Golf courses in Nevada use a lot of water, 236 million gallons annually. And, unlike water used indoors, this water cannot be reclaimed and sent back to Lake Mead.
That’s why lawmakers cut water allotments for courses by a third beginning this year. And, since 2021, new golf courses are not allowed to use Colorado River water.
Needless to say, sustainability is a hot topic in the Western US’s golfing sphere.
Junghoon Lee, assistant director of UNLV’s PGA Golf Management Program, said local golf courses are rising to the occasion by overhauling fairways, making them more water efficient. Already, since 1999, 900 acres of turf have been replaced by local courses, saving 2 billion gallons of water.
“Bentgrass requires more water during the summer because of the heat versus Bermuda grass requires less water,” Lee said. “Some of the courses had to close for a few months to renovate the grasses, and also found the areas that are not necessary to have green grass. So those changes help to manage the water usage.”
Beyond environmental considerations, the rise of golf bars and simulators in Vegas over the past 9 months has presented golfers with a more water-friendly alternative. Since the beginning of the year, three golf bars have opened in Las Vegas, with another at Mandalay Bay coming in November.
Trend or not, Lee said these golf-tainment venues provide a measure of accessibility that traditional golf has been hard-pressed to offer. This is deemed crucial at a time when reports show that golf is increasingly appealing to wider demographics: Youth ages six to 17 saw the biggest jump in golf participation, according to the National Golf Foundation, at 36%.
“Golf is known as [a sport that] takes a lot of time to play [and] to complete an 18-hole round of,” Lee said. “The cost is relatively expensive [compared to] any other sports, and the difficulty of the game certainly is very challenging for people to start.” Places like the newly-opened Atomic Golf or the more long-standing TopGolf help people “slowly transition into on course participation,” which Lee viewed as a net positive.
Derek Austin, director of facilities at the Strat’s Atomic Golf, agreed about the diplomatic role golf bars play in bringing the sport to more diverse crowds. “It becomes a really fun place for people to go and not feel the pressure of traditional golf courses [and] really enjoy themselves. It helps in growing the game.”
Guest: Junghoon Lee, assistant director, UNLV’s PGA golf management program; Derek Austin, director of facilities, Atomic Golf
