Study On Policy Of Golf Course Environmental Protection And Land-Use In China

The modern golf industry in China is now 20 years old. During this time, however, the concerns of golf course such as the impact on environment, the consumption of water and the usage of the land are becoming the focus of the environmentalists, public and media. There are severe controversies tit for tat. These arguments will somehow embarrass the policy-making and the development of the golf industry in China. Obviously, more investigations are needed for the solutions of these problems.Based on data collection, analyses, literature review and on-the-spot inspection, the investigation of the actuality of the environmental impact and the land-use of golf course in China, the comparisons of the policies in and out of China on the environmental protection and land-use of golf course are made in this article. It also puts forward some policy recommendations of guiding the development of construction and management on golf courses to enhance the harmony of golf development, environmental protection and proper land-use in China.THE MAIN CONCLUSIONS:1. Most scientific researches indicated that, under the condition of a proper maintenance and management, the construction and operation of the golf course will not results obvious negative impacts on the environment. In most cases, the construction of the golf course will improve the environment quality, which, however, needs the joint efforts of the government, the management agencies, the environmentalists and the golf industry itself.2. The survey on land-use showed that most of the already-built golf courses in China were constructed on the area close to river, seashore, barren mountain areas,- barren field and urban landscaping belts for buildings separation. The particularity of golf itself determines that the site for golf course construction does not need to engross the agricultural lands. On contraries, some hilly land, barren land and low-quality field may be better site choices of golf course construction.3.Compared with the developed countries, the regulations and policies on environmental protection of golf course are fragmentary in China, and the related policies do not match well. For example, the regulation of environmental impact assessment is not carried out well, and the application of pesticide and chemical fertilizer is lack of monitoring.4.On the aspect of the land-use policies for golf course, the relevant regulations and laws do not match well in China two. The laws and regulations on land-use for golf course construction in China nowadays are cagily and restrictive in China, often unreasonable and inflexible. The classification of land for agriculture value in China has not been completed yet, thus little technical support is available to constitute the policy about how to make the suitable site choice for golf course. China has a long way to go to catch up with the developed countries.POLICY RECOMMENDATIONS:On the aspect of environmental protection policies for golf course construction and maintenance, the rule of the environment impact assessment should be carried out more adequately, and it should beregarded as the most important way of the pollution control for golf course construction and operation. The related policies, such as protection of natural ecological system, restriction of water resources consumption, proper use of pesticide and chemical fertilizer, regular environmental monitoring should be constructed and brought in effect as well.As for the golf course land-use policies, China needs to speed the classification of land for agriculture value, which is helpful for golf course site selection. More related laws and regulations should be made to prevent the agricultural land loss from golf course development, to restrict the excess land-use for golf course construction and to make a difference between the land-use of golf course development and the relevant real estate development.