California's Green Rebellion
Landbackers Reclaim Elite Golf Courses, Citing Ecological Harm and Public Need
In an unprecedented wave of coordinated direct action, diverse groups across California have begun "landbacking" elite golf courses, transforming manicured greens into vibrant food forests and native plant sanctuaries. The movement, which gained traction over the past year, culminated this week in a series of highly organized takeovers, drawing both praise and condemnation as activists assert a radical vision for land use and environmental justice.
The protests, which began simultaneously at dawn on Monday across over a dozen prominent golf courses from Palm Springs to Pebble Beach, involve a broad coalition of unions, student groups, agricultural cooperatives, indigenous land stewards, and environmental organizations. Their central demand: the reallocation of environmentally intensive and water-consumptive golf courses for public benefit, ecological restoration, and sustainable food production.
"For too long, these vast tracts of land, often in prime locations, have served as exclusive playgrounds for the wealthy, guzzling millions of gallons of water in a drought-prone state while communities struggle," declared Elena Rodriguez, a spokesperson for the newly formed "California Land Justice Alliance," at a press conference held on what was once the 18th green of the exclusive Golden Greens Golf Club in Orange County. "We are reclaiming this land not just for protest, but for genuine regeneration. These courses are ecological deserts, maintained at enormous cost to our shared resources and health."
The "landbackers," as they've been dubbed, arrived prepared. Within hours of their initial occupation, heavy machinery, previously staged discreetly, began tearing up sod, while volunteers fanned out with shovels, sacks of seeds, and irrigation equipment. The scenes have been broadcast widely across social media, showing jubilant groups working collaboratively to convert fairways into nascent agricultural plots and roughs into burgeoning wildlife habitats.
The True Cost of Manicured Greens: Data Behind the Rebellion
The landbackers emphasize that their actions are not simply symbolic, but a direct response to the documented environmental toll of conventional golf course management:
Water Consumption: California, a state perpetually grappling with drought, sees significant water diversion for golf courses.1 While some sources from the golf industry claim less than 1% of the state's potable water is used by golf courses, other estimates suggest that California's nearly 1,000 golf courses collectively use as much water as 2.8 million people, or about 7% of the state's population annually. In arid regions like the Coachella Valley, some individual courses can consume up to a million gallons of water daily, equivalent to the daily water use of roughly 3,000 households. This vast water usage often comes from dwindling groundwater reserves or is diverted from rivers and ecosystems that desperately need it.
water consumption on golf course out of control Pesticide and Herbicide Contamination: To maintain their pristine appearance, golf courses rely heavily on a cocktail of synthetic pesticides, herbicides, and fungicides. Studies have shown that golf courses can use four to seven times more pesticides per acre than agriculture. These chemicals, including glyphosate (found in Roundup), 2,4-D (an ingredient in Agent Orange), and others like paraquat, are designed to kill, and their impact extends beyond the course boundaries.2
Cancer Risk: Numerous studies and lawsuits have linked exposure to golf course pesticides to serious health conditions, including various cancers.3 Groundskeepers, in particular, face heightened exposure risks. Glyphosate, classified as "probably carcinogenic to humans" by the World Health Organization's International Agency for Research on Cancer4 (IARC), has been linked to non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. Lawsuits by groundskeepers diagnosed with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma after extensive exposure to Roundup have resulted in significant verdicts.5
Neurological Disorders: Chemicals like paraquat have been linked to Parkinson's disease.6 A recent population-based study suggested that living within a mile of a golf course could more than double one's risk of developing Parkinson's, with higher risks in "vulnerable" areas where pesticides can more easily leach into aquifers.7
Ecosystem Damage: Runoff from these chemicals pollutes waterways, harming aquatic life, disrupting ecosystems, and contributing to algal blooms.8 The widespread use of these chemicals also devastates pollinator populations, including bees and butterflies, which are crucial for California's agriculture and biodiversity.
Voices from the Frontlines:
"This isn't just about golf courses; it's about water justice and economic fairness," stated Miguel Chen, a representative from the United Farmworkers' Cooperative, while overseeing the planting of hundreds of avocado saplings on what was once the ninth fairway of a course in the Central Valley. "My family has farmed this land for generations, but we’ve seen our water rights dwindle while these private clubs irrigate perfect grass. While farmers struggle to keep their crops alive, millions of gallons are sprayed on non-edible turf. We’re turning these water hogs into food producers for everyone, building resilience against future droughts."
"We're showing that a different future is possible, one where land serves the many, not the few," shared Aisha Sharma, a student organizer from UC Berkeley, her voice echoing over the rhythmic thud of a pickaxe as she helped break ground for a community garden. "As students, we're inheriting a planet in crisis. These golf courses are a glaring symbol of the unsustainable consumption patterns we need to dismantle. We’re reclaiming this land to grow healthy food and create green spaces that actually benefit urban communities, not just a privileged few."
"Our ancestors stewarded this land for millennia, living in harmony with nature," explained an anonymous indigenous steward, standing amidst volunteers planting native sage and elderberry bushes on a former putting green near San Diego. "The manicured monocultures of these golf courses are an insult to the spirit of the land. The pesticides they’ve poured into the soil have poisoned our sacred water sources and driven away the creatures that once thrived here. We are bringing back the medicines, the foods, the ecosystems that belong here. This is an act of healing, for the land and for our communities."
"The cooperative model is about shared ownership and shared benefit, and that's exactly what we're applying here," commented Sarah Goldsteyen, a member of the Bay Area Urban Farmers' Collective, as she directed the installation of a drip irrigation system on a newly tilled section of a former golf course in Alameda. "We’re creating truly public spaces that produce food, build community, and restore biodiversity. Instead of golf carts, you'll see families harvesting fresh produce. Instead of toxic chemicals, you'll see beneficial insects and thriving native flora. Imagine thousands of acres of productive, ecological land where there was once just grass and exclusivity."
The scale of the operation is immense, with estimates suggesting that over 10,000 acres of prime California land have been impacted by the landbacking movement this week. Organizers have distributed detailed guides on permaculture design, native plant restoration, and water-efficient farming techniques, empowering participants to transform the landscapes rapidly.
While local authorities have largely responded with caution, citing the unprecedented nature of the protests and the sheer number of participants, some golf course owners have vowed legal action. However, the sheer public support and the visible transformation of the land have presented a complex challenge for law enforcement and politicians.
As the sun sets on another day of the "Green Rebellion," the sounds of construction and enthusiastic chatter continue to emanate from what were once pristine fairways. The landbackers have made their statement clear: California's green spaces, they contend, belong to all, and their future lies not in exclusive leisure, but in shared sustenance and ecological harmony. The long-term implications of this audacious movement remain to be seen, but one thing is certain: California's relationship with its land has been irrevocably altered.
Living near golf courses raises Parkinson’s disease risk, study finds
Roundup® weed killer contains glyphosate, an herbicide that may be linked to non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma and other serious illnesses. If you developed cancer after being exposed to glyphosate, you may be able to file a Roundup lawsuit for compensation.
Rotenone and Paraquat Linked to Parkinson’s Disease: Human Exposure Study Supports Years of Animal Studies
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3114841/#:~:text=Angela%20Spivey