How Bengaluru is trying to play golf ducking environmental concern bunkers

From the lush landscapes of Coorg and Malnad, to the plateaus of Bengaluru and Mysuru, what makes golfing in Karnataka exciting is the diversity of its courses and clubs. Karnataka offers breathtaking golfing possibilities. Visitors have a choice of a multitude of greens in Bengaluru and others sprawled all over the state.

The city boasts the oldest course in India, one of two within the city, a resort course, an hour’s drive away, and many courses within a few hours driving distance. The pièce de résistance is the pleasant weather which lets you enjoy as much golf as you want through the year. According to some reports, Bengaluru ranks as one of the best places to play golf.

Environmentalists and activists are not happy with the current spurt in the sprawling golf courses all over the state especially in Bengaluru for various reasons. 

From a pensioner’s pastime, golf has evolved into a game that is enthusiastically played by people of all ages. With the city’s burgeoning affluent class and golf loving expatriates, it is becoming increasingly popular. Golfers coming to Karnataka have much to cheer about. Across the state, in large towns and small, uphill down dale, there is green to suit the mood. For the amateur, there are plenty of coaching facilities on offer. For veterans, major and minor tournaments are held throughout the year. English cricket captain apart, our own Kapil Dev all walk the fairways with a passion that outstrips their profession. Manchester United legends like Paul Scholes and Ryan Giggs have also indulged in a healthy bout of golf here.

But environmentalists and activists are not happy with the current spurt in the sprawling golf courses all over the state especially in Bengaluru for various reasons. Explaining the negative impact of golfing on the environment, Bhargavi Rao, trustee, Environment Support Group, says, “Golf is perceived as elitist, exclusive by nature catering only to an affluent few. They take up a lot of space and use enormous amount of water for regular maintenance. Golf grounds can impact the drainage and affect the hydrological cycle of the region.”

Trees have also been cut down for the creation of terrain. The use of pesticides and fertilisers also affect local biodiversity. “The treated water used in golf courses could be diverted to the slums which have no access to water. By depriving the slum dwellers of water, they are denied the right to life and livelihood,” avers Rao.

Compared to any other sport, golf requires more land per player. “Due to the development of golf courses, natural habitats are destroyed and native species forced to leave their homes. This leads to soil erosion and water pollution due to the sediment runoff. Moreover, the turf grass used is not indigenous but imported and exotic which takes more water to sustain. The use of pesticides and chemicals will get into the water system and contaminate the groundwater and destroy the soil. Golf courses can cause negative impacts on the environment, such as degrading land, water, and air quality, disrupting natural cycles and processes, and threatening wildlife and plants,” says Ullaash Kumar, research associate at Eco-Watch.

Across golf courses, trees have also been cut down for the creation of terrain. The use of pesticides and fertilisers also affect local biodiversity. 

“But it is heartening to note that there are some golf courses like Bangalore Golf Club (BGC), which is known for its beautiful ecosystem and sustainable initiatives. The strategically located BGC established in 1876 is not only the oldest golf course but also the first to set up a treatment plant in 2001. This course has also an incredible collection of flora and fauna,” adds Kumar.

“A proud inheritance of sustainability, BGC is claimed to be one of the earliest architectural models to use recycled effluent water for irrigation of tees, fairways and greens. Its proud legacy of close to 150 years is a testimony to its important role as vital lung space to central Bengaluru. The Tertiary Treatment Plant works on a three-layer purification process and the cleaned water fills into the underground tanks into the facility. We are also using water from Cubbon Park. Our logo is inspired by a common sight at BGC – crows and kites playing with golf balls,” proudly claims Suni Vasanth, Captain, BGC.

“Golf courses have water treatment plant. Tertiary treatment is a waste water treatment process that uses chemical and physical methods to remove contaminants that secondary treatment can’t clean up. It is the final step in the wastewater treatment process, and is necessary to improve the quality of water before it is released into the environment. They get the waste water from all the malls, corporates and other sources, treat and use them. They also have water bodies and store rain water which accumulates and used,” says B. Ashok, (CEO & Founder, Wonderful Journeys), a hardcore golfing enthusiast.

Equally impressive is the Karnataka Golf Association’s course which is acclaimed to be one of the best, south of the Vindhyas. The undulating mounds in the middle of the fairways end in some of the country’s largest greens. “To irrigate the golf course effluent water supplied from BWSSB is used. Besides this, the club has its own dedicated supply line running from the treatment plant in Bellandur to the golf course. KGA also protects water resources, filters stormwater runoff and improves air quality. adds Ashok.

Contrary to the general perception around golf courses that they negatively impact water levels and extensive vegetation clearing, Prestige Golfshire undertook the mammoth task of successfully relocating 2,300 trees, creating 14 manmade lakes and various water bodies which enriched the habitat, attracting diverse wildlife and promoting bio-diversity. 6382 plants have been planted to date, further contributing to the area’s lush greenery and ecological balance. Encompassing a vast expanse of 297 acres, adorned with lush greenery, the club features 14 man-made lakes over 34 acres, parks over 18 acres, a golf course spanning 155 acres, all contributing to a total greenery.

Kodagu has as many as three pristine putting greens which have nostalgic links to the British colonial period. “Mercara Downs offer you an experience of playing on sand browns. It is a natural course, not man made and built with strong undulations along the fairways and greens as the layout uses the natural contours of the land. There is no water scarcity,” says KK Appanna, chief officer, Wilhelmsen, a golfing enthusiast who stops by to play a few rounds of golf whenever he is in his hometown.

Nestling at the foothills of the breathtaking Bababudangiri Range of the Western Ghats, in a lovely setting bordered by forests on one side, and a stream meandering through, the USP of the Chikmagalur Golf Club is its location. “The course is shaped like a horseshoe and has 5 man-made lakes that add to the beauty and challenge of the course which is surrounded by lush greenery,” proudly claims, N Vinay Kumar, Proprietor, TRAVELLINKS, Chikmagalur who practises his swing in this18-hole golf course.

“It has almost 14,000 trees, which provide shade and shelter to the golfers and shelters a variety of flora and fauna, that enhance the natural ambience of the course. You can see peacocks prancing and butterflies flitting around. With its numerous lakes, ponds and trees, it is an avian haven and a birdwatchers’ delight,” adds Kumar. Refuting the view that golf courses are negatively impacting water levels, Kumar says, “Besides borewells, the four to seven ponds and the perennial water supply due to rains ensure that there is no water scarcity. Rainwater is collected in the ponds. Used water is also recycled and diverted into the ponds,”

With sustainability initiatives becoming all important in the golf industry, Zion Hills Golf County in Kolar district has transformed from a Eucalyptus plantation to a diverse eco system with extensive ornamental tree planting. “In addition to these, there are also irrigation reservoirs, drainage containment and flood detention area. The ponds in the golf course help augment borewell supplies in the dry season. With an amazing variety of birds, including migratory birds, the tranquil environs are a paradise for birds and birdwatchers. It is a fantastic place to stay with zero pollution,” says Snigdha Goswami, a professional golfer who stays in the Golf County.