Over the last several years, I have heard the phrase “climate haven” increasingly used to describe communities or regions resistant to climate change. Several years ago, a professor at Tulane University, Jesse Keenan, developed the concept that cities could be “climate havens,” although he never used or coined the term.
The phrase most likely evolved from articles on the topic starting in 2018. Most cities identified as climate havens are centered around the Great Lakes region and are often considered nice places to live with moderate to stable climates. Increasingly, cities are marketing themselves as climate havens.
This is most likely in response to one-third of Americans citing climate change as a reason to move. Asheville, N.C., was identified as a climate haven before Hurricane Helene. The devastation caused by Helene in Asheville showed that climate change is often underestimated, and maybe more importantly, there is no safe haven from it.
For decades, golf course managers have often dealt with the impact of climate change in maintaining a golf course, whether the golf course lies in the path of ever-increasing intensity and frequency of hurricanes, tornadoes, fires or flooding or the impact of rising summer temperatures, drought or limited availability of water.
In past columns, I have written about climate change and the impact of associated weather events on golf course management. From water rights/restrictions and drought in the west to flooding in the south and eastern United States to fires in the north, to name a few.
To add to the list and not to exclude where I live, golf courses in central Ohio have faced a catastrophic event along with a prolonged period of stress. This past spring, we had a rash of tornadoes. One golf course north of Columbus had a tornado touch down, entering the course on one side of the property and exiting on the other.
The result was more than a thousand trees downed. For those who have experienced a tornado, the sound generated is something you will never forget — it’s like a locomotive bearing down on you.
Tornadoes have always been a concern in central Ohio. Still, the increasing number and length of time that a tornado remains on the ground is worrisome, with the frequency increasing yearly.
In response, Franklin County, which includes the city of Columbus, The Ohio State University and some of the country’s finest and most famous golf courses (I may be slightly prejudiced) has 198 outside tornado warning sirens. As a comparison, and given there can be other factors, the entire state of Oklahoma, which is located in “Tornado Alley,” has 182 (Tulsa has 80).
Transitioning from spring to summer in 2024, we experienced the third driest summer (measured from June 1 through Aug. 31). For reference, the driest summer on record was in 1933. The drought we faced this year has not been as frequent from year to year as in other places in the country, but one thing that has been consistent is the increasingly hotter summers.
As I reflect on 2024 and look forward to 2025, I can’t help but think about what challenges we will face. Whatever weather challenge presents itself, golf course managers will be up to it. Across all categories of golf courses, quality and playability improvements continue to be sustained and improved in the face of a changing climate. I saw that in 2024.
I base my observation on visiting, speaking and working with golf course managers in the United States for more than 40 years. Currently, I find the education, knowledge base, awareness and technology advancements in the industry at their highest point. Those traits are core to adapting to a changing environment.
I wish you a happy holiday. I can’t wait until 2025 to see the challenges golf course managers face and how they successfully address them.
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