Global Carbon Reduction Demands Present Opportunities and Challenges for the Golf Industry
Golf as a New Growth Engine… Competitive Edge and Brand Differentiation Possible
Photo = Pixabay

Golf fever shows no signs of cooling down. Despite the less-than-ideal weather during the rainy season, golf courses across the country are bustling with visitors, making weekend tee times nearly impossible to reserve. Golf is no longer considered a luxury sport. According to statistics, over 5.7 million Koreans — more than 10% of the population — now enjoy rounds at the country’s 560+ golf courses, cementing its status as a mainstream sport.

At first glance, golf may appear to be an eco-friendly sport. However, in reality, it demands a considerable environmental toll. Few people consider a fairway full of lush green grass to be a significant source of carbon emissions — but that’s exactly what it is.

Research shows that constructing a golf course leads to the annual loss of carbon absorption equivalent to 36,000 tons of CO₂ per hectare. Furthermore, operating a golf course emits 227 tons of CO₂ per hectare each year. Over the past five years, more than 1.58 million trees have been cut down to build new courses in Korea, resulting in the loss of over 14,000 tons of annual carbon absorption capacity.

Trees can retain up to four times more moisture than turfgrass. Deforestation caused by golf course development removes this natural reservoir, heightening the risk of natural disasters like floods, landslides, and droughts.

Golf’s Hidden Environmental Footprint

Maintaining golf course turf requires 900 tons of groundwater per day — that’s 450,000 tons nationwide each day. The use of pesticides has doubled over the past decade. Additionally, the carbon footprint from millions of visitors’ vehicles, shower facilities, and HVAC systems is significant. While electric carts used on the course may seem like carbon-free vehicles, the electricity used to charge them mostly comes from fossil fuels. Given all this, can golf still be called an eco-friendly sport?

There are, however, efforts around the world to build more sustainable golf courses. The GEO Foundation, an international non-profit promoting sustainability in golf, runs various certification programs emphasizing environmental stewardship, efficient resource use, and harmony with nature. The UK’s R&A has launched the “Golf Course 2030” initiative, supporting research and innovation to address challenges such as climate change, limited resources, and stricter regulations.

Golf organizations participating in the UN’s “Sports for Climate Action Framework” are encouraged to set carbon reduction goals and implement climate strategies. The Sustainable Golf Index evaluates ESG performance across golf courses and organizations — assessing their efforts in environmental protection, social responsibility, and governance.

Singapore’s Sentosa: The World’s First Carbon-Neutral Golf Course

Individual courses are also making strides. Singapore’s Sentosa Golf Club is the world’s first carbon-neutral golf course. It uses renewable energy sources like solar power, handles recycling and waste sustainably, and promotes the use of manual carts. The club has reduced pesticide use by 95% and fertilizer use by 50%. A reservoir was built on-site to recycle water, reducing usage by 60%. Biochar is used to enhance soil quality and increase carbon absorption, while single-use plastic bottles are banned, eliminating over 150,000 plastic bottles annually.

Additionally, the course invests in carbon credits from peatland and national park projects in Indonesia to offset its emissions. Golfers are even asked before teeing off, “Would you like to play carbon-neutral golf today?” — encouraging donations to erase their carbon footprints.

Such initiatives — both from golf operators and voluntarily contributing golfers — remain nearly unimaginable in Korea’s current golf scene. As someone working to promote climate action, I can only admire these efforts from afar.

Environmental Action as a Business Opportunity

But are these decarbonization efforts merely challenges for golf businesses?

Not necessarily. According to a recent master’s thesis from Kyung Hee University on the effects of ESG activities in golf course companies on brand image and consumer intent, high-income men in their 40s who visited golf courses more than 21 times a year were surveyed. The majority said they would choose courses that make greater efforts toward carbon neutrality. In other words, environmental responsibility was the most influential factor in consumer choice.

In a highly competitive market, improving accessibility or redesigning the course may have physical limits, and relying on convenience or lower fees may not guarantee a competitive edge. Thus, proactively responding to inevitable ESG and carbon reduction demands is a smart, long-term investment for golf businesses.

Furthermore, golf courses connected to companies subject to ESG disclosure or funded by financial institutions affiliated with the SBTi (Science Based Targets initiative) must also prepare to meet relevant sustainability requirements.

Installing solar panels on parking lots or clubhouse roofs, using eco-friendly golf carts, recommending golf balls made from recycled plastic or natural materials, and encouraging voluntary carbon offset contributions from visitors are all effective approaches. The vast green spaces of golf courses could even help meet international biodiversity standards.

Carbon Reduction: A Turning Point for Golf

Global carbon reduction demands offer both significant challenges and opportunities for the golf industry. Although substantial investment and effort are required, if handled properly, this shift can become a new growth engine, a source of competitive advantage, and a means of brand differentiation. Golf courses could even become grassroots hubs for climate education, reaching millions of visitors. The time has come — the golf industry must embrace net zero.

By Park Hee-won, CEO of Net Zero Holdings

Park Hee-won is the CEO of Net Zero Holdings, a consultancy supporting carbon neutrality and RE100 strategies for corporations and local governments. He advises numerous municipalities, major enterprises, and SMEs and operates the Net Zero Academy for ESG practitioners. He holds a Ph.D. in Energy Resources Engineering from Seoul National University and contributes a regular column on grassroots ESG to the publication “ESG Economy.”