Let me say right up front that the impacts of wildfires on golf comes well down the list of impacts from the increased incidence and severity of wildfires. The loss of life, property damage, sometimes encompassing entire communities, associated health issues, costs of firefighting and environmental damage associated with these is not to be minimalized or trivialized. And golf of course is only one of the outdoor activities affected.
But this is a golf forum, so here goes….This past summer was a particularly severe wildfire season across many parts of North America, and even into the Hawaiian Islands. Wildfire smoke was often very widespread, intense and inescapable across the continent. Where I play, Cedar Brae, closed for the better part of a day over potential health concerns for players and staff. There were also questions about whether the 2023 Canadian Open and the Rocky Mortgage Classic held in Detroit might be temporarily stopped due to wildfire smoke Detroit golf fans turn out despite poor air quality, smoke (usatoday.com)
Two years ago, the PGA Tour adopted an air-quality policy after smoke from California wildfires made it hard to see balls in flight at the Barracuda Championship near Tahoe. That’s when the AQI index threshold of 300 was established, allowing the tournament’s chief referee to suspend play when it stays above 300 for a sustained period.
These pictures of golf courses in smoke-infused haze are perfect for your next golf apocalypse movie | This is the Loop | GolfDigest.com
Beyond actual golf club closures, at the height of some of the worst intrusions of wildfire smoke this past season, public health agencies issued numerous warnings, recommending people stay indoors and avoid strenuous outdoor activities.
Experts are saying the number and severity of wildfires this past season is not an anomaly but rather just an indicator of a worsening situation. The Toronto Star is publishing a series of articles on the issue
So far, the impacts around the GTA have been largely negligible. Some annoying haze in the air – a bit of a sore throat one smoky day - I carted on another day with a health warning to avoid a bit of exertion on a hilly course, and my home course closed for a half day.
But what about the future if this continue to get worse, as predicted? More courses closed on really bad days? Tournaments cancelled, postponed or cut short? Increased risk of health issues from golf in heavy smoke periods - particularly among the more vulnerable? Might this become the norm? Are "smoke" alerts going to become as commonly unpredictable as "frost delays"?
Golf may be the least of our concerns under some of these scenarios.
But this is a golf forum, so here goes….This past summer was a particularly severe wildfire season across many parts of North America, and even into the Hawaiian Islands. Wildfire smoke was often very widespread, intense and inescapable across the continent. Where I play, Cedar Brae, closed for the better part of a day over potential health concerns for players and staff. There were also questions about whether the 2023 Canadian Open and the Rocky Mortgage Classic held in Detroit might be temporarily stopped due to wildfire smoke Detroit golf fans turn out despite poor air quality, smoke (usatoday.com)
Two years ago, the PGA Tour adopted an air-quality policy after smoke from California wildfires made it hard to see balls in flight at the Barracuda Championship near Tahoe. That’s when the AQI index threshold of 300 was established, allowing the tournament’s chief referee to suspend play when it stays above 300 for a sustained period.
These pictures of golf courses in smoke-infused haze are perfect for your next golf apocalypse movie | This is the Loop | GolfDigest.com
Beyond actual golf club closures, at the height of some of the worst intrusions of wildfire smoke this past season, public health agencies issued numerous warnings, recommending people stay indoors and avoid strenuous outdoor activities.
Experts are saying the number and severity of wildfires this past season is not an anomaly but rather just an indicator of a worsening situation. The Toronto Star is publishing a series of articles on the issue
Unfightable fires, wildfires that make their own weather and other terrifying trends scientists have observed
As the country comes to grips with what scientists say is a new normal, here are some things they’ve learned or observed in recent years that in some cases surprised even them.
As the country comes to grips with what scientists say is a new normal, here are some things they’ve learned or observed in recent years that in some cases surprised even them.
- [*=1]the scale and intensity of these fires is increasing at a rate that is unprecedented and was not expected to happen until 2050. [*=1]They are happening in places where they have not happened before [*=1]and many are so large and heat intensive that they are beyond management and suppression.
So far, the impacts around the GTA have been largely negligible. Some annoying haze in the air – a bit of a sore throat one smoky day - I carted on another day with a health warning to avoid a bit of exertion on a hilly course, and my home course closed for a half day.
But what about the future if this continue to get worse, as predicted? More courses closed on really bad days? Tournaments cancelled, postponed or cut short? Increased risk of health issues from golf in heavy smoke periods - particularly among the more vulnerable? Might this become the norm? Are "smoke" alerts going to become as commonly unpredictable as "frost delays"?
Golf may be the least of our concerns under some of these scenarios.
Comment