How important is golf as a cash crop?

[killdeer43]

It's always fascinating to travel in the arid portions of the American West and see golf courses in the midst of deserts and, in this case, the dry shrub-steppe region of eastern Washington.

With the Columbia River in the hazy distance, the green of a golf course abuts sagebrush covered hills above Pateros, WA.

I'm not a golfer so I don't get it. But then, the list of things I don't get is lengthy. :rugby:

Just pondering,
Joe

 

[The Guilds of Grot]

Why, what did you want to do with all that water, drink it?

 

[davismanLV]

Just look what they did to Palm Springs!! It used to be a desert.... but now it's a humid range of course upon course upon course.....

The hand of man again...... sheesh! Kurt, where is that photo taken? Could be AZ, NV or CA?????

 

[Beat_Dominator]

We like our golf here in Arizona.


*edit* That looks a lot like Troon North in Scottsdale.

 

[Scratch]

Joe,
I don't understand either. They should replace the golf course with a city of concrete and asphalt...

:anonymous:

 

[chazmo]

they paved paradise....

 

[The Guilds of Grot]

We like our golf here in Arizona.


*edit* That looks a lot like Troon North in Scottsdale.

I borrowed the photo from the "interweb" but I believe it did say it was Scotsdale.

 

[killdeer43]

Joe,
I don't understand either. They should replace the golf course with a city of concrete and asphalt...

:anonymous:

What a great idea, Ken....NOT! :biggrin-new:

Joe

 

[FNG]

I don't understand squatting in the bushes all day to take a photo of a pidgeon either.

 

[walrus]

Actually, a golf course does help with employment in the local economy, etc. Taxes are paid on the property, tourists may be attracted (and golfers often spent more on food and drink), etc. And unlike "concrete", wildlife can still flourish there.

But - whether it is the best use of water in an arid climate is of course up to those residents who live there. The history of "water rights", especially out West is quite an interesting and sometimes sordid tale. Just study the history of the Colorado River!

The other thing that is an issue is the amount of chemicals put on the course - obviously not good for the environment.

I play golf occasionally, maybe 10 times a year. It is quite expensive, so there is definitely lots of money involved. Again, whether it is the best use of resources is a personal opinion.

walrus

 

[killdeer43]

I don't understand squatting in the bushes all day to take a photo of a pidgeon either.

Can't imagine who would do that.
But I did "squat in the bushes" for two hours waiting for this pigeon to show up at a water hole.

Javelina in west Texas

This one and two dozen of his family members surrounded me for a real thrill of a stakeout. :biggrin-new:

Fore!
Joe

 

[chazmo]

Wow, what the heck is a javelina?!?! Never seen one of those Joe! Kyooll!

 

[walrus]

Me either! Some variation of the boar family?

walrus

 

[killdeer43]

Here you go!

http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/landwater/land/habitats/trans_pecos/big_game/javelina/

They're pretty cool when they show up late in the evening while you're "squatting in the bushes" waiting for a pigeon! :biggrin-new:

Joe

 

[Scratch]

They are real pests and like deer, their numbers are out of control in the state. Javelina's (wild hogs/wild boars) travel in large groups and ravage farm fields as well as lush lawns where they dig for roots.

Not real easy to bring down. Double skulls leave only a well aimed shot between the eyes or heart/lungs as the most viable large caliber targets. Once roasted, we call them pulled pork...

 

[killdeer43]

Once roasted, we call them pulled pork...

Ah Ken, always with the recipes! Oy!
What time is dinner? I'll bring the beer!:biggrin-new:

Joe

 

[griehund]

My brother lives in Tucson in one of those "senior communities" that's the size of a small city. There are three golf courses on the property and one fee gets him membership in all of them. I'm kind of ambivalent about playing out there. What we call woods, they call desert. If/when you hit a ball into the "desert" you don't bother to look for it unless you're armed with a club, or a gun. There's rattlers in the cactus.
The whole golf industry is suffering right now because it is becoming a rich man's pastime. We just had our 13th annual tournament and the course owner said that the days of the "walk on" golfer is gone. In order for an average course to survive they need tournaments and other special events. One local course just closed and transformed into a solar farm.

 

[Scratch]

Ah Ken, always with the recipes! Oy!
What time is dinner? I'll bring the beer!:biggrin-new:

Joe

Need to go shoot one, Joe then I'll slow pit-roast it until you get here with the Corona... Sourdough buns, onions, jalapenos, then topped with home made slaw and Texas BBQ sauce. It doesn't get any better than that! Now where's that pig... I'm hungry!!

 

[killdeer43]

Now where's that pig... I'm hungry!!

Sooooooeeeeeeeeey!! :biggrin-new:

Joe

 

[dapmdave]

Actually, a golf course does help with employment in the local economy, etc. Taxes are paid on the property, tourists may be attracted (and golfers often spent more on food and drink), etc. And unlike "concrete", wildlife can still flourish there.

But - whether it is the best use of water in an arid climate is of course up to those residents who live there. The history of "water rights", especially out West is quite an interesting and sometimes sordid tale. Just study the history of the Colorado River!

The other thing that is an issue is the amount of chemicals put on the course - obviously not good for the environment.

I play golf occasionally, maybe 10 times a year. It is quite expensive, so there is definitely lots of money involved. Again, whether it is the best use of resources is a personal opinion.

walrus

Down here, of course, golf is huge. No water issues, and prices are reasonable (at least in my area) where we can play a round, with cart and lunch for $25-$30 this time of year. Double that, usually, in winter.

Really not a bad deal for 4 hours of fun with friends and family. And it's usually followed by beer. What's not to like?