Turning Up The Heat On Golf

Filed in archive Golf Business on January 9, 2009

Courtesy: Steve Garufi. Golf in the Future?

A couple of years ago, I wrote about the effects of global warming on the recreational golf industry in North America. My comments were based on a climate study done by leading scientists and meteorologists using computer models.

It painted a grim picture of drought and heat in the U.S. south and southwest and offered a staggering prediction that central Canada could see a year-round golf season by 2050.

Now comes further evidence of this possibility. The latest study focuses on global food production and how it will be impacted by increased heat up to the year 2100.

Substitute golf course maintenance for food production and this new study is terrifying in its predictions even though it's based on models and attempts to predict the next 90 years.

The story comes from the BBC's website and contains a simple video demonstrating increased heat during growing seasons around the world.

Golf courses, like crops, need water. Water, some futurists claim, is the new oil. And we know how many wars have been fought over the years to secure oil supplies.

Even if this report turns out to be only half-right, there could be enormous challenges in the future for golf. And not just in North America.