SoCal Industry Professionals Gather To Discuss Golf and Water

February 09, 2015

The ongoing California drought has brought water issues and prices to the forefront of discussions for Southland golf course owners. Earlier this month, the industry gathered to discuss turf management practices, landscaping, water initiatives, rebate programs and other issues concerning golf and the environment.

Sponsored by The Council for Watershed Health, the SCGA and the Southern California Chapter of the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America (GCSAA) the inaugural Golf & Water Conference attracted more than 170 industry professionals, including the USGA, County of Los Angeles, Southern California PGA Section, Club Managers Association of America, Pasadena Department of Water & Power, California Golf Course Owners Association, Southern California Municipal Golf Association, City of Long Beach, Metropolitan Water District and LA Department of Water & Power.

Due in large part to Water Task Forces created by the SCGA to help the industry reduce its water usage, many courses are combating high water prices by reducing turfgrass. However, Ken Alperstein of Pinnacle Design suggests a silver lining. “It’s not turf reduction. It’s landscape enhancement,” he told the crowd gathered at Brookside GC.


Jesse Seguin, superintendent at Brookside GC, explains the turf reduction occurring at the course.

Golf Course Architect Tim Jackson and North Ranch Country Club Superintendent Ryan Bentley teamed up with Alperstein to lead a discussion on turf reduction programs, including sustainable landscape materials and recent case studies.

“Landscaping is becoming a pinnacle part of the course design,” said Alperstein. “How to address the need to reduce water with turf reduction and landscaping is our number one goal while keeping playability and other course factors in mind as well.”

Throughout the day many acknowledged a growing culture change. In the past, “green” sold the course, but today, many realize that monitoring the course’s needs leads to better awareness of the water issues at hand.

Referring to the USGA’s water initiative (usga.org/water), Pat Gross, director, southwest region of the USGA’s Green Section, highlighted three key issues affecting the game: limited water supply, water quality and the changing culture of superintendents. “We’ve put together a great resource for the community, golfers and facilities to explain that water is still the single greatest threat facing the game.”

Dr. Jim Baird of UC Riverside joined USC’s Dr. Bob Perry and turfgrass specialist Mike Huck in a discussion about the role of science in turfgrass water conservation, efficient irrigation design and management and turf rebate programs.

“I’m talking about what could be,” said Mike Huck, principal at Irrigation & Turfgrass Services and formally of the USGA Green Section, who spoke on the possibilities and problems of recycled water use. He says the biggest challenge may surprise many. “Recycled water is available for use, but distribution to the golf course is the biggest problem.”

So what’s next? The Council for Watershed Health, GCSAA, SCGA and USGA will continue working and reporting on the water issues being faced in Southern California, hoping to provide a resource and increased knowledge to the Southland.

“We have an enormous amount of common ground,” said Craig Kessler, director of governmental affairs for the SCGA. “There's great value in injecting golf into a meeting of persons passionate about watershed protection and the environment. I believe we’ve all learned something today.”



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