In this excerpt from his book, The Sustainable Sport: How Golf’s Five Million Acres Benefit Our World, golf course architect Forrest Richardson explores how golf's economic contributions extend far beyond the course, supporting jobs, tourism, property values and communities worldwide.

A golf course renovation can create excitement, revive a tired property and strengthen its competitive position. It can also consume capital without fixing the problem that prompted the work. In today’s high-cost environment, the difference often comes down to what ownership does before approving a design, setting a schedule or asking for bids.

The ideal golf clubhouse — as an idea — has a particularly tricky needle to thread: It needs to be enticing and alluring enough to draw people in but not overshadow the golf course itself.

Building a smarter golf course is not necessarily about spending more money. It is about knowing where to spend it, planning earlier and making decisions based on how the property will perform years after construction crews leave.