By Ronnie Miles, NGCOA, Senior Director of Advocacy
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This article was informed by a recent update shared with me by Craig Kessler, Executive Director of the California Alliance for Golf. While the information reflects conditions in California, worsening dry conditions across the western states signal growing risks to water availability, operating costs, and course management decisions, issues that could affect the golf industry sooner rather than later, particularly for owners and operators who have placed water conservation on their long-term plans.
The California Department of Water Resources’ second snow survey of the season signals growing uncertainty for water-reliant industries across the West, including golf. While early winter storms briefly boosted optimism, a dry and warm January has sharply reduced snowpack levels, raising concerns about water availability heading into the 2026 golf season.
At Phillips Station in the Sierra Nevada, snow water equivalent (SWE) measured just 46 percent of average, with statewide snowpack at 59 percent of normal for this point in the season. Three weeks earlier, snowpack levels were nearly 90 percent of average, highlighting how quickly conditions have deteriorated. January is historically the most productive snow month, and forecasts currently show no major precipitation in the near term. With roughly two-thirds of the peak snow-producing season already behind us, the likelihood of fully recovering these losses is diminishing.
For golf course owners and operators in California and downstream western states, snowpack matters because the Sierra Nevada supplies roughly 30 percent of California’s water needs. Snowpack functions as a natural reservoir, gradually releasing water through spring and summer. When snowpack is below average, runoff is reduced, and water managers are forced to make difficult allocation decisions that can directly affect irrigation supplies for golf facilities.
The near-term picture is mixed. On the positive side, major reservoirs across California are currently at 126 percent of average, supported by recent storms and three consecutive years of strong snowpack. This stored water provides an important buffer and may delay immediate restrictions. However, reservoir levels alone do not eliminate risk. Water agencies rely heavily on snowpack data to set State Water Project allocations, and prolonged below-average snow conditions can lead to tighter controls later in the year, particularly if spring temperatures rise quickly or additional precipitation fails to materialize.
For the golf industry, the implications extend beyond California, who have not been the recipient of rainfall and snow melt as realized by California. Many western states depend on shared river systems and coordinated water management decisions influenced by Sierra snowpack forecasts. Reduced allocations can translate into irrigation limits, higher water costs, restrictions on turf conversions, and increased scrutiny of water use practices, especially during peak summer play when demand is highest.
Operationally, golf facilities should be preparing now for a range of scenarios. This includes reviewing irrigation efficiency, stress-testing maintenance budgets for potential water price increases, planning agronomic adjustments, and staying engaged with local water authorities. Resort courses and tourism-driven markets may also face added pressure to balance water conservation mandates with customer expectations for course conditions.
In short, while reservoirs remain strong today, the downward snowpack trend reinforces a familiar reality for western golf: water reliability is increasingly volatile. The next DWR snow survey in a few weeks will be critical. If March storms fail to materialize, golf facilities across the West should expect water management decisions later this year that could directly affect operations, costs, and course conditioning strategies.