Author(s) :

Andrew Jia-de Ma.

Volume/Issue :

Abstract :

This paper examines how modern golf courses cause ecosystem disruption and environmental injustice. Intensive maintenance renders these landscapes heavy contributors to ecological degradation. Empirically, golf developments trigger severe habitat fragmentation, exemplified by clearing 100 acres (about 40 hectares) of forest at Cobbs Creek. Chemical management poses eco-toxicological threats, with pesticide application averaging seven pounds per acre annually, causing groundwater pesticide concentrations up to 780% above the regulatory limit in a modeled worst-case scenario. Resource exploitation is most acute in arid climates like California’s Coachella Valley and Los Cabos, Mexico, where the average U.S. golf course consumes up to 800,000 gallons of water daily and Coachella Valley courses alone account for about 18% of local water supplies. Crucially, a profound pattern of environmental injustice emerges: while affluent populations enjoy exclusive recreation, marginalized communities disproportionately bear the ecological burdens, facing restricted green space access and heightened health risks, including a 126% increase in the odds of developing Parkinson’s disease for nearby residents. This narrative review aims to synthesize evidence on the ecological and environmentaljustice impacts of modern golf courses and to evaluate policy and management solutions capable of reducing these harms. To mitigate these disparities, this paper evaluates progressive solutions, emphasizing stricter chemical regulations, transparency audits, and eco-centric remodeling such as the 50% water-reduction turf restoration executed at Pinehurst No. 2. Ultimately, it argues for transforming golf courses from resource-intensive symbols of exclusivity into models of sustainable, inclusive land use.