Is golf as green as it seems?

Image courtesy of Unsplash

Augusta is arguably the most beautiful golf course in the world. The vibrant greens, the array of azaleas, the wise trees surrounding the fairways. And of course Rae’s Creek, winding round the 11th, 12th and 13th holes that make up Amen Corner.

Each year players get to compete along this famous course, and fans (whether in Florida or at home) can marvel at how much care is taken to look after it.

But sometimes this care can actually take its toll on the environment. Any sports grounds that involve grass, for example - tennis courts, football pitches, or golf courses - need to be pristine, weed-free and cut to precision. And that can require pesticides, insecticides, and petrol-powered lawn mowers.

Having nature groomed to such beauty for the benefit of sport is remarkable. But if long-term it’s harming the planet that ultimately allows for these sports to be played, surely something needs to change?

Luckily for fans of The Masters, Augusta’s beauty is cared for with nature in mind. In an article from 2012, club-chairman Hootie Johnson explained how Augusta considers the environment.

Many of the trees and shrubs were planted in the 19th century - before the golf course existed - and are still watered and pruned by hand, limiting water waste and removing the reliability on machinery. The natural woodlands surrounding the course also provide a home to local wildlife.

The competition is held in time for the blossoming of the flowers, including the azaleas that give the 13th hole its name. Most of the holes are named after the plants that surround them, and the fact the tournament revolves around when they flower means less pesticides and fertilisers are needed.

The Masters also uses a SubAir system to draw water from the grounds and regulate the temperature of the soil, so play can continue when the weather isn’t quite so sunny. This has more benefits for the sport than for the environment, although reducing the possibility of waterlogged earth can keep plants healthy.

But it’s not just Augusta making a concerned effort to keep their greens green (pun not intended). The Golf Environment Organisation is a non-profit aiming to help the sport become more sustainable. Through their actions they are helping golf courses be more aware of the environment, and guide them to work in harmony with the planet.

The organisation - which is approved by Iseal Alliance and is among other certifications including Fairtrade, FSC and the Better Cotton Initiative - offer programmes for courses, developments and tournaments, with a GEO Certified stamp given to the latter if they comply with their standards.

That means showing a commitment to developing or maintaining sustainable actions and planning future improvements for the course or tournament. And with golf venues in over 70 countries signed up for GEO’s OnCourse, as well as The Ryder Cup and The Open working with GEO, the organisation is making waves within the sport.

The Masters may not be a GEO Certified tournament, but they are doing what they can to make it sustainable. A study from the Seattle Journal of Environmental Law looked into whether golf overall has a positive or negative impact on the planet, with conclusions that proved the former. Sewell explains the concerns and changes that have been made in golf over the last 20 years to improve its environmental footprint, with the actions creating significant steps towards a clean sport.

In Atlanta, Georgia is a course that is taking sustainability seriously thanks to Mark Hoban, who ensures the course at Rivermont Golf Club is maintained with an environmentally friendly conscience. The course looks rough, even dry in some places, but Hoban is allowing nature to control the course, rather than the other way around.

Sewell's research and Hoban's dedication is proof that small actions and efforts lead to notable change. And with all aspects of golf taking significant steps to reducing its environmental impact, it’s looking to have a bright, green future.