Cornwall Golf Union
Custodian Golf issues warning about the cost of ignoring water management challenges
(Article and image Courtesy of Golf Business News)
As the UK emerges from one of its warmest Mays on record, golf club consultancy Custodian Golf has issued a stark warning to the golf industry: water management is no longer a long-term concern but an immediate operational imperative.
With turf already under stress and water restrictions tightening across the country, the organisation cautions that the financial and environmental costs of inaction could be severe.
Golf courses in the south and east of England, regions already among the driest in the country, are entering the peak summer season with below-average rainfall and depleted reservoirs. In Scotland, drought warnings have been in place since April following the driest spring since 1964. Parts of England are also facing restrictions on non-essential water use, placing additional strain on an industry already grappling with infrastructure and economic challenges.
Phil Grice, Head of Venues at Custodian Golf, which offers a consultancy service to UK golf clubs to enhance operations, commented, “Water resource management is now one of the biggest environmental and financial challenges facing our sport. Many clubs are already stretched by rising insurance costs, ageing infrastructure and falling membership numbers – but this is an issue that cannot be ignored. Unless action is taken now to future-proof irrigation systems and secure a sustainable water supply, clubs will struggle to maintain playability and member satisfaction in the years to come.”
According to a 2024 article by the British & International Golf Greenkeepers Association, many clubs continue to rely on irrigation systems more than 20 years old. These outdated systems are increasingly inefficient, and upgrading to modern, targeted infrastructure can cost upwards of £1 million. Grice warns that the longer clubs delay these investments, the more expensive and urgent the problem becomes.
Custodian Golf’s white paper, Securing the Future of Golf, outlines a roadmap for sustainable operations, focusing on water capture and reuse, ESG integration, and the installation of data-driven irrigation technology. The company is currently working with clubs nationwide to assess water risks and develop resilience strategies.
Climate models from the Met Office suggest UK summers could be up to 60% drier by 2070, with average temperatures increasing by as much as 6°C. Meanwhile, the Water Resources South East (WRSE) plan estimates that nearly half of the region’s public water supply could be at risk by 2050 without decisive intervention.
Custodian Golf is encouraging clubs to evaluate their readiness through a new online tool categorising them as either Lions (proactive and strategic), Meerkats (cautious but aware), or Ostriches (in denial and unprepared). The hope is that by providing tailored recommendations and practical next steps, more clubs will transition away from crisis management toward long-term sustainability.
“This May’s heat is not an anomaly – it’s a warning,” Grice concluded. “Clubs that ignore the signs and fail to act now may find themselves unable to maintain course quality, meet member expectations, or remain financially viable in the years ahead.”
For further details, to access the white paper, or to try the online readiness tool, click here
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