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And we should not do unnecessary things, even when they are fun, relatively healthy and practically without environmental consequences.
Are you talking about golf courses in water-poor areas (say, Arizona or Spain)? It is one thing to play golf in the Scottish highlands (marginal land for most uses other than grazing sheep) and a very different one to build (and maintain) a golf course where the natural terrain is not grassy.

Do our Constitutions protect the right to behave unsustainably?

When the capital development of a country becomes a by-product of the activities of a casino, the job is likely to be ill-done. — John M. Keynes

by Migeru (migeru at eurotrib dot com) on Thu May 8th, 2008 at 09:26:12 AM EST
[ Parent ]
Wales is rather rainy isn't it?

If really Spain or Arizona was meant I apologise for my overreaction, but it is not untypical for ET to accuse something as wasteful, which is not more wasteful than other things done, because it is overproportionally done by relatively rich people.

McCain/Palin 08
Because WE do NOT deserve an ethical, smart, integer, likeable, faithful, honest, loyal POTUS
Pain brings Katharsis

by Martin (weiser.mensch(at)googlemail.com) on Thu May 8th, 2008 at 09:44:48 AM EST
[ Parent ]
Is golf a game of the rich in Germany? It's only moderately so in Ireland, with public golf courses and so on.
by Colman (colman at eurotrib.com) on Thu May 8th, 2008 at 09:50:10 AM EST
[ Parent ]
Ireland is also naturally windy, grassy and wet.

When the capital development of a country becomes a by-product of the activities of a casino, the job is likely to be ill-done. — John M. Keynes
by Migeru (migeru at eurotrib dot com) on Thu May 8th, 2008 at 09:50:41 AM EST
[ Parent ]
Sure. Thought they have a bad habit of building fancy courses in scenic locations, which is a bit annoying. I don't think they need a whole lot of irrigation.
by Colman (colman at eurotrib.com) on Thu May 8th, 2008 at 09:51:57 AM EST
[ Parent ]
I just mean that the weather explains how you can afford to have public golf courses.

It's like grass football/rugby/cricket pitches: here in London they're everywhere. As are grass outdoors tennis courses. Every wondered why Wimbledon is played on grass while Roland Garros is played on dirt? At least regulation tennis can be played on dirt where the climate doesn't support it.

When the capital development of a country becomes a by-product of the activities of a casino, the job is likely to be ill-done. — John M. Keynes

by Migeru (migeru at eurotrib dot com) on Thu May 8th, 2008 at 10:00:07 AM EST
[ Parent ]
Yup, and I just checked and it appears that a lot of courses do use irrigation systems during drought conditions here. Which isn't all that often. Even in the nicest climates the short, smooth grass needs extra water.
by Colman (colman at eurotrib.com) on Thu May 8th, 2008 at 10:03:37 AM EST
[ Parent ]
a lot of courses do use irrigation systems during drought conditions

Thus exacerbating the drought conditions.

When the capital development of a country becomes a by-product of the activities of a casino, the job is likely to be ill-done. — John M. Keynes

by Migeru (migeru at eurotrib dot com) on Thu May 8th, 2008 at 10:09:10 AM EST
[ Parent ]
Don't know what water they're using: they could easily store a lot of it or use other untreated water sources.

Water shortages in Ireland are pretty much due to poor infrastructure investment - as of a few years ago Dublin was losing more water from its old water distribution system then was being used by households.

by Colman (colman at eurotrib.com) on Thu May 8th, 2008 at 10:15:08 AM EST
[ Parent ]
Water shortages in Ireland are pretty much due to poor infrastructure investment - as of a few years ago Dublin was losing more water from its old water distribution system then was being used by households.

Sounds like the situation in London, which leads to a situation where they have to impose hosepipe bans in the summer but at the same time the Victorian water mains are leaky and household water consumption is not metered but paid on a flat fee.

When the capital development of a country becomes a by-product of the activities of a casino, the job is likely to be ill-done. — John M. Keynes

by Migeru (migeru at eurotrib dot com) on Thu May 8th, 2008 at 10:22:22 AM EST
[ Parent ]
Why is grass needed for a golf course anyway? Just because they have lots of grass in Scotland, and so everybody thinks it's needed? Is there any real reason, other than aesthetics, for not having just bare soil (or even sand)?
by gk (g k quattro due due sette "at" gmail.com) on Thu May 8th, 2008 at 10:22:38 AM EST
[ Parent ]
I would bet it is a game of (relatively) rich German (and other Northern European) retirees in Spain.

When the capital development of a country becomes a by-product of the activities of a casino, the job is likely to be ill-done. — John M. Keynes
by Migeru (migeru at eurotrib dot com) on Thu May 8th, 2008 at 09:51:33 AM EST
[ Parent ]
I think so and certainly most people think so and therefore it probably is, simply because most people wouldn't go to a golf field, if they don't feel to be part of the upper class, even if using the field would be affordable.
I wasn't aware that this is not international given the different way golfers are used for promotion compared with a more normal sport like football.

McCain/Palin 08
Because WE do NOT deserve an ethical, smart, integer, likeable, faithful, honest, loyal POTUS
Pain brings Katharsis
by Martin (weiser.mensch(at)googlemail.com) on Thu May 8th, 2008 at 11:49:09 AM EST
[ Parent ]
Rich people are wasteful because they can afford to be, whether or not the community at large can afford them to be.

And, from a global point of view, you and I are rich and wasteful.

When the capital development of a country becomes a by-product of the activities of a casino, the job is likely to be ill-done. — John M. Keynes

by Migeru (migeru at eurotrib dot com) on Thu May 8th, 2008 at 09:55:14 AM EST
[ Parent ]

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