Golf and water conservation in Fountain Hills
OPINION — In these pages it was asserted that golf, among other Arizona water users, should have “real limits” and golf course “caps” imposed. Yes, it certainly should.
In 1980, now 46 years ago, Arizona passed its historic Groundwater Management Act regulating golf course water use in active management areas, thus limiting golf’s water use. Additionally, the act mandated that golf face ongoing reductions that strongly encouraged shifting away from groundwater toward recycled wastewater. Innovatively, the act also capped acreage to 90 turfed acres for future 18-hole courses.
Thus, “desert golf” was born. Courses surrounded by desert. Tees, greens and fairways as islands in an otherwise native landscape made for a striking visual effect. This was new and stood in stark contrast to long-established “parkland” style courses.
Here, Desert Canyon opened in the early 70s, whereas SunRidge, Eagle Mountain and Firerock were born in the 90s, accounting for their difference in design. Notably, in each case golf was built to attract consumers and sell real estate.
For players and course superintendents alike, wetter is not better. Firm and fast is the goal. And water savings aren’t happening by accident. Today’s superintendents manage water using technology that golfers and non-golfers alike never see including weather stations, precise computerized irrigation controls, soil-moisture sensors, hand-held moisture meters and wetting agents.
Moreover, the golf industry is not simply adopting new technology. It’s helping develop it with drought-tolerant turfgrass varieties established within its industry. Locally, Firerock Country Club just completed a turf renovation by transitioning to a drought-tolerant year-round grass that requires significantly less water.
Golf participation continued its record-setting pace in 2025 with more than 16.6 million rounds played right here in Arizona that generated more than $6 billion in economic impact using just 2% of Arizona’s water. Visit azallianceforgolf.org.
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