The opinions stated in this article are solely those of the author. 

Before reading this column, understand that I am not a golfer. Like most of you, I tried it along, with a lesson or two from a professional and numerous lectures from my father telling me to stop moving my head during the swing. In the end I found the sport frustrating, expensive, and time-consuming; the only part I enjoyed was relaxing with a cool beverage on the “19th hole.”

But with the historic snowfall amid seasons of extreme drought, golf is an activity that should be of at least casual interest to all of us, even those who don’t play the game. How often have you heard people moan about city-imposed water restrictions while passing sprinklers happily watering a golf course?

A waste of money and water, say some. No, an important community amenity, say others.

As a non-golfer, I have no dog in the fight. But I was delighted to see a university-sponsored water-use project reveal that Davis County’s largest public golf courses reduced water consumption during the past five years. As quoted in an analysis published by the Salt Lake Tribune, county golf director Dustin Volk said the Valley View course had cut its acre-feet of water some 23% in a three-year period and the Davis Park course had sliced its water some 15% in one year alone. In fact, Valley View was one of a handful of courses with the state’s lowest water use. 

Likewise, Eaglewood in North Salt Lake reduced some 20% of its previous water use through a variety of projects including single-head watering, decreasing irrigated areas, and the planting of more drought-tolerant grass.

Some will still argue that a sport played by a minority of citizens should not be subsidized with below-market water rates. But, pardon the pun, that doesn’t hold water. All residents receive below-market water rates. Golf courses should not be penalized for a rate from which we all benefit.

As for golf attracting a small segment of the overall population, that is true of all sports. Critics suggest that only 5% of the adult population are passionate golfers. Fine, but only 5% of Utahns attend Utah Jazz or Salt Lake Bees games either, but that doesn’t stop government from helping build stadiums along with granting other economic benefits, and local cities fund a variety of recreational programs serving a minority of their total taxpayers. 

Again, I’m not a golfer, but I do appreciate a golf course as a community asset, one that makes life more interesting and enjoyable for a significant portion of my neighbors. If the golf course managers are ignoring the drought, we have a right to be angry and critical. However, the statistics reveal otherwise; those in charge are making changes to conserve water, even at the expense of trees or the beauty of the landscape. 

Almost 80% of our water goes to agriculture. Government has a role in helping farmers and ranchers prosper. If we’re concerned about water depletion, we should turn our attention to water-thirsty alfalfa crops, not to the guy who simply wants to schedule a tee time. 

Bryan Gray, a longtime Davis County resident, is a former school teacher and has been a columnist for more than 26 years in newspapers along the Wasatch Front.