Can golf courses be built and maintained without threatening the environment?
Millions of dollars in research over the past two decades has been conducted on the impact of golf courses on the environment. The research results confirm that properly managed golf courses are environmental assets. Golf courses are tremendous economic assets, as well as vital greenspaces for communities. They employ hundreds of thousands of people, enhance local economies through tax revenues and tourism, and provide many ecological benefits. For example, golf courses help filter air pollutants and create fresh oxygen; they are excellent groundwater recharge sites; and most important, they are critical wildlife sanctuaries in urban and suburban areas. The golf industry made major gains in this area with the development of “The Environmental Principles for Golf Courses.” This joint, three-year project resulted in the development of guidelines for the siting, building and maintenance of golf courses. Nearly 20 allied associations such as GCSAA, USGA, Audubon International, Environmenta
