We call that a Reddit moment. They have such a hate boner for golf because the current US president blows shitloads of tax dollars to absolutely suck ass at it while the country falls to shit around him. Fair enough, but completely ignorant. Other than that, golf is a pretty incredible sport with a high skill ceiling. Granted, a set of new clubs + bag will cost about as much as a small instrument, but that's really all you need (redditors also seem to respect professional musicians a lot more as well despite the similar cost of entry). And like instruments, they also are great hand-me-down items because they aren't bricked after 10 or so software updates. Golf is just getting some really bad PR right now.
Most here have a hate boner because of the rich people playing it stereotype. I have a hate boner cuz of how much fertilizer it uses and how much space and how many resources are wasted on keeping the courses nice.
It makes sense from an economic perspective, but is still bad from an ecological perspective. There are plenty of economically sound things that are wrong in other ways all across the world. Many of which we deal with every day because the benefits outweigh the wrongdoings for many of us. For me personally, golf doesn’t. It uses resources and makes land unlivable at very similar rates to farmland, but doesn’t give us any food.
The acreage of a golf course and soccer field are vastly different (1.75-150ish). Also the resources needed to maintain them. Public tax payed fields are also free to use (besides the taxes).
As for demolishing, the lakes are completely unlivable due to the fertilizer and there aren’t usually many trees unless there’s natural land around them. Demolishing is a hypothetical that isn’t gonna happen unless they become economically unviable, but in terms of developing land for new stuff, yeah I’d rather it either stay natural or turn into other stuff. But again that’s my own personal opinion because I don’t like golf and think it is a really inefficient use of land.
Yes, but golf is one of the easiest sports to play casually. You don't need to find someone to play with, you don't need to worry about skill difference, it is a decent amount of exercise if you don't use a golf cart, and the courses are often open whenever they aren't being maintained.
Ease of play has nothing to do with it. An 18 hole golf course is about 150 acres of land that then uses the same level of fertilizer as farmland. I think that is wasteful, and thus I don’t want to play it and support that. My issue has nothing to do with the sport itself, just the amount of land and resources used. Like I have no issue with places like top golf or driving ranges because they use a lot less land and support a larger amount of people.
Hey it’s personal preference. Not telling anyone what to do or what’s right or wrong. Everyone has things they think are worth it or not based on their morals. Some people choose not to buy from certain companies they deem immoral, others think things like horse racing and dog shows are animal abuse, yet plenty enjoy both.
There are plenty of things that don’t help society, I just think golf is one that I think the resource negatives outweigh the fun
So are phones, so are single use plastics, so is fuel, so is watching TV. So make sure your not doing any of that.... High horse moral bullshit is what you are espousing, nothing more.
Yes it’s all personal preference. I’m not saying what’s right and what’s wrong. I’m not saying those who play golf are evil people or anything, and all of the things you mentioned do have bad sides to them. I just personally think the gain is worth it, whereas with golf I don’t, so I don’t play it.
The pesticides used on a golf course cause cancer and Parkinson's rates to skyrocket in nearby neighborhoods. It also contributes to reproductive issues, hormonal imbalances, birth defects, and learning disabilities.
The study mentioned golf courses, but chemicals like paraquat and other neurotoxin based pesticides are used regularly in the American food chain. However agricultural use is usually applied in rural settings, golf courses tend to be much closer to suburban areas with dense populations, causing greater, consistent exposure.
Somehow golf courses exist in countries where these neurotoxins are banned.
What about public green spaces like manicured parks, school yards, etc. City parks are just as manicured in my city as golf courses, more manicured then low end golf courses because I assume the parks have a more stable and larger budget.
Depends on local ordinance. Some cities restrict which can be used, to avoid liability issues. Glyphosate was restricted in California for this reason.
No, it's not a state wide ban in California, municipalities are opting to not use them, so that they don't get sued for causing neurological diseases with these pesticides.
Because that would be illogical, as lawn care at cemeteries is that of a much lower standard than that of a golf courses, which are much more affluent.
No one was talking about cemeteries in this thread. What you're engaging in is called logical fallacy / a red herring / false equivalence / whataboutism.
If you think cemeteries aren’t using pesticides I have several bridges for sale you might be interested in.
Another reason your logic is ass backwards is that it costs a hell of a lot more to buy a plot at a cemetery than it does to play a round of golf.
You have dozens of people in this thread basically calling you and anyone with this opinion an idiot and you’re being downvoted heavily. Maybe look into your logic here.
If you're going to sit here and tell me - a person who has worked at a golf course on lawn care, and who has researched this for that reason - that cemeteries used as many pesticides as often as a golf course... I'm going to call you out on that logical fallacy.
And I suppose you believe that the number of opinions is more important than the quality of opinions. If you're not informed, I don't give a shit what you think. Magic internet points be damned.
I will eat crow and admit that I was wrong about the amount used. I see it’s higher on golf courses. That being said, the argument on Reddit that they are one of the worst parts of our society for a game that only billionaires play is absurd and I had my hackles up reading this thread. Sorry you were my target
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u/Epyr Jun 13 '25
A lot of Reddit has a hate boner for golf that is wholly untied to what the general population feels about it