There's no doubt the game of golf has changed over the last few decades. Just like anything, the rise of technology and sustainability concerns are creating new advantages and challenges. So how are courses, many of which are over a 100 years old, adapting to improvements in players' game and pressures to become more environmentally responsible?
The Ubyssey chatted with University Golf Club's (UGC) superintendent Phil Bunting for insight into the industry. He comes from a family of golf superintendents and began his journey at the UGC in 1985 as part of the construction crew, later transitioning to the grounds crew. Over time, he worked his way up to superintendent, which is a position he has held for the past 14 years.
“Golf in general, over the last 20 to 30 years has changed. People can hit the ball a lot further," said Bunting.
For context, in 1980, professional PGA Tour golfers averaged 256.89 yards on their drives. By 2000, they averaged 273.18 yards. The increase in distance was consistent with a change in driver material. In the ‘80s, persimmons and other wooden drivers were the most popular choice. These heavy and dense club heads produced less speed but more ball spin. Steel, metal, titanium and carbon products, which are more popular now, allow for more speed and forgiveness.
But the popularity of metal club heads over persimmon ones wasn’t evident until 1991 when Callaway introduced the Big Bertha Driver. It featured an oversized metal club head, the first of its kind, and became a long lasting trend for club manufacturers because of its larger clubface that remained stable at impact, allowing the player to make more mistakes.
Golf balls have also played a role in the increasing drive distances. Previously, golfers had to choose a ball that either maximized distance (solid-core) or maintained spin and control (wound-core) — sacrificing one often meant losing the other. But in 2000, Titleist released the Pro V1, and the first week it was available for tournament play, 47 players switched to the Pro V1. This ball was unique as it combined features of wound-core and solid-core balls, providing both ball control and distance. From 2000 to 2023, average distance on the PGA Tour increased 24.02 yards.
Beyond distance, technology is improving other areas of golfers' game. Tools such as launch monitors and swing analyzers offer detailed insights on swing, grip pressure, club path and ball launch, helping golfers to refine their technique.
While technology has drastically improved players' game, the environmental impact of golf can vary greatly depending on how courses are managed.
Golf has drawn concerns about the removal of forests or trees for courses, which not only previously absorbed carbon dioxide but also provided habitats for many animals. In addition, to maintain fairways and greens, courses use carbon-intensive fertilizers, petroleum mowers and have high water consumption rates.
Companies are adapting and looking to make the sport more environmentally friendly by creating courses and golf resorts that operate with no carbon footprint. This includes electric carts, battery-powered greenkeeping tools and vehicles and car charging ports in the parking lot.
At UGC, the transition from petroleum-fuelled equipment and utility vehicles to electric alternatives is well underway.
“Everybody's moving to electric vehicles. Golf is no different. We have two electric greens mowers, two electric [green] rollers, and two GTXs, which are trucksters,” Bunting said.
A study from Stockholm University suggested that golf courses hold significant potential to be designed and managed to promote critical ecosystem services, such as pollination and natural pest control. An average golf course only needs between 30–60 per cent of its area for tees, fairways and greens, while the other areas can be left to nature, including meadows and wildlife.
Bunting said the UGC is now actively working with golf course architects Lobb + Partners for their larger, much needed, renovation to modernize the course while keeping resource conservation a top priority.
“Our last renovation was done in the ‘80s, so things have changed a lot,” Bunting said. “A lot of courses now are trying to save resources. So [this includes] having a lot of areas that don't really need to be maintained as highly as what we've done in the past, saving inputs, just designing it better,” he said.
The next decade will be crucial in determining whether the industry can find the right balance, ensuring golf not only remains a challenging game for current players but also accessible and environmentally responsible for future generations.
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