Water Management Challenge Facing Golf Courses Highlighted

The increasing pressure on water resources is becoming a major challenge for golf course managers, according to BIGGA chief executive officer and Amenity Forum director Jim Croxton.

Speaking as part of the Amenity Forum’s ‘Meet the Board’ series, Jim said longer periods of dry weather were making effective water management increasingly important for the golf industry.

“Climate change is also bringing new challenges, particularly around water availability,” he said. “Longer periods of dry weather mean that making the best use of water resources is becoming increasingly important.”

Jim said the industry was responding by improving irrigation practices, selecting more resilient turf species and taking a more strategic approach to water management.

He added that golf courses were also increasingly recognising their role in supporting biodiversity and providing valuable habitats for wildlife, when managed responsibly.

The comments come as golf course managers continue to balance the demands of maintaining high-quality playing surfaces with growing environmental expectations, resource pressures and evolving regulation.

According to Jim, meeting those competing demands requires highly skilled professionals who understand both the science and practical realities of managing living landscapes.

He also highlighted the importance of Integrated Pest Management (IPM), describing it as “fundamental to turf management”. He said IPM encouraged practitioners to understand the causes of problems before deciding on the most appropriate course of action, combining prevention, monitoring, cultural practices and targeted interventions.

Jim believes continued investment in professional development will be critical as the challenges facing the sector evolve.

“Knowledge never stands still,” he said, pointing to new research, changing regulations, developing technologies and environmental pressures as reasons why professionals need opportunities to continue learning throughout their careers.

As an Amenity Forum director, Jim said he hopes to help strengthen the organisation’s position as a collective voice for the diverse amenity sector, while ensuring that policymakers and regulators understand the expertise and practical experience within the industry.

He said: “Our industry is full of highly skilled people who care deeply about the environments they manage, and that expertise deserves to be recognised.”