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More Science. Less Guesswork.
Today’s golf courses operate under extensive Best Management Practices, commonly called BMPs. These are science-based environmental standards developed through partnerships between universities, environmental scientists, regulators, and the golf industry. And in Florida, those standards are especially rigorous.
Modern golf course management relies heavily on:
- soil moisture sensors
- weather-based irrigation systems
- precision irrigation technology
- targeted nutrient applications
- reclaimed water systems
- native vegetation buffers
- water quality monitoring
In plain language, that means golf courses today use much more science and much less guesswork than they did decades ago.
Florida golf courses are also heavily regulated.
Golf course managers in Florida don’t simply “water the grass.”
They work within detailed environmental guidelines that govern irrigation, fertilizer use, stormwater management, wildlife habitat protection, water quality monitoring, and pesticide application.
Many superintendents complete specialized environmental certification programs focused specifically on protecting Florida’s water resources.
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Golf Courses Can Help Filter Stormwater
This is the part that many people find surprising.
Healthy turfgrass and planted buffer areas can actually help filter and absorb stormwater before it reaches rivers, estuaries, and groundwater systems.
Scientists often refer to these areas as “vegetative filter strips.” Simply put, they are grasses and native plants strategically planted to slow runoff and help trap sediment and nutrients before they reach waterways.
Turfgrass itself has dense root systems that stabilize soil, reduce erosion, and naturally absorb nutrients.
Many golf courses also include ponds, lakes, wetlands, and natural shoreline plantings that help manage and filter stormwater across large areas of land.
In places like Martin County, where protecting waterways is a deeply shared priority, those systems matter.
Less Water Than the Public Often Assumes
Water use is one of the most common concerns people raise about golf courses.
But nationally, golf facilities now use nearly 29% less water than they did in 2005.
Many courses have reduced irrigated turf areas, installed smarter irrigation systems, and shifted toward drought-tolerant grasses.
About 21% of golf course irrigation water nationwide now comes from reclaimed water - highly treated recycled water that can be reused instead of discharged elsewhere.
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More than Recreation
As any golfer can tell you, golf courses also provide significant wildlife habitat and open space.
Many support birds, butterflies, pollinators, turtles, and native vegetation. Some courses intentionally create pollinator gardens and native planting areas to support bees and butterflies. Others host bird counts, wildlife tours, and habitat restoration projects.
Researchers estimate golf courses are typically about 96% open green space made up of grasslands, wooded areas, and water bodies.
That doesn’t mean golf courses are untouched natural systems. They aren’t.
But it does mean they often serve as important green infrastructure within increasingly developed communities.
A More Nuanced Conversation
None of this suggests golf courses have zero environmental impact. No developed landscape does.
But it does refute the idea that golf courses are just wasteful consumers of water and chemicals.
Like agriculture, golf course management has evolved dramatically through science, technology, regulation, and environmental stewardship.
And in Martin County, where water quality and conservation are deeply important to our community identity, understanding those nuances matters.
Because sometimes the landscapes we see as purely recreational are also quietly helping protect the natural resources we value most.
Sincerely,
Rick Hartman and the One Martin Board of Directors
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