Knowledge is power – and more knowledge about water can have a significant impact on the future of many golf courses around the world. The United States Golf Association’s new Water Conservation Playbook, which was published just in time for World Water Day 2025, can be very helpful for greenkeepers, course managers and board members alike. The reason: although the 213-page work relates exclusively to the American market, it contains so much basic knowledge that it is also valid in many areas in all other parts of the world.
This applies, for example, to the area of basic maintenance work on the irrigation system, the chapter on “Managing the golfer’s expectations” and an overview of the latest trends in water management. The use of satellite photos or drones is just as much a part of this area as the consequences and possibilities of using recycled water.
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The USGA, which at the time of publication of the guidebook was supporting 47 projects to protect water at universities, repeatedly refers to scientific studies and results in this playbook and provides clear instructions for action. Non-Americans must be careful with the cost calculations, as these are often not applicable outside the USA. You should also bear in mind that the regulations for the use of pesticides are significantly different from those in Europe, for example.
But in general, the feedback from European experts is very positive: “This is an excellent guide to water management on golf courses”, says Rémy Dorbeau, President of AGREF in France. ” The basics of proper water use and water use reduction are well covered. Areas for improvement are approached methodically and pragmatically. It is highly accessible to all those involved in golf maintenance who wish to reduce their impact on water resources, whatever their technical level. We’re going to translate it into French.”
The need for such a comprehensive guide on water management is clear in view of the current discussions on water consumption in the USA. It is not only in the south-western states such as California, Nevada, Arizona and Texas that the golf industry is repeatedly under fire for its water consumption. More northern states such as New York are also experiencing more frequent droughts, which require golf courses to be generally more careful in their use of water resources.
According to the USGA, golf courses in the US use 1.3 % of the irrigation water consumed nationwide each year, and the industry’s water use has decreased by nearly 30 % since 2005. But these facts do not solve the challenge for the golf industry to reduce water consumption even further. “However, there is no question that many opportunities exist for golf courses to use less water and there are many potential benefits in doing so.”
The Water Conservation Playbook is available to download free of charge and is likely to become standard reading in the next few years – at least for all those who are aware that dealing with the issue of water can be existential for their golf course.
