Green groups say Asian golf boom causing gloom

Green groups say Asian golf boom causing gloom

By P. Parameswaran

KUALA LUMPUR (AFP): Green groups recently launched a "No Golf
Year" as they intensified a campaign against Asia's golf course
boom which they say is disrupting water supplies, taking up
valuable farmland and causing health problems.

"Actions against the proliferation of golf courses have grown
and there are rising local protests against the social and
environmental fall-out of the golf boom in Asia," said Chee Yoke
Ling of the Asia-Pacific Peoples' Environment Network (APPEN).

The launch of No Golf year will mean the distribution of
information to the public throughout Asia on the adverse effects
of golf courses on people and the environment.

APPEN is a key coordinator of the Tokyo-based Global Anti-Golf
Movement (GAG'M) which launched the "No Golf Year" campaign to
drum up public opposition to the proliferation of golf courses in
the region.

APPEN, which is coordinated from the northern Malaysian state
of Penang, said the golf boom was powered mainly by space-starved
Japan.

Officials said Japanese investors had converted forests and
swamps around Asia into courses to meet the demands of the
country's 15 million golfers who travel the continent in pursuit
of their sport.

"Even as the golf industry in Japan continues to be ridden
with financial scandals, including exploitative membership
speculation and bribery, the business of golf is spreading
rapidly in China, Indochina and India," said GAG'M official Gen
Morita.

In southern China, forests and rice fields are making way for
24 new courses, representing an investment of more than US$500
million mostly from Japanese, Thai and Hong Kong investors, APPEN
officials said.

Public lobby

But Morita said a strong public lobby had led to the
cancellation of 720 golf course projects in Japan.

Toxic pollution and health problems caused by chemicals used
on golf courses had led to a moratorium on course construction in
many Japanese prefectures, he said.

APPEN officials said that in the southwestern Indian city of
Goa, a massive public campaign had led to the suspension of eight
proposed golf courses, while opposition was mounting against a
Jack Nicklaus-designed course near the city of Bangalore,
threatening an important watershed area.

Chee said Thailand's Irrigation Department recently said 13
golf courses were illegally diverting water from canals and
reservoirs reserved for agricultural purposes.

"A recent survey by (Thailand's) Bangkok Post (newspaper)
revealed that such unlawful practices continued despite the
irrigation department's warning of legal action against
culprits," Chee said.

Green groups say an 18-hole golf course requires about 500
tones of water daily, enough to supply 1,000 families.

SKEPHI, an Indonesian non-government organization network for
forest conservation, reported to APPEN that golf course
development in land-scarce Java had left many farmers landless
and with little or no compensation.

In South Korea, public protests had stopped or suspended
construction of 96 golf courses over the past few years, they
said.

"The good response from citizens' groups, environmental and
human rights organizations is becoming a thorn for the multi-
million dollar golf industry which thrives on images of a green
sport, success and glamour," Chee said.