An ecological framework seeks to maintain ecological processes in the
wider landscape and to conserve ecosystems, habitats, species, genetic
diversity, and landscapes of importance. As greater attention is paid to
ecological frameworks and in particular to such frameworks within an urban
setting, then an understanding of the landscape ecology of sports related
open spaces and their position within the wider ecological setting of a city
requires attention. In this chapter we focus on golf courses and in particular
address questions relating to their historic development and their contemporary role in urban ecosystems. The exploration of these issues will be
based on a case study centred on a new golf course development constructed
in the 1990s at the Marriott Worsley Park, Salford UK. In this case study the
historic development of Salford is outlined and the development of the
Marriott Worsley Park is discussed in detail. Contemporary land use data
are presented in order to understand the spatial importance of sports and
open space within the city. This analysis leads to suggestions for the inclusion
of sports space, and in particular golf courses within urban ecological
frameworks
