory/2010/08/http://www.seasite.com/KnowledgeCenter/golf/hawaii_golf_courses.aspxhttp://www.seasite.com/KnowledgeCenter/golf/hawaii_golf_courses.aspxhttp://darlingjosh.blogspot.com/2010/04/environmental-impact-of-golf-courses.htmlhttp://darlingjosh.blogspot.com/2010/04/environmental-impact-of-golf-courses.htmlhttp://darlingjosh.blogspot.com/2010/04/environmental-impact-of-golf-courses.htmlhttp://www.seasite.com/KnowledgeCenter/golf/hawaii_golf_courses.aspxhttp://blogs.knoxnews.com/flory/2010/08/http://www.golfcoursepublic.com/index.php/2011/08/fox-creek-golf-club-3/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%23db=eih&AN=12356593http://web.ebscohost.com.ejournals.um.edu.mt/ehost/detail?sid=0afa9310-bf23-4bc9-9d95-464b46a976ba%40sessionmgr111&vid=2&hid=104&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWhvc3QtbGl2ZQ%3d%3d%23db=eih&AN=12356593http://web.ebscohost.com.ejournals.um.edu.mt/ehost/detail?sid=0afa9310-bf23-4bc9-9d95-464b46a976ba%40sessionmgr111&vid=2&hid=104&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWhvc3QtbGl2ZQ%3d%3d%23db=eih&AN=12356593http://www.hawaiimagazine.com/blogs/hawaii_today/2011/3/10/video_released_Kilauea_volcano_crater_collapsehttp://www.hawaiimagazine.com/blogs/hawaii_today/2011/3/10/video_released_Kilauea_volcano_crater_collapsehttp://books.google.com.mt/books?id=b0KFe8cDCHAC&pg=PA186&dq=environmental+impact+of+golf&hl=mt&sa=X&ei=MmsJT8XaLYWD4gTCwsXPBg&redir_esc=y%23v=onepage&q=environmental%20impact%20of%20golf&f=falsehttp://books.google.com.mt/books?id=b0KFe8cDCHAC&pg=PA186&dq=environmental+impact+of+golf&hl=mt&sa=X&ei=MmsJT8XaLYWD4gTCwsXPBg&redir_esc=y%23v=onepage&q=environmental%20impact%20of%20golf&f=falsehttp://books.google.com.mt/books?id=b0KFe8cDCHAC&pg=PA186&dq=environmental+impact+of+golf&hl=mt&sa=X&ei=MmsJT8XaLYWD4gTCwsXPBg&redir_esc=y%23v=onepage&q=environmental%20impact%20of%20golf&f=falsehttp://web.ebscohost.com.ejournals.um.edu.mt/ehost/detail?sid=9ea1e9b4-02e6-4550-b10e-42a6bce74063%40sessionmgr104&vid=1&hid=125&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWhvc3QtbGl2ZQ%3d%3d%23db=eih&AN=31317800http://web.ebscohost.com.ejournals.um.edu.mt/ehost/detail?sid=9ea1e9b4-02e6-4550-b10e-42a6bce74063%40sessionmgr104&vid=1&hid=125&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWhvc3QtbGl2ZQ%3d%3d%23db=eih&AN=31317800http://web.ebscohost.com.ejournals.um.edu.mt/ehost/detail?sid=9ea1e9b4-02e6-4550-b10e-42a6bce74063%40sessionmgr104&vid=1&hid=125&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWhvc3QtbGl2ZQ%3d%3d%23db=eih&AN=31317800http://www.universetoday.com/29662/active-volcano/

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Golf Course Impact on the Envirnment