As an agronomist in the golf industry, it often amazes me how obsessed American golfers are with the color green. Preparing good golf conditions sometimes seems secondary for prepping the course for a beauty pageant. Players commonly react with worry, disdain and disapproval at the first signs of any off-color turf. Panic develops when the dreaded brown spot occurs. What gives within the ranks of our great game?
National drought surveys indicate that nearly half of the U.S. is currently experiencing drought, and water restrictions have been mandated at golf courses across the United States. The fairways may get a little firm and lose some color, but with traffic control and prudent cultural programs, much of the turf can survive without water for extended periods. Every lie might not be perfect, but isn’t this part of what makes golf such a great game? When the course gets dry during the summer months, then use those conditions for more roll and to play different types of golf shots. More bounce and roll presents risk and reward at some holes, different shots into greens throughout the year, and a greater premium on accuracy.
The golf industry has invested millions of dollars over the past two decades investigating the environmental impacts of golf course management. Our greatest challenge, however, will likely rest with irrigation. Water availability and quality will become the greatest issue facing golf courses throughout much of the country, if it isn’t already. Players may have no choice but to tolerate changing golf course conditions throughout the year, and they may even learn to appreciate the many wonderful shades of brown.
But it will have to take water use mandates to change current golfer attitudes? Sadly, this is probably true. In drought-stricken states this past year, where both voluntary and mandatory water restrictions were in force, I observed golf shop staff manually turning on sprinkler heads after the maintenance department had left for the day, resort managers demanding that golf course superintendents increase the watering, and an adamant group of golfers complaining directly to the mayor about the lack of watering at their municipal golf course. The golf shop staff killed most of a green, play at the resort was up even through several greens had been badly vandalized and closed, and late summer rains allowed the turf at the municipal course to resume normal growth and appearance. Oh ye of little faith. The turf doesn’t have to be green and soft to survive or provide a playable surface.
Those doing the most complaining typically are at golf courses with circa-1970 irrigation technology while expecting Y2K conditioning. The margin for error with respect to turfgrass water management has become increasingly thin with ever-faster greens and lower heights of cut. Drought conditions quickly highlight the deficiencies in the watering system, and simply cranking up the run times to make up for poor distribution uniformity invariably results in soft, muddy spots where embedded lies, mud on the ball and no roll are the norm – all in the midst of a drought. This inefficient use of water results in a blatant waste of our most precious resource.
If course operators and players truly are concerned about uniformity and consistency on the golf course, then the irrigation system is the place to start. Modern irrigation control capability, components, and design have greatly improved the ability of golf course superintendents to accurately meet the variable turf water demands. Improved control and coverage also will result in significantly reduced water use over the year. Oh, can’t afford to replace your 29-year-old irrigation system? Buck up and find a way to finance replacement of the golf course’s most valuable infrastructure item or quit whining and hit the ball. Golf was invented prior to irrigation and has survived most of its life without it. Many would argue it was a better game without it, too.
The USGA is committed to funding research that investigates turfgrass breeding and selection, and management practices that enable reduced water use. We will continue to seek out every alternative to reduce water use and be better stewards, but it will be much easier if golfers come to support this endeavor. So this is a plea to the American golfer. Firm and dry conditions promote better and more exciting golf. Brown is beautiful too! Listen closely — it’s all about the water.
Matt Nelson is an agronomist in the Green Section’s Northwest Region.