The game of golf appears to be derived from ancient stick-and-ball games long played in western Europe. However, the first documented rules of golf were established in 1744, in Edinburgh, Scotland. Golf was first played in the United States in the 1770s, in Charleston, South Carolina. It was not until the 1880s, however, that the game began to become widely popular, and it has increasingly flourished since then. In 2002, there were about 16,000 golf courses in the United States, and thousands more in much of the rest of the world.

Golf is an excellent form of outdoor recreation. There are many health benefits of the game, associated with the relatively mild form of exercise and extensive walking that can be involved. However, the development and management of golf courses also results in environmental damage of various kinds. The damage associated with golf courses can engender intense local controversy...