Golf Courses = Ecocide

Golf course managers use agricultural chemicals to ensure the smooth, green carpet-like fairways and greens that golfers prefer. In general, golf courses use far less chemicals than similar areas of agricultural land. While many people are probably more at risk when they use chemicals in their home gardens than they are of having an acute toxic reaction on the golf course, that stuff they spray to provide you with a beautiful putting surface isn't particularly good for you.

Conservationists will give you numerous examples of how rural forests and mangroves are considered wastelands by city-based land developers and businesspeople. Their belief is that wilderness areas will be more productive, useful, and of course profitable, when converted into "useful" creations such as golf courses.

Worldwide, pristine nature is destroyed to make way for golf. Construction of a Malaysian golf course, for example, damaged coral reefs and mangrove forests. Taiwan and Thailand have allowed parts of rainforest-rich national parks to become golf courses. Even if rich habitats are not destroyed directly, the impact of sediment resulting from construction, road construction and other damage can severely damage natural habitats.

A group calling itself the Anarchist Golfing Association has claimed responsibility for sabotaging experimental grasses at a research company in Oregon that was developing a grass used on putting greens -- creeping bentgrass -- that has been genetically modified to resist the herbicide Glufosinate. The group was not against the new grass variety as much as it was against the idea that golf is perceived as an elitist activity. "The biotech industry usually hides behind the racist aura of 'feeding the Third World,' but as you can see, it is quite obvious that these crops are grown for profit and the pleasure of the rich and have no social value," the group wrote. Anti-globalisation protesters worldwide destroy genetically-modified crops - imagine what they could do if they saw golf courses as part of the same issue.

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NZ Open golf course damaged in duck cull protest

09.02.05 9.00am

Three golf greens at the Gulf Harbour Country Club have been vandalised on the eve of the New Zealand Open.

Gulf Harbour spokesman Peter Wall said in a statement that holes had been dug in three greens overnight.

Radio Sport reported today that the word 'murderers' had been sprayed onto the 11th, 12th and 13th greens.

Wall said all the damage had been repaired in time for today's Pro-Am tournament. The New Zealand Open tournament starts tomorrow.

Wall said he did not know who was responsible but had been in contact with local environmentalists after a tame duck was inadvertently shot in last week's authorised cull of paradise ducks that caused significant damage to the course.

"They assure us that they were definitely not involved. In fact they were very disappointed to hear about the damage, and told me they were satisfied with our amicable settlement last week," Wall said.

The club contacted the police who are investigating, and they will increase security throughout the rest of the tournament.

Tournament director Gus Seebeck told Radio Sport that besides holes being dug, petrol had also been drizzled across some of the greens.

He did not say what had been written.

"It's disappointing but nothing we can't fix, " Seebeck said.

"The first group in the pro-am teed off at 7am at the 10th and they were able to play the 11th soon afterwards."

Seebeck confirmed greenkeeping staff were still repairing the damage and the country club wanted to lay a trespassing complaint with the police.

Seebeck said it was likely the attack was linked to last week's duck culling, although there was no evidence to support it.

Last week about 18 of 30 paradise ducks at the course were culled, the birds were grass-eaters who destroyed expensive putting greens

During the cull a pet duck named Daphne was mistakenly killed, which Wall said at the time the club deeply regretted.

The club, hosting the $1.5 million event, would donate $2000 to long-time conservation group Supporters of Tiritiri Matangi as a gesture of goodwill, he said.

- NZPA

Vandals strike ahead of NZ Open

The New Zealand Open will go ahead despite three greens being vandalised on the eve of the tournament.

Holes were dug in the 11th, 12th and 13th greens at Gulf Harbour Country Club, and the word `murderers' was sprayed on one putting surface.

It is believed the incident relates to last week's authorised cull of Paradise ducks which damage to the course.

Club spokesman Peter Wall said: "It is very disappointing but our greens staff have repaired the damage."

Police are investigating and the club will increase security throughout the rest of the tournament.

Tournament director Gus Seebeck told New Zealand's Radio Sport that as well as holes being dug, petrol had also been drizzled across some of the greens.

Last week about 18 of the 30 Paradise ducks at the course were culled.

The club have donated $2,000 NZ to a conservation group as a gesture of goodwill.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/golf/4248621.stm

09/02/2005
XtraMSN
Vandals have caused damage to three greens at the Gulf Harbour Country Club ahead of the New Zealand Open starting on Thursday.

The vandals dug holes in three greens and wrote on one green.

Peter Wall from Gulf Harbour Country Club said he did not know who was responsible but had been in contact with local environmentalists after a tame duck was inadvertently shot in last week's authorised cull of paradise ducks that caused significant damage to the course.

"They assure us that they were definitely not involved. In fact they were very disappointed to hear about the damage, and told me they were satisfied with our amicable settlement last week," he said.

The club contacted the police who are investigating, and they will increase security throughout the rest of the tournament.

"It's very disappointing but our greens staff have repaired the damage and it won't have any effect on the tournament," said Mr Wall.

"We have a rare opportunity to show off New Zealand and the Whangaparaoa region to more than 200 million homes around the world this week, and this does not reflect well on us as a nation."