STUDYING THE GREEN: TERRANEA BRINGS WATER MANAGEMENT TO THE FORE
Keeping the fairways and putting surfaces of California’s 1,130 golf courses looking healthy and emerald green is a daunting task that requires an abundance of water. But water use restrictions, rising costs, and budget-conscious patrons have forced the industry to reassess its business models.
On the Palos Verdes Peninsula, a new golf course boasting spectacular views of Catalina Island has embraced a concept known as turf reduction. Designers of The Links at Terranea have fused turf and native palettes to slash water and maintenance costs, while offering golfers challenging play in the heart of one of California’s most naturally scenic coastal settings — all at a fraction of the price.
“We created a nine-hole par-three course in a 30-acre golf corridor. Roughly half of it is actual turf. The rest reflects droughtresistant palettes and sand traps that require little or no water,” said course architect Todd Eckenrode of Origins Golf Design.
“Terranea wanted to reflect principles of sustainability in its development, from water use to storm water runoff,” noted Eckenrode. “We didn’t want an artificial resort setting with imported palm trees. We wanted to reflect the natural palettes of this treasure in a way that would delight golfers of all skills and allow them to play a challenging round of golf without having to devote an entire day to it.”
Terranea’s director of golf John Fitzpatrick is a believer: “My initial response to a par-three design was, ‘This can’t be glamorous.’ Then I saw the nuances and elevation changes of Todd’s design. Terranea offers great golf with elements you’d expect to see at courses like Pebble Beach; the greens have a lot of movement, which adds to the fun and challenge of the golf. And with a fraction of the turf of larger courses, you can deduce what kind of reduced water use — and improved economics — it creates for owners.”
The economics of development, time constraints with work and family, and the relevance of golf’s price point in this economy suggest more family-friendly courses like Terranea are on the horizon. Using water more efficiently is key.
Pat Gross, southwest director of the U.S. Golf Association’s Greens Section, says California’s $4 billion golf industry has had water on its radar for decades. Smart irrigation technology, concerns about cost and availability are driving efforts to cut consumption and eliminate waste.
“Golf courses are high visibility properties; they’re used to being water wasters,” said Gross. “But the talented superintendents I work with are striving to be a part of the solution. When you use water wisely, you have a better golf course with better playing quality — it’s firmer and faster.”
Eckenrode is spearheading turf reduction techniques with larger courses across California. Transforming turf to naturally landscaped waste bunkers reduces water, fuel, and maintenance costs while demanding fewer chemicals. It limits over-seeding to tees and roughs, further cutting costs. Water savings can be 100 percent in turf areas that are returned to native plantings.
“This achieves our goal of being responsive to the water situation in our state,” said Eckenrode. “And it’s representative that solutions can be world-class and appeal to a broad number of individuals.”