Quantifying marine debris associated with coastal golf courses

Area of Science:

• Environmental Science
• Marine Biology
• Plastic Pollution

Background:

• Terrestrial plastic debris poses a significant threat to marine ecosystems.
• Identifying and quantifying novel sources of marine pollution is crucial for effective environmental management.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify and quantify golf balls as a novel source of marine debris.
• To assess the potential for microplastic release from degrading golf balls.

Main Methods:

• Collection of golf balls from coastal environments near golf courses in Carmel, California.
• Quantification of recovered golf balls and estimation of total debris weight.
• Examination of golf ball decomposition patterns.

Main Results:

• Over 39,000 golf balls were collected in 75 separate collections.
• A total of over 50,000 golf balls, weighing approximately 2.5 tons, were retrieved through combined efforts.
• Golf ball degradation indicates potential for microplastic release into the marine environment.

Conclusions:

• Golf courses represent a significant, previously unrecognized source of marine plastic pollution.
• The degradation of golf balls raises concerns about microplastic contamination in coastal ecosystems.
• Findings support the development of targeted mitigation strategies for coastal golf courses worldwide.