Water and Golf: The new way forward
Golf courses, like human beings, need water to survive. At least until now.
Most of our modern (and many of our old) golf courses are maintained requiring excessive input including pesticides, fertilizers, and most important, water. Add to that most golf courses across the globe have a large carbon footprint given the size of the maintained areas and requirement for high-quality conditioning. With a greater call to protect our planet and more focus on saving some of our finite resources, it’s hard to see how many of these facilities will remain sustainable into the future.
Water is our planet’s most valuable resource and is also essential for golf. With more restrictions (where it pertains to usage) and less availability, many golf courses are going to need to adapt or cease to exist, in the near future.
Some facts about water and golf:
l On average 80acres/32hectares of a standard 18-hole golf course is irrigated. Source USGA
l Golf greens account for 4.6% of the total irrigated area of a golf course but require 2-3 more water than other parts of the golf course. Source USGA
l In North America, median water volume used per 18-hole golf course was lowest (36.8 acre-feet/year) in the cool and rainy climate of the Northeast regions, and highest (398.4 acre-feet/year) in the arid and warm climates of the Southwest region. Source GCSAA
l Irrigation increases an additional 58% during a season that is 1.2c warmer and 29% dryer than normal. Source University of Waterloo, Canada
l Under anticipated climate change by the 2050s, water usage could increase by 151% its current levels. Source University of Waterloo, Canada
l The cost of an irrigation system and pump station for an 18-hole golf course will cost in excess of US$1 million dollars.
l The typical lifespan of an irrigation system is between 10 - 30 years. Source ASGCA
Understanding that fresh drinking water will become much scarcer in the future, it is important that golf courses look to other avenues for mitigating the need to put a drain on the earth’s most valuable resource. More responsible design and new “lower input” turf varieties are a positive step forward but a much bigger impact is needed to reduce usage and transform the publics perception that the game of golf is traditionally environmentally unfriendly and that golf courses are water usage and resource black holes.
Introducing Pelz Player Greens
Recently, we developed technology that not only allows golf greens to look and play like real (with artificial turf) but requires comparatively no maintenance, equipment, and water input, and designed to harvest water for reuse, including for human consumption. There is nothing else like it in golf.
Our systems are professionally designed to fit every site, and each one has the capability to store and then harvest water for reuse after a rain event. Imagine never having to install or renovate an irrigation system, or worry when the city or municipality will put restrictions on water usage, or when there will be a drought and the impact that will have on your golf course.
Imagine no more. Contact us for your solution.
Dave Pelz’s backyard, with water harvesting features in action.
Note the contoured design to harvest rainwater into the collection/storage area, both creating aesthetic appeal and allowing for multi-reuse.
