Is this Green Golf?

Golf can be a great sport and in many ways it is a green sport. The golfer plays outside in fresh air on grassy acreages. Some would say however that the use of pesticides, herbicides, carbon monoxide from mowers and all types of things keep this from being a green sport.

Several years ago golf went virtual. Yes, I can remember in the 1980s in New England playing virtual golf in the winter at a local golfers warehouse. There was a screen with the golf course projected on it. You hit the ball into the screen and the system projected where the shot would land. One of the fun parts was being able to hit the ball through trees! If the ball went into the water or out of bounds you did receive a penalty and the rest of the rules of golf applied (as much as they could). There was a small area to putt and you manually entered the putts into the system (on your honor or the watchful eye of your opponent).

It seems virtual golf is making the rounds again but for a different reason than weather. Money. In South Korea, golf is very expensive and the local golf courses are always full. Virtual golf gives those who want to enjoy the benefits of golf an opportunity to play even if it is virtual. This may or may not be green, but it is viewed as popular.

Watch this video from CNN for an idea of the popularity of this sport.