Greening Up Golf Courses
The stage is set and millions of golfers eagerly await the US Open of Golf to take place this week. The sport’s finest players will hit unbelievable shots on a picturesque landscape. Fans watching around the world may even have the chance to once again roar along with Tiger Woods in victory.
Golf has a cult-like following and arguably for good reason. The game’s inextricable link with nature is certainly a draw. After a full workweek in the office, it doesn’t get much better than spending four hours traversing grassy knolls, feeling a breeze against your cheek, and hearing critters rustling through shrubbery.
Today we ask, what sustainable measures can golfers implement to keep the greens green with fewer natural resources? With 34,000 courses worldwide, we can no longer ‘play it as it lies’.
H2O Scorecard
“The water needed to irrigate golf courses is enough to meet the needs of 80% of the world’s population” — United Nations.
Golf courses use an enormous amount of water to stay green. As you can see below, out of all the non-agricultural businesses in California, Golf uses the most amount of water.
Much can be done to improve the efficiency of water usage on golf courses. Audits around the US indicate that golf courses use 20–50% more irrigation than necessary.
All sorts of techniques can combat this issue. For example, installing soil moisture sensors allows for more accurate monitoring in order to lessen the excess water used for irrigation.
And to become sustainable, golf courses should include a system of reclaimed water instead of potable (drinking) water. This requires separate water pipes distinct from the pipes that carry drinking water to faucets.
Environmental Round-Wrecker
Golf courses placed in deserts are a kick in the nuts of the planet. They take far more water than sustainable and require more than 3x the amount of non-desert courses. In a place like Palm Springs, California, courses consume roughly one million gallons per day!
Like avoiding any triple bogeys that blow your round, nixing golf courses in the desert will yield a major benefit. To ensure that happens, demand must decrease and therefore people need to stop golfing at desert courses. Instead, new-age golfing entertainment such as Topgolf can replace them.
Topgolf is part driving range, part restaurant & bar lounge, and part friendly competition with distance-tracking balls. It’s all man-made turf with absolutely no water required for upkeep.
Sinking the Easy Puts
Most golf carts run on electricity, but some courses still maintain a fleet of gas-guzzlers. It’s 2018 — time to upgrade to a cleantech option. Check out the Golfboard, a mix between an electric golf cart and a surfboard that reduces turf wear, meaning the grass will last longer:
You can also show your environmental support by doing a bit of research and opting to play a round of 18 at a course that uses sustainable techniques; try one these five eco-friendly golf courses in the U.S. These courses implement sustainability measures ranging from using recycled water to taking a minimalist approach to design.
Act on Climate
Guatemala’s Fuego volcano erupted a week ago killing at least 110 people; close to 200 more are thought to be buried underneath rubble. Guatemalans such as Eufemia Garcia and Bryan Rivera have continued to search for their missing family members.
We have an opportunity to help with cleantech.
Many brave folks on the front lines have non-functional battery-powered flashlights and cell phones that run out of battery quickly. You can help equip first responders with solar lanterns that can provide lighting and phone charging. Click the link below to help purchase 50 solar lanterns.
