By Design - Winter 2015

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A SGCA President Steve Smyers,
ASGCA, has made has made
an appearance on the Golf
Channel’s ‘Morning Drive’ program as
part of its Water Week.
In conversation with Matt Ginella,
Smyers discussed the role of the
golf architect and how they act as
innovators and thought leaders when
it comes to addressing the water
challenges faced within the industry.
When asked about the extent to
which irrigation and sustainability is
being discussed in golf, Smyers said:
‘That is the conversation right now.
Water management and turf reduction
is a big issue in remodelling, especially
in the western U.S.”
Smyers said that architects and
superintendents are working closer
than ever: “They maintain what we as
architects design, so the relationship
between the architect and the
superintendent is absolutely critical.”
Smyers also discussed the future of
golf, and said that innovation is key to
ensuring the health of the game going
forward. He described the sense of
community within the golf architecture
industry, highlighting joint educational
seminars, case studies and the sharing
of information among fellow architects.
He also referenced a new water book
that will be released at the upcoming
Golf Industry Show by the ASGCA in
association with Rain Bird and The
Toro Foundation.
Meanwhile, a new survey indicates
that golf course superintendents in
the U.S. have reduced the amount of
water used to maintain courses by
more than a fifth in recent years.
A report from the Golf Course
Superintendents Association of
America (GCSAA) found that the
amount of water used to maintain
courses in the U.S. in 2013 was 21.8
per cent lower than in 2005.
Funded by the United States
Golf Association through GCSAA’s
Environmental Institute for Golf,
the survey collected information
from almost 2,000 golf course
superintendents. These results
were then analysed by scientists at
PACE Turf and the National Golf
Foundation.
The survey found that golf course
superintendents increased their use
of recycled water by 33 per cent in
the period between 2005 and 2013.
Water savings have also been made
through turf reduction and improved
technologies, including computer-
controlled targeted irrigation systems
and sensors measuring soil moisture.
The survey report can be found at
And the entire ‘Morning
Drive’ interview with Steve Smyers can
be seen at
DIGEST
Architects help address water challenges
Golf tour operators report rise in bookings
Water use
Golf tourism
Anew report from KPMG’s Golf
Advisory Practice has found
that golf tourism around the
world is continuing to grow at a
substantial rate.
The volume of tourist golf bookings
in 2014 increased compared to the
previous year, with 80% of surveyed
operators reporting an increased
number of bookings year-on-year.
The report indicates that the past few
decades have seen the success of golf
tourism rise considerably, and many
golf tour operators are now tailoring
their offerings to meet the specific
needs of golfers.
The proportion of longer trip
bookings increased compared
to previous years, indicating the
willingness of golf travelers to spend
more on golfing holidays.
Spain and Portugal remain the two
most popular destinations globally,
while South Africa, Morocco, the
UAE, Thailand, Vietnam and Bulgaria
were listed among the most popular
emerging golf tourism hot spots.
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ASGCA President Steve Smyers discussed water management on Golf Channel’s ‘Morning Drive’