The Future of Golf

2015 The Future of Golf

Ronald G. Dodson

[THE FUTURE OF GOLF] A successful golf course is one that is managed from the perspective of economic viability, environmental health, and social benefit. It is the balancing of these three elements, and their integration into a management approach, that will lead to a firm and productive future for golf.

The Future of Golf Fairways to Sustainability

The issues faced by the golf course industry are wide and varied. Economic conditions are a driving force for the future of the industry. While many factors that drive economic conditions are beyond the control of course owners and managers, those economic factors nevertheless go hand‐in‐hand with environmental management opportunities that are available and accessible to course management, and these can impact costs! The relationships between economic and environmental concerns are not always obvious, but the two issues are nevertheless intimately connected.

While the current prevalent environmental concerns seems to be a focus on global climate change, water quantity and quality and the loss of biological diversity, and they will continue to be, a critical outcome of how we deal with the ramifications of all of these issues and others will be a cornerstone of the future for golf. While water seems abundant in many locations, we are all aware of the increasing difficulty to find adequate water in many regions. This is just the beginning of the increased awareness of and focus on the economic value of water. A central theme for the future of sustainable golf will be resource efficiency and establishing economic value for ecological services. The lack of resource efficiency and past unsustainable economic business practices are at the root of present economic difficulties faced not only by golf, but many businesses, as well as the driving force behind growing environmental concerns.

Golf courses are one of the many groups that use large quantities of water, and as such, the golf course industry needs to become more knowledgeable about their role in the economics of water use and water quality. In fact, should they choose to, the golf course industry could become a leader in dealing with a potential crisis in water availability and accessibility, not to mention demonstrate innovative leadership by supporting new technology use within golf course facilities that can be applied in a variety of situations and circumstances.

What we do know is that water is a finite resource that is neither equally distributed, nor equally used. And, notwithstanding that the earth appears to have substantial water resources, approximately 97.5 percent of the world’s water resources is saltwater. Freshwater resources comprise only 2.5 percent (Source: United States Environmental Protection Agency.) The distribution of total freshwater withdrawal in the United States also provides some interesting results: Texas withdraws approximately 11 percent, California and Illinois 7 percent each, Tennessee and Colorado 5 percent each, Ohio, Indiana, Pennsylvania, Michigan, North Carolina,

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and Louisiana 4 percent each, with 34 percent attributable to the remaining states. (Source: United States Environmental Protection Agency.)

Admittedly, these statistics don’t reflect many of the issues of control, access, availability, and the economy of water resources specific to many states. Nevertheless, coupled with a growing population, we should all be paying close attention to how we manage both water resources, as well as how we protect the quality or quantity of the limited water resources we have. Of course, we must recognize that golf is a recreational game and therefore the public will increasingly identify and focus on golf as a large, but non‐essential, consumer of water resources. It is up to the golf industry to carefully evaluate not only the economics of water use, but the protection of those water resources, which in turn will dictate how they are perceived by the general public, and to a significant degree define the future of golf.

Environmental Issues for Golf Courses From a water perspective, the focus should be on the science of irrigation and turfgrass management. The focus of this paper within that area is on golf course management and its relationship to environmental protection and resource management. If we believe that properly sited, designed, and managed golf courses can be beneficial forms of land use and development, we must, at the same time, understand that golf courses can also use resources carelessly, create pollution, and diminish biological diversity. The fact is that improperly sited, inappropriately designed, and poorly managed golf courses can, and have, caused environmental problems. Those are the golf courses that capture media attention and therefore drive the negative public perception of golf courses and golf course management.

According to the United States Golf Association (USGA Green Section Report: Dealing with Golf’s Environmental Issues pamphlet produced by the USGA, 2000), one of the primary environmental issues facing golf courses is the potential pollution of groundwater and surface waters, including the impacts of erosion and sedimentation, thermal pollution, use of pesticides and other potential contaminates, and fertilizer use.

The USGA also identifies the use of water resources for irrigation, the degradation or loss of natural areas, and the potential effects of golf course activities on people and wildlife as environmental issues that contribute to the public perception of golf courses as either good or bad. The USGA’s research helps to keep us focused on these issues, but they must be regularly evaluated and addressed in the real world as well.

In addition to environmental issues, public perception is impacted by televised golf tournaments—admittedly a major economic force in keeping the game of golf alive and at

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times even thriving. The presentation of beautifully green, intensively maintained tournament golf courses on television boosts expectations of golfers that their home golf course should look and be managed in the same way, driving course managers into unsustainable economic and environmental management practices. Although we can understand this economic and aesthetic force, it is nevertheless the responsibility of everyone in the golf course industry to draw attention to the “natural” history of golf courses, and to not only support, but provide incentives, to golf course managers who will manage golf courses in an environmentally responsible way.

It is not only existing golf courses that are subject to negative public perception. There are a variety of issues specific to golf course development that catches the eye of the public. First and foremost is the loss and fragmentation of wildlife habitat. There is also the potential of the alteration or negative impacts to wetlands during design and construction and potential loss of natural plant communities and replacement by intensively managed land. Of course with each new golf course, we increase the potential for polluted water bodies and wetlands from chemical use, the exposure of both humans and wildlife to pesticides, and the potential loss of water sources for wildlife as a result of the withdrawal of large quantities of water for irrigation.

Sustainability Opportunities for the Golf Industry I have been advocating for nearly 30 years that the golf course industry can grow the game of golf, put themselves on firmer economic footing, while at the same time benefiting the environment and society. But, to a great degree this message seems to have fallen on deaf ears.

Just because a facility is called a golf course, does not mean that the game of golf and the various lines of income that has been traditionally associated with golf are the only things that can be done within a golf course facility. As a matter of fact the real secret to growing the game of golf is to invite people who are not golfers to come to the golf facility. People who aren’t golfers, will not necessarily be motivated to come to a golf course by some special offer to play golf, take a lesson or anything else related to the game. That means that the “out of the box” thinking golf manager must offer a range of non‐golf, or at the very least non‐traditional “golf” related activities and events at the facility.

In addition, every golf facility should be managed in ways that demonstrate that the management of the golf course actually cares about the neighborhood and community in which the course is located. This doesn’t mean, just using certain words in your marketing efforts, but actually caring about the lives and interests and needs of all the people who live and work in the area where the golf facility is located.

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Ask yourself this question; “Why is it that we only sell golf related products in our pro shop?”

Why can’t a golf facility also sell items that might be of interest to bird watchers, hikers, campers, gardeners and other outdoor related topics? These potential lines of income will be even more relevant if the golf course also offers activities and opportunities for bird watchers, hikers and gardeners to come to the golf course. Why not think about your golf facility as a community center for sport and outdoor related fun and learning?

This will then present opportunities for the creative PGA Professional, Club Manager or owner to think of ways that non‐golfers just might take a few steps toward taking up the game of golf.

This might start on a putting green… who knows.

This approach will certainly present opportunities for golf courses to become more widely thought of and appreciated as a community asset, as opposed to what many people think, which is simply that place where a select few individuals, mostly wealthy, even elitist people hang out. If the golf industry truly wants to grow the game of golf, this expanded approach, which means looking outward, in an all‐inclusive way is how golf can accomplish that goal.

Fairways to Sustainability From my experiences working in the golf industry, it seems that traditionally golf, and those associated with golf tend to take an “inward” approach to management. This is probably because over the last few decades’ golf and those who manage golf have taken a fair share of criticism concerning how golf courses are managed and what is often perceived as a rather elitist sport of little value to those who do not play the game. I believe that to a great degree these opinions are unwarranted. But, to continue to look inward and in essence isolate themselves from those who don’t play the game is a huge mistake.

Golf must transition away from a defensive position and toward a proactive one. And, I’m not talking about proactively defending golf either. I am talking about proactively fostering sustainability and sustainable communities. To develop programs and approaches that will clearly demonstrate that those who manage golf courses really do care about things beyond hitting and chasing a little white ball around a manicured turfgrass playground for the wealthy.

That means that golf must walk the walk of sustainability in regard to your business management, your landscape management, your resource management and your people management.

It means that leaders in golf management positions, must reach out to people in your communities from all walks of life and become friends and mentors and build relationships that will show beyond a shadow of a doubt that you care about your entire community and

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everyone who lives there. There are 10 generally accepted sustainable community goals. These goals should become a part of what every golf facility includes in their own internal management practices, but they should also comprise what every leader in golf and every golfer should be talking about and promoting within the communities in which they live, work and play.

ECONOMIC PROSPERITY Sustain a healthy economy that grows sufficiently to create meaningful jobs, reduce poverty, and provide the opportunity for a high quality of life for all in an increasingly competitive world.

HEALTH AND THE ENVIRONMENT Ensure that every person enjoys the benefits of clean air, clean water, and a healthy environment at home, at work, and at play and to foster individual commitment to personal, sustainable health and lifestyle choices.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES Ensure that everyone is afforded justice and has the opportunity to achieve economic, environmental, and social well‐being.

CONSERVATION OF NATURE Use, conserve, protect, and restore natural resources, land, air, water, and biodiversity in ways that help ensure long‐term social, economic, and environmental benefits for this and future generations.

STEWARDSHIP Create a widely held ethic of stewardship that strongly encourages individuals, institutions, and corporations to take full responsibility for the economic, environmental, and social consequences of their actions.

SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITIES Encourage people to work together to create healthy communities where natural and historic resources are conserved, jobs are available, sprawl is contained, neighborhoods are secure, education is lifelong, transportation and health care are accessible, and all citizens have opportunities to improve the quality of their lives and personal health.

CIVIC ENGAGEMENT Create full opportunity for citizens, businesses, and communities to participate in and influence the natural resource, environmental, and economic decisions that affect them.

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POPULATION & CONSUMPTION Move toward stabilization of population growth and balance the need of resource use and replenishment.

PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY Take a leadership role in the development and implementation of sustainable management practices, policies, standards of conduct, and trade that furthers the achievement of sustainability the will have local, regional, national and even international positive impacts.

EDUCATION Ensure that everyone has equal access to education and lifelong learning opportunities that will prepare them for meaningful work, a high quality of life, and an understanding of the need for personal commitment toward sustainability.

Environmental Opportunities for Golf Courses Golf facilities must also walk the walk of sustainability, not just talk the talk. Although the prevailing (and usually negative) environmental issues tend to capture public attention, there are also a variety of opportunities for golf courses to make positive contributions to environmental improvement. Golf facilities should not consider these topics simply things to do so that golf looks good, or even just to reduce risk. They should be accomplished in proactive ways, not just in defensive…”we are not as bad as you might think” ways. Course managers can and I believe should, become catalysts and mentors for others in the community to learn about and adopt similar best management practices where they live, work and play.

Golf courses, often with a reasonable investment and return, can:

 Enhance and protect wildlife and native habitats  Provide corridors that link to other natural areas  Filter pollutants, produce oxygen, hold soil  Filter wastewater  Enhance and protect wildlife and native habitats  Educate golfers and others about environmental stewardship practices  Build with sustainable designs and enhance community values

Golf Course development and management issues and practices are certainly important on a broad local level, and for the economic and wildlife value of the golf course itself, but some golf and environment issues are part of much larger problems. Appropriate development and management of golf courses can also hold the key to dealing with more regional, national, and even international environmental issues. For example, golf courses can make positive

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contributions to environmental concerns such as air quality (providing “open space” that potentially mitigates smog/ozone levels caused by pollution from industries, transportation, and energy production), water quality (potential mitigation of pollution inputs from urban, agricultural, and manufacturing sectors, and salt water intrusion into aquifers), freshwater resources (potential resources during period of drought, or natural disasters such as wildfires, and for agricultural and industrial needs), and biodiversity loss (providing and protecting native plant and wildlife habitat, and protection for endangered or threatened species, and habitat lost through urban/suburban development).

The Sustainable Golf Management Approach Sustainability issues—local, regional or global—are interconnected. Lack of connection to and care for the natural environment is pervasive in the United States and around the world. The fact of the matter is that turfgrass can’t be managed in isolation. In today’s complex world, it is necessary to create an integrated management approach that includes various goals and targeted audiences, and that incorporates economic and environmental approaches that are good for the business of golf, good for the beauty of golf, and good for people and wildlife.

Most golf course managers are familiar with, and practice to some degree, Integrated Pest Management. With greater understanding of environmental issues and with an eye toward public perception, and indeed responsibility to the community of which they are a part, individual course managers and the entire golf course industry should advocate, provide education and incentives for, and practice Sustainable Golf Management. The goal should be sustainable golf facilities, not merely keeping pests out of the turfgrass.

A sustainable golf facility is one that operates from the perspective of economic viability, environmental health, and social benefit. It is the balancing of these three elements, and their integration into any management approach, that will lead to a firm and productive future for the golf course industry. The Goal of sustainable golf management is to integrate planning, policies, and practices into day‐to‐day operations to bring about positive, productive, and healthy land management that benefits people, planet and profit. Connecting sustainable golf management to economic viability, environmental enhancement and social betterment will result in a more sustainable golf course and in the longer run a more successful golf industry.

Developing a Sustainable Golf Management Approach In order to develop and implement a Sustainable Golf Management approach for a golf course, it is important to understand the human and business management context for the facility being managed. There is no one‐size‐fits‐all “recipe” for Sustainable Golf Management of a golf course. However, there are some simple questions that course management can answer to

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begin the process of developing a Sustainable Golf Management system for the course. For example, basic information would include:

 Type of golf course  Golfers  Organizational structure  Local municipal and state regulations  Current green committee/club  Profit officers  Key staff  Budget  Playability & speed of play  Budget  Aesthetics– looking perfectly good

 Maintainability

 Plan for attracting new golfers and

non‐golfers

One of the biggest challenges for course managers who attempt to develop and implement from a sustainable management context is the interrelatedness of all living things and the environment, and the relationship of the financial realities of course management. That means that in addition to conducting “self assessments” it is important to share information with the golf course green committee or whoever the senior management of the facility might be.

These are the people who control the “purse strings” and without their knowledge and support, the best laid plan will not come to reality.

Every golf course facility exists as a small part of the complex and integrated natural systems on Earth. This is a key fact, and one that must be explained to those who ultimately control the management of a golf course. While many people may think that a golf course facility is just a place on which a game is played and where they go for enjoyment, future opportunities to enjoy the game rest squarely on the industry’s focus on thinking beyond the game itself. As environmental issues become a higher profile in the face of growing populations and related pressures on natural resources, and needs of society, golf will either be a part of the solution or cease to exist in many locations.

In order to think about and position a golf course in a larger context than “just a golf course,” it is important that information is gathered from beyond the golf course borders. Pertinent information would include such assessments as:

 Surrounding landscape (neighboring land uses, urban, suburban, rural characteristics, etc.)  Plant community type

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 

Watershed Ecological region

Surrounding Landscape Surrounding landscape makes a major difference in determining your environmental management approach. A course may be situated in a landscape closely surrounded by development, integrated into a more open landscape, or in a landscape that includes many land uses and where the landscape itself is fragmented. The surrounding landscape will determine what environmental management opportunities you have available to you and how you tailor your management approach.

Plant Community Types The native or indigenous plants of your area, including characteristic trees, shrubs, and non‐ woody plants are an important element in determining management practices. Plant communities define what types of habitats are on your golf course. Different plants require different maintenance practices and approaches. What you choose to include will impact both the diversity and the quantity of wildlife, and will have major implications for water use.

Watershed From a regional point of view, a common environmental management term is watershed. A watershed is the entire area of land that drains into a specific river or river system. Every golf course is part of a watershed. Every course manager should know the name of the watershed in which their course is located. Every course manager should know the location of the course within the watershed. Two other important questions should be addressed: 1) is the course near the beginning or “top” or near the outflow or “bottom” of the watershed, and 2) can the course show that the water coming onto the golf course is better, worse, or the same as the water flowing off the golf course property?

Everything is connected to water and water systems. Golf course turfgrass management can either be a benefit or a detriment to the surrounding landscape. Integrated Environmental Management and the documentation of actions taken and results achieved are critical to the future of golf course management. Golf course management impacts may be positive or negative, but will absolutely impact:

 Local water quality;  Local water quantity;  Surface runoff;  Plants and wildlife species that rely on local water supplies; and

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

Water recharge to groundwater.

Ecological Region No two golf course facilities are alike; therefore, no two golf course facilities should be managed in the same way. Golf courses need to be managed from an ecological region (eco‐ region) perspective. An eco‐region is a relatively large area of land or water that contains geographically distinct natural communities. Simply put, if a golf course exists in a tropical climate, as opposed to a desert environment, there are different plants, and different environmental, social, and economic realities that must be integrated to find the sustainable management approach that best fits that eco‐region. While the general management approach may be similar, the specific management practices will vary from region to region. It is within the eco‐regional approach that we must search for the place‐based answers in order to arrive at the correct, place‐base management practices.

Working Toward Resource‐Efficiency Resource‐Efficiency is a management strategy that emphasizes efficiency to reduce costs and improve the environment. The key to effective Integrated Environmental Management is resource‐efficiency. This means both economic efficiency as well as environmental efficiency.

Making efficient economic and environmental management decisions is the foundation upon which to build a sustainable golf course. The entire golf course industry should be based on that same foundation. Efficient, Sustainable Golf Facility Management strategies reduce costs and improve the environment in the face of increased scrutiny concerning how golf courses, turfgrass, and water are managed. Not only is efficiency the key to Sustainable Golf Facility Management, it is the key to the future of the industry.

How does one begin to work toward resource‐efficiency? As with many complex issues in life, it’s best to break the concept down into more manageable areas within which people can set realistic goals and action. In regard to golf courses, there are six key areas where actions should be focused to begin implementing an Integrated Environmental Management plan.

These include:

 Turfgrass: greens, tee areas, fairways, roughs  Maintenance facility & club amenity buildings  Irrigation system  Course landscaping  Water features  Non‐play natural areas

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Within each of these key areas there are various topics that need to be addressed, data gathered, and plans for future management strategies created. In addition, an information and communications strategy needs to be created and implemented, or managers run the high risk that plans will fail to become reality because of lack of support. There are various topics that should be addressed within each of the six areas.

Turfgrass  Golf/Club Concerns:  Playability, speed of play, aesthetics, consistency, maintainability  Financial, regulatory, functionality  Environmental Concerns:  Adverse effects of chemical use on water sources and non‐target wildlife species  Potential water and soil contamination from chemical storage and handling, hazardous waste disposal

 Resource‐Efficiency:  Efficiency and safety through IPM and BMP’s  Safe storage & handling, waste management, water quality management Maintenance Facility  Golf/Club Concern: financial, regulatory, functionality  Environmental Concern: potential water and soil contamination from chemical storage and handling, hazardous waste disposal  Resource‐Efficiency: safe Storage & handling, waste management, water quality management

Irrigation System  Golf/Club Concern: sufficient irrigation system and supply to ensure playability and aesthetics, financial  Environmental Concern: high water consumption  Resource‐efficiency: water conservation

Course Landscaping  Golf/Club Concern: aesthetics, maintainability  Environmental Concern: use of non‐native, exotic plants; highly manicured conditions  Resource‐Efficiency: nature conservation, Integrated Pest Management (IPM)

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Water Features  Golf Concern: playability, aesthetics, maintainability  Environmental Concern: potential water quality degradation or contamination, aquatic habitats  Resource‐Efficiency: water quality, wildlife habitat enhancement

Non‐Play Natural Areas  Golf/Club Concern: aesthetics, maintainability  Environmental Concern: need to protect local wildlife habitats and native plant communities  Resource‐Efficiency: wildlife habitat management, nature conservation

In addition to the key focus areas on golf courses, from an eco‐region perspective, wildlife and habitat conservation needs to be considered. As previously mentioned, some view golf courses as diminishing biological diversity. It is important to address this topic in a proactive manner, and to position golf courses as an important part of local and regional wildlife conservation management efforts being undertaken. Golf courses can provide “homes” for a wide variety of wildlife species, including threatened and endangered species. Golfers routinely report that they not only enjoy seeing wildlife on courses where they play the game; they consider wildlife and nature in general a historically significant part of the game.

Developing a Sustainable Golf Facility Management Plan Any Sustainable Golf Facility Management Plan should focus on several specific subject areas including, but not limited to:  wildlife and habitat management, aimed at biological diversity  efficient use of least toxic products, and reduction of potential liabilities  water conservation  water quality management  waste reduction, reuse and recycling  energy efficiency  education, outreach and involvement

The basic steps for assessing and planning for each subject area include environmental evaluation, environmental planning, implementation, and assessment and documentation.

More specifically, for each subject area, an Integrated Environmental Management Plan should include the following actions:

 Evaluate resources, strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats

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      

Develop a statement of purpose and determine management goals (Sustainability Charter) Determine the targeted resources (e.g., organizational, human, financial, natural, etc.) to be managed Choose interesting and engaging stewardship projects to implement Delegate responsibility and accountability Establish priorities and set a timeframe for starting and completing projects Evaluate progress toward goals and objectives on a yearly basis Train employees regarding the importance of sustainability performance and specific techniques for ensuring quality Regularly communicate with employees, stakeholders, and community members

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It cannot be emphasized enough that training and communication are critical for success. Once facts are gathered and plans are developed, they need to be effectively communicated in order to gather support from course management staff, as well as the individuals who will be involved in the implementation of the Sustainable Golf Facility Management strategies, and the end users of the golf course (golfer); and probably most important of all, the local community in which the golf course is located. This approach is designed to balance the demands of golf with our responsibility to the natural environment—that is, to safeguard the quality of the environment, and responsibly care for the water, land and wildlife habitats within which the course resides and upon which the course depends.

The Benefits of a Sustainable Golf Facility Management Plan There are many benefits to developing and implementing a Sustainable Golf Facility Management Plan. Such a plan will help to publicly address environmental, economic and social issues locally and regionally for golf courses. It provides a context, approach, and means of documentation that golf course managers can use to demonstrate their commitment to the environment and to economic and social issues. It allows golf course managers to visibly coordinate environmental management activities, illustrate how the various management strategies complement one another, pave the way for improved property management, and facilitate communication about environmental stewardship as well as the positive economic and social benefits contributed to the community in which the golf course is located. In addition it helps set goals and objectives, and provides a means to evaluate progress of course management over time. Finally, and most importantly to golf course managers themselves, an organized approach to sustainable golf management simply makes financial sense.

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References: The ISC-Audubon Sustainable Golf Facility Program, ISC-Audubon, 2012 Dodson, Ronald G. Sustainable Golf Courses, John Wiley & Sons, Inc. NY, 2005 Dodson, Ronald G., Managing Wildlife Habitat on Golf Courses, Ann Arbor Press MI, 2000 Harker, D, et.al. Landscape Restoration Handbook, CRC Press, FL, 1999 Love, William, R. Environmental Approach to Golf Course DevelopmentAmerican Society of Golf Course Architects, Chicago, IL, 2008

“A sustainable golf facility is an economically sound business that provides safe, healthy and enjoyable environments for all employees, members, visitors, and guests. A sustainable golf facility is sited, designed, and constructed in ways that enhance the local community, and reduce or eliminate its impact on natural resources.

It is managed in ways that provides balance between optimum playing conditions for golfers, and good stewardship of the natural environment. Management strategies are based upon scientifically sound site specific best practices that improve the quality of all life on the site, regionally, and beyond. Through outreach and education a sustainable golf facility is a champion and advocate of sustainability.”

ISC-Audubon Sustainable Golf Advisory Committee

Ronald G. Dodson www.thedodsongrp.com 1380 Indian Fields Road, #339 Feura Bush, New York 12067 518-859-5370 rdodson@thedodsongrp.com

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