Golf courses all around the world have a bad rep for the harm they do to the environment. According to antigolf.org (yes, there’s actually a worldwide movement against golf), “these landscaped foreign systems create stress on local water supplies and soil, at the same time being highly vulnerable to disease and pest attacks.” But not all golf courses are guilty as charged—these three try to be as green as they possibly can (pun intended).
This 32-year-old golf course uses native vegetation as part of its landscape—around 22 hectares of the 50-hectare course comprises of natural vegetation, which is also home to both wildlife and fruit-bearing trees. You’ll even find an array of fruits and root crops for sale in the lobby. Plus, TAT Filipinas has been awarded the Custodians of the Environment Award, which recognizes sustainable golf courses in the Asia-Pacific region.
The Mines is a case of successful environmental restoration. In 1993, it was nothing but a barren mining wasteland thought to be beyond redevelopment. Today, the lush course is laid out through natural and jungle-bounded terrain, and natural elevation changes are made the most of to create challenging holes.
Our very own Marina Bay Golf Course boasts an environmentally sustainable design. Its ten ponds collect rain, which is in turn evenly distributed by interlinking pipes that provides a renewable source of water. The ponds serve as natural habitats for a variety of plant species, fishes, ducks and other wildlife. Moreover, the use of turf grass chemicals is minimized, and all green waste is recycled back into landscaped areas when needed.
Check out Khiri Travel, which has partnered with Business Golf Thailand to promote only eco-friendly golf courses, for more green fields to swing it around Asia. The golf courses they recommend (like Chiangmai Highlands Golf and Spa Resort, Springfield Royal Country Club and Thai Country Club) have proven track records of social and environmental responsibility. Email [email protected] for responsible golf itineraries.
