Green Fairway – Science Poetry

Between red flags
and rough ground,
The echo of iron
Press the flesh of the earth,
Land Rest –
pause
Between the swings,
Amid applause
That disappeared.
Under neatly trimmed layers
Wait lightly,
Retreat as the sun
There is no location here,
It seems that the air can be still
Through the game design.
Above, in drift
Clouds and breezes,
Flying gathering –
Lift from these greens
Always
Carving new arcs
From idle turf,
Let the sky
Find its location.

The poem is inspired by recent research that found that countries such as the United States and the United Kingdom use more land on golf courses than wind or solar.

Land use plays a crucial role in deciding where renewable energy facilities are placed, often leading to debates about competition with other land needs. At the same time, a large amount of land is shelved for activities like golf, which is usually enjoyed by a relatively small population but has considerable environmental impact. This raises questions about whether current land use choices reflect pressing demands for climate change and transition to renewable energy.

The study highlights that in countries such as the United States and the United Kingdom, land is more dedicated to golf courses than renewable energy facilities. The study shows that the current reuse area for golf balls can support installation of up to 842 GW of solar and 659 GW of wind in the ten countries with the largest number of golf courses. In many countries, this potential outweighs both current renewable energy installations and future forecasts. These findings present a strong opportunity to reconsider land use priorities, which could accelerate the shift to renewable energy and contribute to a more sustainable future.