What Impacts do Golf Courses Have on the Environment and the Economy?

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What Impacts do Golf Courses Have on the Environment and the Economy?

As long as the game of golf has existed there has been dispute amongst the environmentalists and economists of the world as to what effects of each side are making the largest impact on the world. While it is up to any individual to make that decision within their own mind, each side of the argument brings to the table many reasoning factors as to why their points are the ones to be put on a pedestal. When making the decision, it is crucial to consider all available information and assess the available facts. That being, not everything available is all fact and statistic based but more so emotional and opinion based. Therefore, it is important for individuals to critically evaluate the sources they use and consider the biases and perspectives of the authors before accepting information as truth. By doing so, we can avoid falling prey to misinformation and make informed decisions based on reliable sources. After the work of some extensive research one is able to find there are many, what you could go as far to say ass warriors for each side of the trenching battle. But where does it start? What are the origins of this extensive argument.

There is too much water being used on modern golf courses. At the beginning of every argument on this topic there is quintessential point made by the environmentalist party that is such, "Too much water is being used!". This phrase is a diving board used by this party to jump into the opening opinions. Where are they coming from to have this state of mind though? Well anyone who hasn't been under a rock for the past few years has seen that many part of the world are in a serious drought issue right now especially in the U.S. more specifically the southwest region. Water levels are the lowest they've been in decades, and this is an undeniable fact. Looking at examples like the Colorado river, you are able to make the conclusion that, yes, the levels are as low as media and governments have you believe. According to reporter, Anna Skinner, "The water levels in Lake Powell in Arizona have dropped by over 80 feet within the past decade."(Skinner, Anna) Through using examples like these the environmentalists are able to concur that the water levels are too low and that it is unnecessary to allow golf courses to use so much while being in a time where water is needed the most. Many believe that the water being used should be completely shut off and golf courses should be forced to allow the natural state of the grass to occur even if that means the death of the vegetation. While they believe this is the solution others believe this is outrageous and there are already sacrifices happening to combat the high water usage. Golf courses in the U.S. are regulated by the USGA (United States Golf Association). This association makes and enforces rules and regulations of courses throughout the country. One of those regulations is to oversee the amount of water being used at each course and specifically to ensure that there is no wasting or over using of water in unnecessary amounts. To go along with this they oversee every aspect of water in golf courses. Courses in certain climates, as many may not know, retain water for the cities they are built in. Through the use of small lakes within the courses they are actually able to help save water for cities and communities and not just use it. With this technique golf courses are able to backtrack on their uses by helping provide amounts of storage for water that would otherwise be going to waste.

Water usage is not the only factor to this situation that an uproar is made about. On the second hand while not argued as high of a problem still making an impact in the environment is pesticides. It is a well known fact that pesticides are used in golf courses to provide a steroid type high for the grass to grow in such a perfect matter to create lush beds of green playing ground for golfers. These pesticides play into the economic side of the story as well. It goes unmentioned however pesticides play a role as people who are paying for a round of golf want to be on the most possibly perfect grass they can. The pesticides provide that for them and bring in revenue to courses by attracting those paying golfers. Environmentalists will tend to ignore that side of things to make the point that pesticides shouldn't be used and are dangerous to everyone and the very ground it goes on. While this is not the most untrue statement there are definite arguments to it. As seen before with water regulation the USGA have their hands on this one. They regulate the pesticides being used and go to report that large amounts of money have been invested into practicing the safest possible usage of these pesticides. While some could admit that pesticides may not be the safest product out there others can claim the usage is justified through the gains made in an economic sense. Some may say, It's just the cost of doing business.

Golf courses around the country are providing other positives than just a cash flow. What many don't think about is that golf courses are actually homes and sanctuary to wildlife. From birds and fish to deer and alligators the is a plethora of animals that have found homes in wildlife. All the way from the smallest worm to endangered birds animals live at these courses and this is a positive that many environmentalists side with. For some of these animals courses are like an oasis where they find peace. Without these they would left fending for themselves in urban streets with no home and due to this we would lose large masses of our wildlife population. Not to mention the water being used and in cases held is helping the wildlife population in terms of our swimming friends. While some environmentalist will agree with this there is a turf war between their own as others that are less vouching for the animals go on to make their next opinion that the water that is being used is too expensive. Regardless of the idea that the water is helping the wild they bring it back to an economic point that the water must be too expensive. Some think the water is being paid for by courses and in turn costing money to the golfers and others think governments are paying for it while having the help of storing the water. Either way the answer is that yes, the water is being paid for and in some cases by the course but this does not change prices that dramatically for golfers. In other cases, for example places where courses help store water for cities. The city allows them to use a portion of the water they are storing which in turn lowers cost of everything as golfers are not paying for water usage and taxpayers are not paying more for the government to pay the courses for storage. Everything works as a teeter totter and both side of everything needs to be taken into careful consideration. Going back to the amount of water being used the cost of water s being regulated carefully as well by the USGA. In order to keep track of spending's the water usage is set to a budget by courses in allowance with the course regulations put in place. Along with the idea that water is being conserved it is also important to be mentioned that this set of rules goes as far to add money back to the economy by making deals to not need payment for water storage, just one more reason for the economists to have their cake and eat it too.

Speaking of the economists having their cake there are many economic pros that are being brought along to the table. Of course, starting this quest with the most obvious thing that an industry this size is jobs being created. It is hard to imagine the sheer size and impact the golf industry has. Golf has such an amassing from golf courses and all their employees to the very manufacturers of the golf clubs being used. Not only are the employees a plus but the millions and millions of golfers playing from week to week spending money are adding to the economy through providing courses and companies with a revenue that they must pay tax on that then is used for tax spending among the world governments. With anything like this is important to see facts and statistics behind it. A case study was done in 2016 by the Georgia State Golf Association. During this study a mound of research was done to provide all the statistics we can see now. Their research shows that as of 2016 the golf industry as a whole contributed an astonishing 84.1 billion dollars were driven directly into the economy. While this a simply amazing number, its not done yet. Playing the Robin to this Batman, the golf industry also is solely responsible for the contribution 1.89 million jobs worldwide. Most like to count out the golf industry trying to label it with bad omens without taking a look at anything else. However it's now visible that there are pros to everything that even many don't see. There are two different parties and while some of their ideas mix others don't. The two groups fighting this battle and they have there distinct characteristics.

For this particular argument there are the environmentalists and the economists. Starting with identifying our environmentalists one of the very first things to look at is what opinions they make on certain factors of the topic in play. First off, they tend to be the most worried about the different factors surrounding water and golf. From the cost of the water to the amount in use at these golf course. They tend to have strong feeling and lean towards the side of the fence that says, water being used on courses is waste and there are better ways for this water to be used or even saved. They like to see the amount of water and think it's a waste and too much of cost to support the amount being used. Some environmentalists even take their opinion as far to want golf courses shut down completely. While this is something that is hard to imagine as it would be such a large course of action, it is something they tend to feel strongly about. On the complete opposite end of the polarity there is economists. Digging deeper into these economists they commonly find ground on something that the other party tends to overlook. By seeing this certain thing they are fighting fire with fire, which is that animals are provided homes with golf courses in existence. By making this point the economists are able to provide a reasoning for their water usage that is different from just a revenue stand point. However, there are some flaws to everything and in this case that flaw is pesticides. There are many things that can be justified but the hardest of all is pesticide use. The claim can be made that pesticides generate profit by bringing in spending golfers but what about that justifies the fact that pesticides can cause cancer and other health effects. These effects can be seen in both the golfers on the course down to the animals that are consuming the pesticide grown vegetation in the courses. On the other hand, for some it is a simple action to overlook things in order to see the numbers. The idea of billions in revenue being generated is more than enough to persuade people to join this party's thoughts. It is certainly easy though to see the reasoning behind it. With that much money and all the jobs its obvious there are many people that rely on the golf industry to keep them afloat and allow them to have a job and make a living. Looking back on the thought of closing down golf courses completely in order to stop the use of water and pesticides doors open up with an explanation as t why that would cause hurt and in some cases do nothing at all.

Taking a look at the state of Arizona where golfing has a huge footprint and provides to the local and federal economy, where water levels are a huge problem. Would closing Arizona golf courses alleviate the water shortage. Days upon days of research could be done to follow up on this question but to save the time and sanity of many the short answer is no, but why? To answer that you'd find yourself looking towards the USGA once again. The amount of water actually being used on golf courses, and in this case, in Arizona, is much less than many are lead to believe. With that in mind even if hypothetically courses were closed the water wouldn't necessarily be returned to the community. There are amount of reclaimed water that have levels of chemical in them that are unjust for recycling into public use water. The golf courses provide a steady way to use that water and to do so safely. In other cases water wouldn't be used at all whether safe for public consumption or not as it would end up in canals and eventually have large amounts evaporated and never to be in use by Arizonans at all. The final piece to this puzzle is that the water is providing homes for many animals and the closure of courses would mean the water levels depleting from the lakes and the animals left in desperation and nowhere to go. With all that's been stated so far some may wonder is that all? Is there anything that could possibly be contributing to all this? The answer is yes and it comes in the form of fat cats.

According to Forbes Magazine, "A whopping 90% of Fortune 500 CEOs play golf, and 80% of executives say playing golf enables them to establish new business relationships.". It is difficult to even comprehend those numbers but its clear that through golf and these beautiful golf courses there are business deals being made. Deals that impact each and every persons lives whether they know about it or not. This is something that people from both parties can tend to lose in the midst of argument. Without golf would these business transactions ever happen? Transactions that in the past could have created some of the most important deals in our country's history could have come from the green fairways from courses around the world. Last and most certainly not least, everyone has traditions, whether being family game night or a Christmas caroling family traditions are what make people who they. Golf is a sport that is centuries old and enjoyed by millions worldwide. Weekend golfers to the religious 6 A.M golfers for many the sport is a tradition and whether an environmentalist or economist it is difficult to disagree with this fact and deny people their right to tradition to be able to shut down courses or make a battle over what's more important, The trees and grass or the revenue and jobs.

The debate between environmentalists and economics over which consequences of each side are having the greatest global influence has existed for as long as the game of golf has. Everyone has their own opinions like people have political opinions. Nobody is ahead to say what's right and wrong and differentiate left from right. All that can be done is look at the facts. A lot of water is being used, however not an outlandish amount that would be completely crazy to imagine. There are safe water use practices put in place with certain techniques being used to ensure the proper care and use of everything on the course. While pesticides are being used it will always be a battle of right and wrong whether the pros out weigh the cons but that is up to any individual to decide. Like the rest of the arguments presented it all up in the air for any single determination. Some may look at just water use and others may just see a home for animals. On the other hand there could some that have sympathy for the water usage but enjoy seeing the numbers over all else. Any way it can be taken the game a golf is huge part of history and holds many traditions for many people. With that it is up to any single mind to side with what they believe.

Works Cited

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