Golf in the 21st century will be radically different from golf in the 20th century. The brown look will be in, the Augusta National look will be out. What Augusta National has done, despite a commendable effort to be environmentally friendly, is influence a whole generation of courses to be green. Golf is a game that is not supposed to be played on perfect courses. A visit to Scotland will show you that.
Education is the answer.
This means educating golfers and non-golfers alike. Kelly Durfee Cardoza, an articulate environmental consultant at the summit, related a discussion with a member of a local planning board. Daniel Botkin, professor of biology at George Mason University and president of the Center for the Study of the Environment, delivered the keynote address at the conference. Botkin imagined a golf course designed by 19th century writer and philosopher Henry David Thoreau of Walden Pond. It would have a lot of water holes on it.