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Golfing would more likely impact dry plantscapes than moister ones. Dry plantscapes, <br /> certainly during the long dry season, will not respond to damage by regrowing lost parts. <br /> In contrast, ever-growing moist plantscapes replace damaged leaves and twigs with new <br /> growth. The use of ever-growing green turf areas to withstand human use testifies to the <br /> effectiveness of"green pavement", i.e., the turf grass surface for the primary golf areas. <br /> An important design goal for "sanctuary" course is the prevention of golfers from <br /> unnecessarily intruding into sensitive habitat areas. It should be noted that the game itself <br /> (as well as good design) seeks to avoid balls being hit into these types of areas. Golfers <br /> are not likely to intrude into sensitive habitats without reason. Balls must first find their <br /> way into sensitive areas for golfers to consider intruding. This is often a design issue <br /> which can effect the probability of a ball landing in a sensitive area. Grassland-savanna <br /> and gently rolling topography would naturally be more easily accessed by golfers looking <br /> for golf balls than rougher terrain. If balls find these areas, intruding golfers will cause <br /> environmental damage, which will necessitate design adjustments to better"protect" these <br /> areas. Other areas, such as steep terrain, rocky areas,blackberry thickets, and cattail <br /> marshes would not be inviting to golfers; these habitats would therefore not require as <br /> much protection. A ball hit into this type of terrain is often immediately declared lost and a <br /> new ball put into play. Players do not risk life, limb or clothing for a golf ball! <br /> Thus at Buckeye Ranch, most damage would likely occur in the dry grassland habitats, not <br /> in those steep-banked or thickly vegetated places. The environments that are not- <br /> evergrowing and are easy for golfers to access are most vulnerable. Even so, the generally <br /> coarse, well drained soils should not compact excessively. <br /> Buckeye Ranch Resource Plan (November, 1993) <br /> 218 <br />