ABSTRACT
This chapter critically examines the concept of sustainable development and its relevance to golf. The argument at the core of this chapter is that there is a need for a radical rethinking of how environmental and social sustainability are understood and acted upon by those working within the golf industry. The present-day status quo is such that golf is commonly depicted as a positive force in the quest for sustainable development. For example, and despite sustained criticism of golf’s potential impacts on plants, animals, and ecosystems in general, golf industry representatives commonly tout their leadership on environmental issues. Our analysis in this chapter critiques this present status quo – for instance, by highlighting cases whereby the economic dimension of sustainable development has seemingly overridden its environmental and social analogues. Furthermore, we look to the past in outlining the shifting significance of the concept of development in the context of golf, and look to the future in examining how a radical rethinking of sustainability in golf might eventually be achieved. Golf, we argue, is presently in a moment of flux; this presents an opportunity to move towards a deeper commitment to the social and environmental aspects of sustainable development.
