Last year, Ronald Dodson, president of Audubon International, told a Wall Street Journal reporter that while he applauds Augusta National Golf Club's efforts to be environmentally friendly, he believes that the course's big budget has created an almost unnatural beauty that most other courses are unlikely to achieve without extreme measures. It would appear, in the face of economic concerns and environmental pressures, that many are ready to stop trying. Some industry experts suggest that ultimately the game may be better for it.The kind of firm-and-fast playing conditions that come from a dryer course are common in the United Kingdom. While they are not yet the accepted standard in the U.S., water restrictions and the rising costs of course maintenance are pushing things in that direction. In areas of extreme drought such as Las Vegas, some clubs have started stripping out sod in favor of xeriscapes and naturalized areas that do not require irrigation, based on an assumption that water issues are unlikely to improve. Most report that members have been accepting of the changes and that the move has generated positive PR in the local community.
Golf course architect Pete Dye believes that not all improvements actually improve the course. "We need to get to a greater acceptance of a course that is not emerald green," Dye said. Other consultants agree that golfers often fail to recognize the difference between normal course conditions and tournament conditions, which can lead to an unfair comparison of courses.
The article goes on to endorse the value of establishing a master plan for the golf course, a course of action Northland has recently taken with the hiring of noted architect Ron Prichard.
The map below shows current drought conditions in the United States. The darker the shade, the more serious the drought condition.
