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The water wars have finally arrived. In America alone there are 14 states expected to face water shortages by the year 2050 as the underground aquifers that supply fresh water to countless communities continue to be sucked dry. The response to the very real threat of water shortages in America has been met with a lukewarm response and very little, if any, political acknowledgment. While the response has not been extraordinary, there have been some policy changes in parts of the country where water supply is most strained. For instance, in many states wasteful water practices like watering lawns has been restricted. While the watering of golf courses remains one of the most obviously wasteful uses of this natural resource, it too has been scaled back in some instances. But these policy changes are merely pennies in the bucket and America should take its water problems more seriously. One must only take a passing glance at the trickling creek that is now all that is left of the Colorado River to realize that something has gone seriously awry with our usage. By taking stock of water shortages across the world one could make an almost perfect correlation between the crises and civil unrest. The mismanagement of water resources in Syria, for example, has led to the devastation of farmlands, poverty, falling production level, and political violence. By ignoring our water problem, America is playing with fire. If golf courses seem like an easy target it is only because they require a staggering amount of resources to maintain. Additionally, golf courses use pesticides that can sometimes runoff of and effect local wildlife. However, these attractions can become friendlier to the environment by simply finding a solution to the problem of waste. There is no doubt that the sport of golf has the resiliency, tenacity, and flexibility to persist without the chemically maintained pastures and water guzzling landscapes that currently characterize the sport. There can be a "greener" golf, if only the sport was a little less green. Water practices can change, people can change, and golf courses can change. By using environmentally friendly products to feed the grass and watering only when necessary, course can lessen their negative effect and still maintain their beautiful landscape that attracts so many avid players. Designing golf courses different can also help the situation. Rather than installing high maintenance grass, designers can use more sustainable products that require less attention on a regular basis, therefore reducing the amount of natural resources they need to thrive. Are you traveling to the Florida panhandle? Golf courses in the area provide a great escape to enjoy the outdoors. To learn more about Bay Point Resort Golf Club, visit: http://www.baypointgolf.com.
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