Developing a golf course entails the clearing of vegetation, cutting forests and creating artificial landscapes, which lead to land erosion and block the soil s ability to retain water. Golf courses need 3,000 cubic meters of water per day, which is enough to meet the needs of 15,000 people. Golf courses also need large quantities of pesticides, fertilizers and herbicides, which groups such as Global Anti-Golf Movement say have caused health problems among golfers, workers an nearby residents. Anita Pleumarom, a Global Anti-Golf Movement Activist in Bangkok, said that golf course developers in Thailand use a variety of dangerous herbicides, including some containing toxic compounds found in Agent Orange. She has spoken with many golf course workers who have become sick with headaches and skin irritations as a result of their working with these chemicals.
Conflicts often occur between farmers and the golf industry.
Farmers have been forced to sell their land to golf course investors. Also, the fertile land used for farming becomes obsolete with the development of golf courses. The environmental damage varies and is worse in highland areas, where the ecosystem is fragile. In 1990-91, Thailand built an 18 hole country club in Springfield. While business started out slow, it has recently been picking up with bookings by groups from Spain, Sweden and Canada.