The Small Ball Game

[scottycelt]

I concede that playing golf in England is considered to be a bit of a status symbol and is popular in business circles. In Scotland, it is as much a game for the masses and has little social significance. I don't know about the US or other parts of the world.

I've heard a few criticisms of various golf courses in my time, but having 'a terrible impact on the environment' is certainly one of the more remarkable and puzzling. My first-ever boyhood sighting of a water-vole was on a municipal course in the suburbs of a then very dirty city of Glasgow.

Not sure what all the facts are concerning the 'evil Trump' and his Golf project in Aberdeenshire, but I suspect plenty of those magnificent dunes will long outlive Donald J Trump and his dastardly plans for the area.

Furthermore, I feel certain that, through their local councils, the legendary canny folk of the area, will almost certainly have demanded a hefty monetary sum and positive outcome for themselves and their undeniably beautiful coastal region in return, and taking a purely objective view, I'd be rather more 'concerned' for DJT and the self-predicted financial success of his pet project. ,

[pilamenon]

I've heard a few criticisms of various golf courses in my time, but having 'a terrible impact on the environment' is certainly one of the more remarkable and puzzling.

It's actually not difficult to see why. Manicured greens and fairways, sand bunkers - these are not exactly natural habitats. Golf courses can look very attractive, but they are environmentally damaging, not least in the amount of watering involved in keeping them so green.

Despite that, I watched the last two rounds of the Masters avidly. That second shot out of the trees to the green in the play-off was a great moment. It's also a timing thing - live coverage fitting in perfectly with a cosy fire on two chilly Easter late evenings, whereas the Open is usually decided at a time of day and year when I'd rather be outside.

[MrGongGong]

I concede that playing golf in England is considered to be a bit of a status symbol and is popular in business circles. In Scotland, it is as much a game for the masses and has little social significance.

So you have never been to StAndrews then ?

[John Skelton]

Furthermore, I feel certain that, through their local councils, the legendary canny folk of the area, will almost certainly have demanded a hefty monetary sum and positive outcome for themselves and their undeniably beautiful coastal region in return, and taking a purely objective view, I'd be rather more 'concerned' for DJT and the self-predicted financial success of his pet project. ,

http://www.trippinguptrump.com/the-bunker

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotlan...tland-17194030

[scottycelt]

So you have never been to StAndrews then ?

Yes, many times, and the last time I was there (admittedly some years ago) I played the Old Course with an old friend and our social insignificance then and now is quite legendary ...

[MrGongGong]

Yes, many times, and the last time I was there (admittedly some years ago) I played the Old Course with an old friend and our social insignificance then and now is quite legendary ...

aaah yes indeed
So that's at least £70 a go then

(http://www.standrews.org.uk/Playing-...urse-info.aspx)

Truly a game "for the masses"

[scottycelt]

It's actually not difficult to see why. Manicured greens and fairways, sand bunkers - these are not exactly natural habitats. Golf courses can look very attractive, but they are environmentally damaging, not least in the amount of watering involved in keeping them so green.

So, by the same yardstick (no pun intended), most household gardens are therefore also environmentally damaging?

What would you suggest might be preferable in their place ... concrete slabs to support environmentally-friendly, petrol-guzzling cars, including possibly the even greater amount of water involved in keeping them so clean?

[scottycelt]

aaah yes indeed
So that's at least £70 a go then

(http://www.standrews.org.uk/Playing-...urse-info.aspx)

Truly a game "for the masses"

One doesn't have to play golf at St Andrews, you know, anymore than one has to play tennis at Wimbledon ... I don't know if you are aware but they are many municipal and much less expensive private courses (guests allowed) in Scotland where the golf masses can and do strut their stuff.

I happen to know that, as I used to be one of them, Mr GG ...

[pilamenon]

So, by the same yardstick (no pun intended), most household gardens are therefore also environmentally damaging?

Only those large gardens laid mainly to lawn, that regularly use herbicides to keep the weeds out and large amounts of water to keep them green. Most gardens support a far more diverse variety of plants than golf courses do.

What would you suggest might be preferable in their place ... concrete slabs to support environmentally-friendly, petrol-guzzling cars, including possibly the even greater amount of water involved in keeping them so clean?

Whatever was there before? I don't think many golf courses are built on ex-motorways or inner-city road systems.

[Richard Tarleton]

I've heard a few criticisms of various golf courses in my time, but having 'a terrible impact on the environment' is certainly one of the more remarkable and puzzling. My first-ever boyhood sighting of a water-vole was on a municipal course in the suburbs of a then very dirty city of Glasgow.

Not sure what all the facts are concerning the 'evil Trump' and his Golf project in Aberdeenshire, but I suspect plenty of those magnificent dunes will long outlive Donald J Trump and his dastardly plans for the area.

The environmental impacts of golf can be clearly seen in southern Spain where precious water resources are used, and water tables lowered, so that northern Europeans can play golf.

As for Trump - mobile sand dunes support a unique and (in UK terms) threatened ecosystem, in particular plants and invertebrates, that can only thrive in, er, mobile sand. Once it's gone, it's gone. Shame on the Scottish government for selling its environemtal heritage (and ignoring its advisers, SNH) for a mess of pottage.

Was it quite a wet golf course Scotty? Water voles were quite widespread 50 years ago so that's not altogether surprising. I note there is (or was) a locally distinct form of water vole in Argyll.