It opened in 1931 and underwent a major renovation in 1997. Apparently, the water usage is sustainable (see below), but it still doesn’t excuse the fact, in my mind, that continuing to support the upkeep of a green-ass golf course at the edge of Death Valley shows how out-of-whack its patrons are with the changing climate.

“In an area as hot and dry as Death Valley, balancing water usage with conservation requires significant planning. Furnace Creek and its namesake resort exist in their location because natural spring water flows from nearby mountain ranges to create an oasis. By routing the water from one point to others, the resort’s goal is to use the same molecules of water for several purposes. The spring-fed water is first used at the Inn to irrigate gardens and supply the swimming pool which was designed with a flow-through system that minimizes chemical use. That water then continues downhill to the Ranch where it fills the ponds on the golf course, providing habitat for local and migratory wildlife. The water in the ponds then irrigates the golf course.” - How Xanterra’s Furnace Creek Resort is Sustainable, greenlodgingnews.com

  • radicalautonomy@lemmy.worldOP
    6846·
    2 months ago

    It doesn’t need to exist. It is a tourist location. That’s why this is here. People charter flights to fly out to there to see Death Valley and play golf at the lowest golf course on Earth. I’m not discontent with a golf course being there, more that people insist on going to see the hottest place in the world and the driest place in North America because there’s more to do that just say, “Hoo boy, sure is pretty and hot and pretty hot.” It just adds to an ever-worsening climate. And, I know…corporations, not people, are mostly responsible for climate change…I get it. But surely there are better uses for this runoff water than a golf course.

    • andyburke@fedia.io
      6834·
      2 months ago

      Guess everyone should just stay home until the whole world is bland and homogeneous but equitable.

      • yeahiknow3@lemmy.dbzer0.com
        264·
        2 months ago

        So to be clear, unless you’re playing golf at the hottest location on earth, you must stay home? Solid reasoning.

        • yeahiknow3@lemmy.dbzer0.com
          92·
          2 months ago

          Wow, you managed to both misinterpret his dumb comment and misrepresent the second law of thermodynamics all in less than one sentence.

      • radicalautonomy@lemmy.worldOP
        2925·
        2 months ago

        If the most reasonable way you can devise to have fun is to charter a flight to the desert and play golf, then I daresay you have a pitifully weak imagination.

        • Wolf314159
          713·
          2 months ago

          Not being able to empathize with people is a failure of your imagination, not theirs.

          • yeahiknow3@lemmy.dbzer0.com
            146·
            2 months ago

            Correct. I cannot imagine how installing an air conditioned compound with a swimming pool and a golf course in the middle of the desert could be anything other than ecologically disastrous. But then again, I tend to be skeptical of marketing claims — unlike you, apparently.

          • zbyte64@awful.systems
            3·
            2 months ago

            I’ll crap down anyone’s throat if it means my life is just a little bit more comfortable. Thank you for empathizing with my plight and arguing that a golf course is more important than public green spaces.

      • Duamerthrax@lemmy.world
        52·
        2 months ago

        Yes. Those first few months of covid showed what we could accomplish if people got their heads of out their asses. Problem is, people like smelling their own shit too much.

    • SchmidtGenetics@lemmy.world
      89·
      2 months ago

      Wouldn’t something like a botanical garden bring even a more diverse range of people therefore more of the issues you have with?

      If anything a golf course limits the people there while providing this oasis that’s far more protected.