As golfers, we cherish the connection to the outdoors, the manicured greens, and the unique challenges each course presents. However, the very environment that defines our sport is undergoing significant shifts. Climate change is no longer a distant forecast but a present reality, forcing golf course managers, committees, and players alike to confront unprecedented challenges. From the erosion of historic links to the strain on water resources, the game we love is facing a new, formidable opponent. This isn’t just about maintaining playing conditions; it’s about ensuring the long-term viability and sustainability of golf itself.
The unfolding reality: Climate change on the fairways
The most dramatic impacts are perhaps felt along our coastlines. Scotland, the very cradle of golf, is witnessing its heritage threatened by rising sea levels and fiercer storms. Historic courses like Montrose Golf Links, with centuries of play etched into its landscape, are losing significant ground to coastal erosion – metres disappearing in a single year, far exceeding previous predictions. This isn’t an isolated incident; Fortrose & Rosemarkie has also suffered substantial land loss, and concerns loom over iconic venues like St. Andrews. The Royal and Ancient Golf Club (R&A) itself commissioned reports recognising the threat, acknowledging that dozens of Scottish coastal courses are already affected, with many more vulnerable. Similar stories echo from England’s Royal North Devon and Ireland’s Trump International Golf Links, where protective measures are becoming increasingly necessary, though often costly and sometimes controversial.
Beyond the coasts, inland courses face their own battles shaped by shifting weather patterns. Extreme rainfall events, sometimes described as ‘1,000-year floods’ like the one that devastated Greenbrier Resort in West Virginia, are becoming more frequent, leading to prolonged closures and costly repairs. Courses in low-lying areas, such as parts of East Anglia in the UK or flood-prone regions in Florida and Australia like Lynwood Country Club, are increasingly susceptible. Conversely, prolonged and intense droughts are plaguing other regions. California and Utah, for example, face severe water restrictions, putting immense pressure on golf courses which are significant water consumers. This necessitates a fundamental rethink of water usage, moving away from the expectation of wall-to-wall green.
Temperature fluctuations add another layer of complexity. In traditionally cooler climates, warmer temperatures are allowing invasive species like Bermudagrass to spread northwards, posing new maintenance challenges as seen in Ohio. Conversely, established cool-season grasses struggle to survive hotter summers, forcing courses like Hunter Ranch in California to undertake expensive conversions to more heat-tolerant varieties like Bermudagrass. We’re also seeing longer playing seasons in some areas, like the northeastern US, which might seem like a benefit but often comes coupled with these more extreme weather patterns. In colder regions like Iceland, increased freeze-thaw cycles are causing turf damage through ice formation (‘winter kill’) and erosion, adding further financial strain to course management.
Rethinking the green: Adapting management practices
Faced with these realities, the golf industry is actively seeking and implementing adaptive strategies. Water management is paramount. Many courses, particularly in arid regions like California, are investing heavily in innovative water conservation techniques. This includes upgrading to precision irrigation systems that deliver water more efficiently, utilizing sophisticated soil moisture monitoring, and exploring alternative water sources like recycled effluent water – a practice increasingly common but requiring careful management due to potential salinity issues. The selection of turfgrass is also critical, with a move towards drought-tolerant and salt-tolerant species like Seashore paspalum, successfully implemented at courses like the Ocean Course at Hammock Beach after hurricane damage.
The approach to turfgrass health and chemical use is also evolving. There’s a growing emphasis on Integrated Pest Management (IPM), which prioritizes biological controls and minimizes reliance on synthetic pesticides and fertilizers. Research bodies like the USGA Green Section and initiatives under The R&A’s Golf Course 2030 programme are driving the development of new grass cultivars that are naturally more resistant to pests, diseases, and environmental stresses like heat and drought. This shift is driven not only by environmental concerns but also by the understanding that climate change can affect chemical efficacy and increase the risk of runoff during intense rainfall.
Strategic adjustments to the course layout and maintenance regimes are becoming more common. Many clubs are reducing the total area of intensively managed turf, allowing out-of-play areas to naturalize. This not only saves water, chemicals, and labour but can also enhance biodiversity. Some describe this as a ‘strategic loss’ – consciously letting go of certain traditional aesthetic expectations to ensure long-term sustainability. Other innovations include building on-site reservoirs for rainwater harvesting, as seen at Woburn Golf Club, or embracing technology like renewable energy-powered robotic mowers, adopted by courses aiming to reduce their carbon footprint, such as Hirsala Golf in Finland.
Beyond maintenance: Golf’s role in the broader ecosystem
While often criticized for their environmental footprint, golf courses possess significant potential to contribute positively to the environment, especially in an era of habitat loss exacerbated by climate change. Managed thoughtfully, the extensive green spaces of golf courses can serve as vital wildlife sanctuaries and ecological corridors. Experts from organisations like the STRI Group highlight that golf courses can support greater biodiversity than intensively farmed agricultural land. By dedicating out-of-play areas to native plantings, wildflower meadows, wetlands, and woodland management, courses can become havens for birds, insects, and other wildlife.
The role of golf courses in the carbon cycle is also gaining attention. Healthy turfgrass and soils sequester significant amounts of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. However, maintenance practices involving fossil fuel-powered machinery, fertilizer production and application, and particularly the drainage of natural wetlands for course construction, contribute to greenhouse gas emissions. Initiatives like Iceland’s ‘Carbon Par’ project, aiming to measure the carbon status of all its courses, represent a move towards understanding and managing this balance. Responsible management, including protecting existing wetlands and exploring ‘blue carbon’ opportunities in coastal habitats, is crucial.
Industry-wide initiatives and certification programmes are vital in driving sustainable practices. The GEO Foundation for Sustainable Golf provides valuable frameworks and tools, such as their OnCourse software, helping clubs benchmark performance, identify improvements, and gain recognition for their environmental efforts. Similarly, programmes like the Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary Program for Golf Courses guide clubs in enhancing wildlife habitats and conserving resources. Collaboration between governing bodies like The R&A and IGF, course architects (ASGCA, EIGCA), greenkeeper associations (BIGGA, FEGGA), club managers (CMAA, CMAE), and national federations is essential for sharing best practices and fostering a culture of sustainability across the sport.
The necessary evolution: Embracing loss and transformation for golf’s future
Addressing the impact of climate change requires more than just incremental adjustments; it demands a willingness to embrace change, perhaps even loss. Research exploring the concept of ‘loss’ in the context of golf and climate change suggests we need to consider different types of adaptation. ‘Strategic loss’, like reducing maintained turf, is one aspect. But we must also confront the possibility of ‘permanent loss’, where courses, particularly vulnerable coastal ones, may ultimately succumb to the elements, forcing closure. While painful, these closures can open doors to ‘greener afterlives’, such as rewilding projects like the San Geronimo Commons in California or conversion to renewable energy sites.
Perhaps the most intriguing prospect lies in ‘transformational loss’, where golf survives but in fundamentally altered forms. This could involve partial course conversions integrating housing or parkland, a shift towards truly ‘ecological golf’ eschewing synthetic inputs entirely, or even rethinking the traditional 18-hole layout. Visionaries like architect Edwin Roald propose more flexible, integrated facilities combining golf with other activities and conservation efforts, potentially making the game more accessible and resilient. This requires open communication between club management and members, explaining why familiar landscapes might change and why investments in sustainability are crucial for the club’s future.
Ultimately, navigating the era of climate change compels us to reflect on the essence of golf. Is it the pursuit of perfectly uniform green surfaces year-round, or is it the strategic challenge, the camaraderie, and the engagement with a dynamic natural landscape? Accepting that courses may look and play differently – perhaps firmer, browner at times, with more diverse natural margins – might be necessary. The challenge lies in adapting intelligently, respecting the game’s heritage while embracing the innovations and ecological responsibilities required to ensure golf not only survives but thrives in the face of our planet’s changing climate. The game itself is changing, not just the courses it’s played on, and our willingness to evolve with it will define its future.