It is a fact that golf courses have to be built and they have to be built fast given the increasing popularity of the sport across the world. On the other hand we are faced with the problems of land squeezes and the environmental degradation that we have been suffering in recent times. The construction of golf avenues and the environmental challenges facing communities combine to create a toxic mix that fuels all manner of conflicts. This came to a head when the infamous Donald Trump wanted to build a golf course in Scotland and encountered some of the stiffest resistance he has probably ever encountered in his illustrious career.
The business magnate won the battle but there is some doubt as to whether he won the war. For starters, he can quite frankly forget about good community relations for years to come. This example illustrates some of the challenges of developing golf within communities that are already under pressure.
Modernity can live with tradition
Although golf may not been viewed in terms of an ultra modern sport, it is also true to say that a lot of the paraphernalia that is associated with golf has modern connotations. The golf course will not just remain a piece of grass. It will be developed and landscaped to suit the needs of the players and fans. Restaurants and hotels will also be constructed to create the resultant catering business that is almost always associated with high profile sports.
These developments may not necessarily be a bad thing because they can bring economic development in the area and can be a tool for reducing unemployment levels. Likewise the environmental impact of such a large development cannot be denied. There is a whiff of rank hypocrisy from the government when on the one hand they insist that people switch off their lights to save the environment while the same government is granting licenses to rich businessmen to create large scale developments that are never carbon neutral.
The tensions that have arisen can form the basis of future solutions that protect the environment but also allow for the necessary construction of golfing facilities. This type of operation requires imaginative thinking by government and as we all know that is a very rare thing indeed. Rather the government is happy to pit the golf course owner against local communities and then arrive in the guise of the clear headed savior thus garnering even more votes or even more political enemies as the case may be. Construction is a necessary part of modern life and those idealists who want to completely ban the construction of golf courses might be on the path to delusion. However we are also aware that the failure to cater for sustainability is catastrophic. Fortunately modern technology allows for the development of construction models that are relatively sustainable thus giving heed to legitimate environmental concerns. The two concepts are not mutually exclusive and we can have a modern golf course that is embedded within the community without causing too much damage.
