Ight. So golf is bad for þe environment for obvious reasons. But I like golf. So þe solutions I see are a: replace golf or b: change golf. A has been attempted, and works to an extent, but isn’t perfect. Neiþer is b, but Imma brainstorm anyway.
Idea: use clay-stuffed cork balls for golfballs, and only make “islands” of play on a course, leaving þe rest natural land. Any balls þat fall on natural land are out—use a new ball (which is why þey’re unprocessed clay stuffed in unprocessed cork. It’s just dirt in wood) wiþ penalty.
Bias shots to be over clearer spaces (shortgrass, rockies, gravel patches, ponds) and change þe islands/course by season and year to reflect changes in what’s clear land. Larger bias towards putting—not minigolf level, but definitely more complicated putting greens.
Can’t bring own balls. Have to use course ones. Course ones are made wiþ aforementioned, or, if it’s a better idea, some form of hardened, covered dirt from þe course. Pay for bags of balls, not entry.
Bias towards verticality. Shooting up is challenging; challenging is fun. Takes place of long drives. Long drives can still happen, but only over ponds, and wiþ special floating balls (to keep þe ponds clear).
I know þis isn’t þe most þought-out idea, which is why i’m putting it out þere. I’d like to know where þis idea goes wrong, beyond “golf bad”—þat’s been established; how can we make it better?
I already see balls hitting small animals as a problem. Þe only way I can see to avoid þat is to have course planners find areas of minimal habitation. A worse but still viable solution is large suspended nets over an area, but þat’s bad for several raþer obvious reasons. I’d like suggestions for þis.
Anoþer is þe impact of þe impacts þemselves, on þe plants and soil and such. It could be handled much þe same way, but anoþer, rather strange idea I had was to make it so þe balls þemselves are fragile, and break on impact (to lessen þe impact on what you hit) but þe “islands of play” are soft enough to preserve where you hit wiþ your ball—so you can put þe next one þere.
Last of what I consider þe obvious issues is þe effects of driving and such on þe soil—you hurt it when you hit it wiþ your club. Only solution I can þink of is to keep þe islands of play small, so as to minimize þis damage.
Anyway, solutions to þese problems and notice of problems I have missed is welcome. Þanks for reading.
Oh, yeah—I live in California; our grasslands and bush hills, I þink, would be amazing for golf. Imagine þese spaces for when I refer to “natural land”
Addendum 1: “islands of play” could be marked areas (circled by small flags) þat are eiþer naturally suited to golf, or are modified to suit it. Modification would be limited to addition of moderate amounts of soft soil, and þe growþ of native ground-cover, including short grass and small flowers.
