The folks who publlish The Green Chip Review newsletter spotted an interesting article on Economist.com about the changing look of some golf courses.
While many people recognize that having a golf course nearby can increase property values, a hidden cost of golf courses is their decidely 'un-green' ways. According to Beyond Pesticides, an enviornmental advocacy group that was quoted in the article, golf courses are the most chemically treated land areas in the United States, second only to fruit orchards in the amount of pesticides used.
Now, the PGA and USGA have put their heads together with Audubon International to create an environmental certification program for golf courses that pledge to conserve water, reduce pesticide use and create wildife conservation plans for the bulk of golf course land that is not actually used for play.
The Audobon Cooperative Sanctuary Program for Golf Courses enables particpating golf courses to improve community relations, enrich golfers' enjoyment of the game, reduce liablity, save money by reducing water, pesticide and fetilizer use, labor costs and equipment wear and tear, not to mention contributing to the conservation of the environment.
Posted by Dawn
