"153 Golf Organisations unite to focus on sustainability as a core priority"
The International Golf Federation that spearheaded golf's return to the Olympics is broadening its scope by issuing a statement today announcing sustainability as its "core priority." You can read the statement in PDF form here.
"The future will present many challenged but the IGF and its member organizations are working to ensure that many more generations will enjoy golf and the facilities on which it is played."
A couple of screen grabs of the fine print:
We were doing so well until the last jargon dump of an item. Go on...
It's pretty exciting to read this kind of focus on the future and desire to shrink the footprint of golf courses. But this is all utter nonsense if the distance the ball travels is not reduced via some form of regulation. Otherwise, the game will continue to spend money on new tees, more rough, faster greens and bigger properties.
Geoff
**There was also apparently a USGA press release on this but I didn't get it. Cybergolf thankfully posted it.
The pertinent quotes...
"Sustainable management practices are critically important to the future of the game and need to be encouraged throughout the world," said USGA President Glen D. Nager.
"Here in the United States, sustainability principles have been embraced by the golf community for some time, but we can still do even more, especially in promoting solutions-based planning and management strategies. "Environmental and economic sustainability are central to the USGA's mission and are primary components of our long-term commitment to the game," Nager continued. "We have invested significant time and resources over many years to ensure that we are basing decisions and recommendations on sound scientific and economic principles that will foster the future health of the game."
"The future ramifications of a more proactive approach to sustainability will be far-reaching," said USGA Executive Director Mike Davis. "From the golf course operator who can more effectively allocate his maintenance budget, to the player who benefits from firm course conditions, every part of the game can benefit from this global industry-wide commitment."
Reader Comments (6)
We're lucky the USGA turned a blind eye towards golf ball distance, mowing 7,800 yards pays better than 6,800..;)
The perfect condition of US courses is disgustingly unsustainable.
It is not sustainable nad slightly daft to manicure 60 acres of fairways (which a pro golfer hits from about 14 shots per round.) And tees- why not mats on par 4s and 5s?
In fact if fairways were just closely mown rough and clean and place were allowed golf course maintenance would be halved (a guess) and therefore much more sustainable.