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https://www.barrons.com/articles/more-golf-courses-are-taking-an-eco-friendly-approach-01655242110
The game of golf and its host courses are perennially unpopular with environmentalists. Though golf developments keep an area green, climate change advocates argue that those nine and 18 hole tracts of putting green space potentially play havoc with a region’s water table.
But some companies are looking to make the sport more environmentally friendly by creating courses and golf resorts that operate with no carbon footprint.
The off-grid golf concept includes electric carts, battery-powered greenskeeping tools and vehicles, and ample car charging ports in the parking lot.
Eco-friendly courses also include installation of solar panels on a large scale for a private business. Companies such as Austin-based Entero Energy aid solar transitioning properties and communities looking for energy independence. The energy and solar plant development firm specializes in connecting with golf course facilities looking to embrace environmentalism while saving on utility bills.
Andrew Taft, director of projects for Entero, insists golf courses are always strong candidates for the zero carbon footprint effort.
“Courses can make that conversion to electric golf carts, grass mowers, and landscaping equipment,” Taft says. “It also helps that golf courses typically have space for solar panels, like the roof of the clubhouse, the cart barn, or large parking areas that can take on solar carports.”
Taft highlights that golf courses also use power during the day when solar creates more energy, making expensive battery storage less of a requirement. These golf tracks also make a good fit for the transition to green sources as patrons spend ample time playing their rounds and enjoying the 19th hole, allowing for easy electric car charging in course parking areas.
For many years, a complete solar transition of a golf course was a pipe dream. Current technology makes it possible now, especially as batteries become less expensive and make the entire process more economically viable.
“Our typical part of the solution at Entero is to provide the solar panel arrays that generate electricity,” Taft says. “However, we can also provide battery storage and EV charging stations. We’re leaving the choice to convert to electric golf carts, mowers and other equipment up to the courses themselves.”
While there are properties out there owned by operators looking to aid the environment, economics remains a driving force in any zero carbon transition.
“The cost and difficulties of changing over to green energy all depend on how much power the course uses and how much green energy the management decides it wants to install,” Taft says. “Courses with large club houses and bigger facilities use much more power and thus need to spend more. I would say investments range from US$200,000 to US$2 million, depending again on how much energy is used by the course and what energy offset the property management is looking to achieve.”
While it’s early days yet for green energy golf, Taft believes it’ll become more common as the engineering proliferates.
Atlanta-based Advance Golf Management specializes in transforming struggling courses and clubs into more modern and successful businesses. AGM executive Larry Galloway says the company oversees green power transitions for multiple properties across the U.S.
“We’ve installed solar at three of our facilities so far,” Galloways says. “Hamilton Mill Golf Club—a private club in northeast Atlanta market designed by Fred Couples —is one of the most prominent.”
AGM also installed similar systems at the semi-private Sky Creek Ranch Golf Club and the Bridlewood Golf Club, both in the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex.
“It made sense for us to put money into solar based on a lot of factors, but mainly because of our own long term view of our investments,” Galloway explains. “We want to reduce our paid energy consumption, and we only see this expense going up over the future years we intend to own these properties.”
Galloway added the company and its executives also enjoy contributing to environmentally responsible decisions.
“We think more businesses should prioritize this,” he says. “The tax write-offs in year one and two were also attractive as we sought to reduce our liabilities. I’d say 80% of this is about making a good long term business decision, and 20% is about doing the right thing environmentally.”
Depending on how a golf business views those tax credits, and how much energy it consumes, Galloway thinks a solar install ends up paying itself off in about 10 years. Still, he doesn’t foresee the solar trend spreading widely across the golf world soon.
“I don’t see all of our clubs doing this,” Galloway adds. “It’s a pretty expensive up-front investment, but it does make sense for our most profitable courses – including the ones that continue to increase their earnings over time.”
Back in Austin, Entero is trying to bring more courses onboard the green energy effort with its Carbon Free Golf Campaign—an “in beta” effort to help golf properties understand their excellent position for dramatically lowering their carbon footprint or going carbon free.
“The transition to green energy makes sense,” Taft says. “It will be good for the courses’ environment and bottom line—and we think golfers will appreciate it.”
The game of golf and its host courses are perennially unpopular with environmentalists.
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