Background information on economics and environmental profile of the golf industry

August 31, 2014

With 16,000 golf courses spread throughout the U.S., the golf course industry impacts us in many ways. The articles below have been produced by researchers to measure the effect of golf courses on the economy, on the environment, and on the production of greenhouse gasses. Overall, the impact of the industry in all of these sectors is a positive one. See this video for more information.

The economics of the golf industry:

• Haydu, J.J., A.W. Hodges, C.R. Hall. 2008. Estimating the Economic Impact of the U.S. Golf Course Industry: Challenges and Solutions. HortSci. 43:759-763.
• Templeton, S.R., D. Zilberman, and M.S. Henry. 2010. Golf Courses in California as Modern Agricultural Enterprises, Agricultural and Resource Economics Update, Vol. 13, No. 3
• Templeton, S.R., M.S. Henry, J. Bihui and D. Zilberman. 2002. Economic Impacts of California’s Golf Course Facilities in 2000. Research Report RR-02-01, Department of Agricultural and Applied Economics, Clemson University and Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics, University of California, Berkeley.

The role of golf courses in counteracting global warming:

• Milesi, C., Running, S.W., Elvidge, C.D., Dietz, J.B., Tuttle, B.T., Nemani, R.R, 2005. Mapping and modeling the biogecochemical cycling of turf grasses in the United States. Environmental Management 36(3):426-438.
• Rufty, T, Rees, R. and N. Hamon, 2010. Carbon footprints of urban landscapes. Golf Course Industry, August 13, 2010.

Efforts taken by the golf course industry to improve environmental stewardship:

• Property profile and environmental stewardship of golf courses, 2007. The Environmental Institute for Golf.
• Water use and conservation practices on U.S. golf courses, 2008. The Environmental Institute for Golf.
• Nutrient use and management on U.S. golf courses, 2009. The Environmental Institute for Golf.
• Energy use and conservation practices, 2012. The Environmental Institute for Golf.
• Pesticide use on U.S. golf courses, 2012. The Environemntal Institute for Golf.

Golf - It’s not just a game: PACE Turf video