Environmentally friendly golf? This can't be! But it's happening right here in "river cities". Several golf courses in the Twin Cities area have been developed using sustainable concepts. These are "nature-centric" courses. Find out the names and locations of these courses. Learn about golf tees made from cornstarch and bio-degradable golf balls for water play made from rawhide from www.ecogolf.com. Enjoy Kim's eco-golf tips that you can use to improve your game and save our state's wildlife.

There are a growing number of golf courses that are being designed to minimize costs and minimize environmental impacts in the Twin Cities area as well as the rest of the country. In the US there are over 16,000 golf courses covering 1.5 million acres. Environmental impacts related to golfing include water run-off from pesticide and fertilizer use, impact on wildlife and native species and smog causing lawn mowers and golf carts.

Environmentally Friendly Golf Courses in the
Twin Cities Area:

Baker National Golf Course in Medina  www.hennepinparks.org/golf/baker/

Chaska Towne Course in Chaska  www.chaskamn.com/golfcourse/index.htm

Eagle Valley Golf Course in Woodbury   www.ci.woodbury.mn.us/parks/evgc.html

Loggers Trail Golf Course in Stillwater www.sawmillgc.com

Sawmill Golf Course in Stillwater    www.sawmillgc.com

Golf Tips

Walk the course instead of using a golf cart.

If you do use a golf cart, keep your cart on the designated path.

Urge your golf course to replace its carts with electric-powered ones, which greatly reduce both air pollution and noise pollution.

Carry your trash with you until a waste container is available.

Recycle glass, aluminum, and plastic on the golf course.

If your course doesn't have its own recycling program, urge them to start one.

Adhere to local rules that may restrict access to environmentally sensitive areas on a golf course.

Buy recyclable products (e.g., biodegradable golf tees).

Accept the natural limitations and variations of turfgrass plants growing in a natural environment. (e.g., brown patches, thinning, loss of color).

Be willing to play on brown grass during periods of low rainfall.

Patronize courses that are environmentally friendly.

Recognize that golf courses are managed land areas that should complement the natural environment.

Respect environmentally sensitive areas of the course.

Support golf course management decisions that protect or enhance the environment and encourage the development of environmental conservation plans.

Support maintenance practices that protect wildlife and natural habitat.

Encourage maintenance practices that promote the long-range health of the turf and support environmental objectives.

Such practices include aerification, reduced fertilization, limited play on sensitive turf areas, reduced watering, etc.

Commit to long-range conservation efforts (e.g. efficient water use, integrated pest management.