ABSTRACT
Are golf courses good or bad for the environment? This question was asked of a random sample of 300 people in London, UK. The answer given depended on whether the respondent played golf. Amongst golfers, the majority of people (80%) thought that courses were beneficial to the environment, but amongst non-players, more people (64%) thought that they were bad. The most common reason given for the latter answer was destruction of habitat and consequent loss of species.
The questionnaire showed that a study was needed to determine if golf courses can enhance local biodiversity. Four case studies are reported, in which birds and two insect groups (bumble bees and ground beetles) were surveyed on courses and their numbers compared with those in the adjacent habitat, from which the course had been created. Over sampling periods of about three months, both bees and beetles were more abundant and more speciose in the golf course habitat. Birds were also more abundant in one of the golf courses than on nearby set aside land, while in the fourth study, bird numbers on the golf course were equal to that of a natural grassland habitat. Furthermore, the diversity of bees, beetles and birds was higher in the golf course habitats.
Golf courses can enhance local biodiversity, if the habitat from which they are created is intensively managed, such as agricultural land. However, this may not necessarily be in a sustainable fashion and ecological reasons for these facts are discussed.
