This updated R&A water portal can help clubs plan for a changing climate

04 June 2026

The refreshed Golf Course 2030 resources can help club managers consider long-term water management decisions

Whether it is droughts or downpours, water management is rapidly becoming one of the big challenges facing golf. An updated resource from The R&A will help clubs make more informed decisions about how they deal with the issue.

The governing body has refreshed its Golf Course 2030 Water Portal, which offers the latest guidance, data, and practical solutions to address sustainable water management.

The portal was launched in 2023 and has been updated by Dr Tom Young, an environmental expert, to reflect the latest legislation, industry guidance and best practice for water management.

While this might traditionally have been seen as a course maintenance issue, the update reveals that climate resilience extends beyond the greenkeeping team.

And the portal is intended to be used not just by course managers but by club managers and wider club teams.

“The Water Portal is one of the most popular resources produced by the first Golf Course 2030 projects,” said John Kemp, The R&A’s Assistant Director of Sustainable Golf Development.

“It provides a practical insight into how climate change will affect golf courses year-round and suggestions for golf course managers, club managers, committees and owners to explore how to make their course more resilient.”

Key to the update is an interactive mapping tool allowing users to see how climate change could affect their golf course over time. It can project changes in rainfall patterns and temperature, which gives clubs information to understand the risks they could face in the years ahead and prepare for them.

For many clubs, the portal’s focus on practical application will also be very useful. It features a range of sustainable management solutions courses can consider – providing data on potential costs and disruption.

With further guidance and resources covering water use monitoring, borehole abstraction, drainage solutions and a range of additional water management practices, the portal can give managers and clubs evidence to take to committees.

The site also includes 22 case studies from golf courses across the UK and Europe. Showcasing practical approaches and experiences from clubs already bringing in sustainable water management practices, it can help clubs identify ideas which could be adopted at their own facilities.

And there is a dedicated legislation section, so club and course managers can keep up to date with key water legislation, while users can download a PDF report to refer to offline.

Further case studies and resources are set to be added in the coming months. To explore the Golf Course 2030 Water Portal, click here.

Key takeaways

The interactive mapping tool within the Golf Course 2030 Water Portal allows clubs to examine projected changes in rainfall and temperature at an individual course level
The inclusion of 22 case studies can help club managers see how facilities like theirs have tackled water challenges and what solutions they adopted
With water regulation likely to become ever more important, a dedicated legislation section of the portal can help clubs understand, and keep up to date with, legal requirements

Pictures courtesy of The R&A

By GCMA Content Team

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