A view of Pebble Beach golf course, Hole 6, Monterey, California. (Photo by Isogood_patrick on Shutterstock)
In a nutshell
- Golf courses occupy more land than renewable energy installations in many developed nations, with the UK dedicating 0.49% of its total land to golf — more than its current solar and wind power infrastructure
- Converting just half of existing golf course areas to renewable energy in the top 10 golfing nations could generate enough power to meet or exceed their current clean energy production
- While not suggesting eliminating golf courses, the study shows we have more space for renewable energy than commonly thought; equivalent golf course areas could host up to 842 gigawatts of solar power or 659 gigawatts of wind power
JÜLICH, Germany — At a time when countries are racing to build more solar panels and wind turbines to fight climate change, a new study out of Germany reveals a striking fact: In many nations, golf courses take up more land than all their renewable energy projects combined.
The numbers tell an unexpected story. Around the world, there are about 38,400 golf courses. The United States leads with over 16,000 courses spread across the country. In the United Kingdom, golf courses occupy nearly half a percent of all land – more space than every solar panel and wind turbine in the nation. South Korea and Japan show similar patterns, with golf courses covering 0.42% and 0.37% of their land.
What makes these findings especially relevant is the growing challenge of finding suitable locations for clean energy projects. While communities often resist new solar and wind farms due to concerns about land use, golf courses illustrate a large land-use footprint that, if repurposed in part, could contribute to clean energy expansion.
The research team calculated what would happen if countries used portions of their golf course land for renewable energy. If they installed solar panels on just 25% to 75% of golf course areas in the ten countries with the most courses, they could generate between 281 and 842 gigawatts of power. For perspective, that’s enough electricity to exceed both current clean energy production and near-future goals in many of these nations.
Golf’s land footprint continues to grow. More than 500 new courses are being built or planned across 88 countries. The United States leads this expansion with 124 new courses in development, followed by Vietnam with 51 and the United Kingdom with 27.
Beyond just land use, traditional golf courses need substantial resources to operate. They require constant maintenance, large amounts of water, and regular chemical treatments to keep the grass in playing condition. In contrast, once installed, solar panels and wind turbines need minimal upkeep while producing clean electricity year after year.
However, some golf facilities are finding ways to become more environmentally friendly. Since the early 2000s, many courses have reduced their maintained grass areas and started using cleaner energy sources. Some are exploring creative solutions that combine recreation with renewable energy. In Japan, for example, a former golf course in the Hyogo Prefecture now hosts 260,000 solar panels, providing clean power to thousands of homes.
Wind power offers particularly interesting possibilities because turbines don’t need much ground space. Modern wind turbines can power thousands of homes while their bases occupy relatively small areas. This means wind power could potentially share space with golf courses — turbines could be placed in less-used areas while allowing play to continue on the main course.
The research shows that if the top golfing nations installed wind turbines on their course lands, they could add between 174 and 659 gigawatts of clean power capacity. Some countries could meet their clean energy goals for the next few years just by using a portion of their golf course areas.
Before worried golfers out there fear the research could impact their favorite sports, the researchers aren’t suggesting that courses should be replaced entirely with energy projects. Instead, their study highlights important questions about how we use land when facing climate change. While golf courses typically serve a limited number of people, often through exclusive memberships, renewable energy installations benefit entire communities by providing clean power.
“Our study does not advocate for the direct conversion of golf courses, but it highlights the vast potential for renewable energy on similarly large and underutilized areas,” says lead author Dr. Jann Weinand, Head of the Integrated Scenarios department at the Institute Jülich Systems Analysis at Forschungszentrum Jülich, in a statement. “In light of the ongoing debates about land use for renewables, it is crucial to consider how we allocate land overall—especially when significant space is dedicated to activities that benefit only a limited segment of the population.”
Looking toward the future, the United States would need about 5,000 to 9,000 square kilometers for wind power and 15,000 to 29,000 square kilometers for solar panels to run completely on clean electricity by 2035. While this is more land than golf courses currently use, it’s still much less than the roughly 105,000 square kilometers now used for oil and gas operations.
Some regions are already finding innovative solutions. In South Korea, indoor golf simulators have become popular, offering a space-efficient way to enjoy the sport. Other facilities are exploring mixed-use approaches, finding ways to generate clean energy while maintaining recreational opportunities.
As countries work to address climate change, they face crucial choices about how to use their land. The comparison with golf courses shows that space exists for clean energy development — it’s just a matter of priorities and creative thinking about how to use it best.
Paper Summary
Methodology
Researchers used OpenStreetMap data to identify and measure golf course locations worldwide, finding their dataset closely matched official figures with only minor variations in some countries. They employed specialized software called REFLOW (Renewable Energy Potentials Workflow Manager) to assess potential renewable energy capacity. For solar calculations, they considered three scenarios using 25%, 50%, and 75% coverage of golf course areas with photovoltaic panels. Wind energy potential was calculated using three different turbine spacing scenarios (500m, 1000m, and 1500m between turbines) with modern 5.5 MW turbines.
Results
The study found that golf courses occupy significant land area in many developed nations, often exceeding the space currently used for renewable energy installations. The top 10 golfing countries could potentially host 842 GW of solar capacity (at 75% coverage) or 659 GW of wind capacity (with minimal turbine spacing). These figures exceed current installed renewable capacity in most studied countries, except China.
Limitations
Some golf courses’ locations near urban areas would make them impractical for wind turbine installation. The study also acknowledges that actual planning would need to consider additional factors like minimum distances from residential areas and access to power infrastructure. The analysis focused solely on technical potential rather than economic or social feasibility.
Discussion and Takeaways
While not advocating for the elimination of golf courses, the research highlights important questions about land use priorities in an era of urgent climate action. The study suggests that hybrid solutions, such as partial solar coverage or strategic wind turbine placement, could allow golf and renewable energy to coexist. The findings also underscore broader questions about social equity in land use, given that golf courses often serve a limited demographic while renewable energy benefits the broader public.
Funding and Disclosures
The research was supported by the Helmholtz Association under their “Energy System Design” program. The authors disclosed using ChatGPT and DeepL for grammar checking and minor stylistic improvements, while maintaining full responsibility for the content.
Publication Information
Published in Environmental Research Communications (2025), the study “Countries across the world use more land for golf courses than wind or solar energy” was authored by Jann Michael Weinand, Tristan Pelser, Max Kleinebrahm, and Detlef Stolten from various German research institutions including Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH, RWTH Aachen University, and Karlsruhe Institute of Technology.
