Good to Know: Fairer Fairways

For some people, golf is tinged with eco-guilt. The 16,000-plus golf courses in the United States take up equivalent land area to Rhode Island and Delaware combined.

July/August 2005
By Misty McNally 
JA-05-021-06AGTK1.jpg
Image Gallery
The Sanctuary Golf Course in Scottsdale, Arizona, is certified by the Audubon International environmental leadership program.
Photo courtesy Suncor Golf
Article Tools
Print
Comments
RSS
Bookmark and Share

Each eighteen-holer, on average, drinks enough water for a town of 8,000 and is sprinkled with a dozen pounds of pesticides per acre (NationalGeographic.com). In add­ition, fairway mowing guzzles gasoline and creates fumes. The good news: Two groups are helping courses restore emphasis on the natural environment.

RELATED CONTENT

• Audubon International (AI; no relation to the Audubon Society): Offers voluntary golf course eco-certification, focusing on improving water conservation, promoting wildlife habitat, and reducing chemical use. Currently, 2 percent of U.S. courses are certified; 13 percent are members of AI’s cooperative sanctuary programs. (518) 767-9051; AudubonInternational.org/ programs/acss/golf.htm

• Environmental Institute for Golf (EIFG): This philanthropic offshoot of the Golf Course Superintendents Association is committed to astute course siting, design, and construction; energy ­conservation; and better water, wildlife, and plant management. (800) 472-7878; EIFG.org

A few golf courses are making the game better than “par for the course.”

• RAPTOR BAY GOLF CLUB; Bonita Springs, Florida
• SUMMER GROVE GOLF CLUB; Newnan, Georgia
• WIDOW’S WALK; Scituate, Massachusetts
• FOREST DUNES GOLF CLUB; Roscommon, Michigan
• SANCTUARY GOLF COURSE AT WESTWORLD; Scottsdale, Arizona
• CYPRESS RIDGE GOLF COURSE; Arroyo Grande, California
• DESERT WILLOW; Palm Desert, California

Bookmark and Share
RSS | Comments | E-mail | Print

Comments

Add Your Comment

You can use this comment form to enter your personal experiences or additional information and resources that you'd like to share with Natural Home readers. Your helpful advice will be posted on this page.  E-mail addresses are never displayed on comments, but they are required to confirm your comments.

Line breaks and paragraphs are automatically converted — no need to use <p> or <br> tags.

New to Natural Home Magazine?
Sign up to share comments.
Asterisks(*) indicate required fields.
Name*
Your name appears next to your comment.

E-mail Address*
This will be your login ID.

City State Zip Code

Password*


Confirm Password*

Comments
1500 character limit (Offensive materials and/or spam will be removed, no HTML allowed)
Please Note: Your sign-up must be verified via e-mail before your comment is published.
FEATURED ARTICLES
MOST POPULAR


Subscribe today and save 50%
First Name: *
 Last Name: *
Address: *
 City: *
State/Province: *
 Zip/Postal Code:*
Country:
 Email:*
(* indicates a required item)
Canadian subs: 1 year, (includes postage & GST). Foreign subs: 1 year, . U.S. funds.
Canadian Subscribers - Click Here
Non US and Canadian Subscribers - Click Here

Subscribe to Natural Home

Welcome to Natural Home, the authority on green lifestyle and design. With an up-to-date outlook on current trends in sustainable building and wholesome living, Natural Home gives today’s eco-conscious homeowners the information they need to live in nurturing, healthy homes. Subscribe to Natural Home today to get inspired on the art of living wisely and living well.

Save money and a few trees by paying with your credit card now. Take advantage of our earth-friendly automatic renewal savings plan. You’ll save an additional $4.95 and get six issues of Natural Home for just $15! (Offer valid only in the U.S.)

Or, choose Bill Me Later and pay just $19.95