Both of those may not be a big concern, depending on the situation.
Land availability in North America is not really a concern; there’s a shit ton of land available. When cities expand and the golf course’s land value goes way up, the course tends to get sold off.
Water use also is a case of “it depends”. If the the course is using aquifer water, yes that’s a big problem. Many, if not most, don’t use aquifer water. In the wetter climates, most are using water pumped from rainwater fed holding ponds, or other lakes, rivers, etc on the property. Even in Arizona, most courses are using treated grey water, keeping them from contributing to any water shortages.
None of that is as concerning to me as the ecological disaster that is a golf course. It is equally detrimental to ecological systems as any other human development.
When cities expand and the golf course’s land value goes way up, the course tends to get sold off.
Do they? All the courses that I remember being on the edge of towns and cities just had the city grow around them as the increase in customers made up for the increased ownership costs.
And all the courses I remember being on the edge of towns and cities got sold as the land value became way higher than than the profit margin ever could be.
Both of those may not be a big concern, depending on the situation.
Land availability in North America is not really a concern; there’s a shit ton of land available. When cities expand and the golf course’s land value goes way up, the course tends to get sold off.
Water use also is a case of “it depends”. If the the course is using aquifer water, yes that’s a big problem. Many, if not most, don’t use aquifer water. In the wetter climates, most are using water pumped from rainwater fed holding ponds, or other lakes, rivers, etc on the property. Even in Arizona, most courses are using treated grey water, keeping them from contributing to any water shortages.
None of that is as concerning to me as the ecological disaster that is a golf course. It is equally detrimental to ecological systems as any other human development.
Do they? All the courses that I remember being on the edge of towns and cities just had the city grow around them as the increase in customers made up for the increased ownership costs.
And all the courses I remember being on the edge of towns and cities got sold as the land value became way higher than than the profit margin ever could be.
I do live in the central US where there is always more room, so maybe it doesn’t drive up the land costs enough.