Golf estates, calm with entertainment farms, were liable a bit of a pasting by the responsible Minister of Agriculture and Land Affairs in South Africa recently.
Elitist resource guzzlers
Viewed as elitist and prodigal developments gobbling up both prime agricultural land and prized water recourses, the Minister would like to see a restriction placed on unit future golf estates.
Minister Lulu Xingwane is screwy at the recent decline in crop production at a time when the population is growing and the supply of food is matchless aloof rap session the demand.
A recent worldwide shortage of rice and the inability of neighbouring Zimbabwe to feed its people have tainted the spotlight fully onto diminishing food resources. This has, in turn, led to much finger - pointing both in South Africa and aboard.
No practical facts to back up the Ministers comments
Although there may be some credence to Xingwanes concern, no observed study has been conducted to ordain the advantages of commercial farming over either golf resorts or game farms and there are plenty of experts out there who believe quite the opposite regarding golf real estate.
There are several acts that effectively entrench environmental legislation, whether farm land, conservation areas or golf estates. So if golf developers have followed the letter of the law, there is no reason to assume they are resource guzzlers.
Legislation to protect land and resources
According to the Conservation of Agricultural Resources Act ( Act 43 of 1983 ), all natural agricultural resources are protected by law and this pertains to golf estate development as well. Included in the Act:
Soil conservation
Water conservation
Conservation of indigenous vegetation
Combat of weeds and invader plants
Sustainable irrigation, including the prevention or control of water logging, utilisation and protection of vleis, marshes, water courses and sources, and the regulation of the flow pattern of run - off water
Golf Estates benefit the land
Recent studies by golf gurus have indicated that as much as 70 % of the average golf course in South Africa is actually made up of the rough and other non - playing areas.
These areas have generally been fully rehabilitated by the developers with the water - sucking, invasive plant species making way for indigenous plants, trees and shrubs that form a pristine habitat full of all sorts of wild life.
The remaining 30 % may well be lost to the indigenous inhabitants but the golf course turf, with its dense root system, has plenty of benefits too. These include
Slowing surface water runoff that protects the topsoil from wind and water erosion
Holding up to 20 % more soil than traditional farmed crop land
Golf playgrounds created out of damaged land
Although there are no statistics concerning the use of land before it was zoned for golf development, many golf playgrounds have been constructed on landfill sites and areas severely damaged by mining.
The other area of concern is the massive amount of water used to irrigate golf courses. An estimated 10, 800, 000 litres of water are used per annum per golf course but the vast majority of them, particularly those found on the Garden route, use recycled sewage or even desalination plants to keep the greens and fairways in pristine condition.
Environmental impact studies a prerequisite
Every proposed golf estate has to undergo an environmental impact study that is scrutinised by the relevant authorities. It is therefore disingenuous to even suggest there is no control or regulation of golf estates in South Africa and that they are detrimental to agriculture in South Africa.
