“For a sustainable development of golf we must look for formulas which suitably combine the sensitivity to ecological processes, the development of an effective economy and the respect for the receiving society and culture”. This could be the main conclusion of the exhaustive study carried out by José Luis Paniza about around the practice of golf in Andalusia. According to this sociologist of the UGR, it is necessary to adapt this sport activity to the socioeconomic reality of each area.
In the social context, the political lines of the Spanish Golf Federation pleads for a democratization of golf, this is, for a popularization of the practice of golf. Manuel García Ferrando, a sociologist of the University of Valencia and supervisor of the thesis, together to Professor Margarita Latiesa, of the UGR, also maintain this position.
Both players and uninitiated stress the natural component of this sport in the more than 800 interviews done in Andalusia for this study. “Golf courses mean nature for them although, paradoxically, they are artificial, and more than half the uninitiated thinks that it preserves the environment”, points out Paniza, “but on the part of the public and private institutions related to golf there is scarce communication about the environmental achievements in the world of golf”.
An elitist practice
People still label golf elitist, as although golf is opening up to more population sectors, certain features –it needs time, the use of many elements to practice it, numerous rules, etc. are identified with those sports traditionally played by the upper classes.
More than half the interviewees see in these companies an excessive economic concern and little attention to the environment. However, according to Paniza, the environment efforts are considerable. “Many courses are being irrigated with recycled water, and water, fertilizers and pesticides consumption is considerably reducing”.
“In certain countries such as the United States, together to private and commercial courses, there are new management systems which provide users with economical golf. There are public, rustic and non-profit-making courses”, explains the sociologist of the UGR. However, it does not seem to be the Spanish case. This study, financed by the Department of Tourism and Sport, points out that Andalusia has more than 60 courses out of a total of 245 in Spain. According to the specialized consultancy Aymerich Consulting, to cover the current demand for golf in Andalusia it would be necessary the creation of 100 more courses, “although most of these courses will not be popular”, concludes Paniza.
Further information: Prof José Luis Paniza Prados. Department of Sociology.
Phone number: 958 246198.
E-mail: jpaniza@ugr.es
