Benefits
While some lobby groups highlight potential problems with a new Golf Development many do not know of the positive aspects related to a new Golf Course.
Turfgrasses
Oxygen production. An average golf green produces enough oxygen for 127 people per day, an average nine hole golf course produces enough oxygen for 60,000 people per day and an 18 hole golf course produces enough oxygen for 120,000 people per day.
Temperature modification. On a block of eight average houses, front lawns have the cooling effect of about 70 tons of air conditioning.
Noise abatement. Turfgrass reduces noise by absorbing, deflecting, reflecting and refracting sounds.
Allergy control. Turfgrass helps control dust in addition to pollen from plants that can cause some individuals serious health consequences.
Glare reduction. Glare and light reflection can be hazardous and these are absorbed by turfgrass.
Pollutant absorption. Turfgrasses absorb gaseous pollutants from vehicles, such as carbon dioxide, and serve to combat global warming. Sulphur dioxides from Industrial pollution are also absorbed.
Particulate entrapment. Turfgrasses trap as much as an estimated 12 million tons of dust and dirt released annually into the atmosphere.
Reduced runoff. Water runoff is substantially reduced through maintained turfgrass thus assisting flood prevention.
Fire retardation. A buffer zone of turfgrass around structures or communities helps retard the spread of fires.
Trees
Reduction of wind. As well as dissipating some of the wind energy, trees deflect wind around and over themselves creating their own "field" of wind currents. Wind velocity is reduced and direction modified.
Rainfall. Trees affect orographical (local) rainfall to the extent that the height of the trees and the friction of the wind reducing the ground speed does increase the likelihood of precipitation.
Evaporation. Figures indicate that evaporation close to trees is about 40 per cent of that in the open.
Temperature. The range of temperature is decreased as trees, especially as windbreaks, reduce the maximum temperature and increase the minimum by up to a total of 4 to 5 degrees.
Soil moisture. The cumulative effect of windbreaks on rainfall, relative humidity and evaporation is an increase in soil moisture and retention.
Noise. Noise can be reduced by barriers of trees. They function by diffusing and absorbing sound rather than by reflecting it like a solid barrier. They cannot eliminate noise but reduce it.
Wildlife. Trees attract birds and other wildlife to the area as they act as a haven, thus retaining local wildlife.
Oxygen Production. Like turfgrasses trees act as major producers of oxygen and absorbers of pollution generated by local industry and motor vehicles.
Waterways & Lakes
Filters. Lakes act as filters for pollutants moving through the water table and soil. They act to help break down these pollutants and clean the water.
Wildlife. As a habitat for fish and as water supply for local wildlife.
Visual. Lakes and waterways provide the perfect backdrop to tree and turfgrass vistas.
Flood control. Lakes act as an overflow for floodwaters thus helping to minimise damage to the local environment.