Are Golf courses a Water Hazard? Meeting the Challenges of Golf Course Development.

Local and state requirements have become more strict and officials are taking increasing care to ensure streams and neighboring properties are not impacted by a new golf course.

Whether you personally agree with Mark Twain's view of golf as "a good walk spoiled" or count yourself among the growing number of avid golfers for whom there is nothing finer than playing 18 holes on a sunny day, one thing is certain: developing a golf course is more challenging than ever. The approval process is becoming more complex as regulatory agencies and the public require more detailed assurances that a new golf course will not adversely impact surface and groundwater systems or the environment as a whole. But developers can minimize delays and other problems by addressing water and other environmental issues early in the planning process.

One of these major issues is water allocation and public acceptance of the proposed diversion. In the past, if water were drawn from a surfacewater source, planning boards typically were not concerned about potential adverse impact on ground water, and vice versa. But as awareness of the complex nature of hydrologic systems grows, developers must evaluate the potential impact of a new golf course on the quantity and quality of both surface and ground water--whatever the source.

As a result, it may take one to two years to obtain a water allocation permit, depending on the state in which the course will be located, and this timeframe could be extended due to local planning board approvals, which may be contingent upon receipt of a state permit.

Water Resource Management

The availability of an adequate supply of potable water for a golf course is of minimal concern in most regions. Instead, irrigation, water supply, and water resource management are key concerns. Even after the turf-growing period, water consumption for golf course irrigation is significant. Peak irrigation demand tends to coincide not only with the peak period for community water supply use, but also during the season when aquifer recharge and surface-water flow are at a minimum.

This impact on local water resources and offsite usage must be addressed in siting irrigation wells. In certain instances, water may be pumped from wells into a surface-water body from which it is distributed through the irrigation system. At other sites, it may be feasible to pump water directly from the wells to the irrigation system. When hydraulically feasible, the latter tends to be the best option because the temperature of the ground water (52-56 [degrees] Fahrenheit) is the optimum for turf, and there is no evaporation loss associated with the use of a pond. This approach also may simplify the approval process.

Many developers, especially in Florida, are using effluent (gray) water from wastewater treatment plants for irrigation. But this is not necessarily the "free" resource it appears to be. The site must be near enough to a wastewater treatment plant to make practical and economic sense. Furthermore, the potential impacts of diverting gray water that may have been discharged into a local river or provided as recharge to a local aquifer must be assessed and found acceptable to obtain a permit.

Another ground-water resource issue revolves around the fact that the majority (typically more than 80 percent) of the water used for irrigation is consumed by evaporation and transpiration. As a result, very little water percolates back down to the aquifer. Developers also may be required to install monitor wells to track the impact of fertilizers, pesticides, and herbicides on the local ground- and surface-water resources. Indeed, this issue often is one of the first concerns expressed by nearby residents and water purveyors.

These are issues faced not only in developing new golf courses, but also in obtaining permits for existing courses that may wish to switch from using surface water to ground-water sources. Technological advances (e.g., development of drought and disease-resistant turf grasses, improved types of turf management chemicals, methods of application, more knowledgeable designers, and green superintendents) can all strive to minimize the impact on water resources.

From Wetlands to Traffic Management

Wetlands concerns have long been with us, but sensitivity to this issue has increased greatly over the years. The fact is, almost any type of large-scale land development will most likely have some kind of wetland features, especially a property the size of a golf course. It often is difficult to avoid those features. Identifying potential effects of the proposed development on ponds or streams on or adjacent to the property is an important factor in getting approvals. The application process requires developers to identify wetlands, assess the ramifications, and identify ways to reduce negative impacts. If this is not possible, they may be required to create additional wetlands to offset those that will be affected.

Sanitary waste disposal is a key issue for permitting agencies and a primary concern of the public. Often a prospective golf course is sited in an area that is not served by sanitary sewers, and this requires design and approval of an onsite septic system. If the development consists of a golf course only, the design and approval for an onsite septic system differs little from that for the average residence. However, if the golf course has many amenities, such as a clubhouse, grill, banquet facilities, etc.--which is often the case due to the economic benefits--then a large waste disposal system will be needed.

Officials are becoming increasingly careful to ensure that the design of these sorts of systems is protective of the health of both the public and the environment. They often require a ground-water professional's assessment of the potential impact on the local aquifer and mandate an engineer's supervision during construction to avoid later failures in the system.

Storm-water management and the impacts on local water resources are also significant concerns. Local and state requirements have become more strict, and officials are taking increasing care to ensure streams and neighboring properties are not impacted either during construction, when soils and sediments can be a problem, or after completion, when turf management chemicals are used and paved areas increase the storm-water run-off and reduce ground-water recharge.

Permits and approvals on the local (i.e., planning and zoning, wetlands), state, and federal (i.e., U.S. Army Corps of Engineers) levels each require an application and supporting documentation that addresses all of these topics and more, often including proposed solutions for fuel storage, grading and landscaping issues, parking lot and access road lighting (i.e., "light pollution"), parking, and traffic.

How to Smooth the Process

Clearly, the process of obtaining permits and approvals for golf course development is becoming more time consuming, more detailed, and more expensive. In the past, an application may have consisted of two to three pages and a small booklet of supporting documentation. Today's applications are comprised of many pages and require a substantial amount of supporting documentation.

The permitting and approval process can be more effective with early involvement of both engineering professionals and regulators. Start by getting ground-water professionals and engineering consultants involved early in the design phase. Participate in meetings with agencies--even prior to submitting your applications--to answer questions and incorporate their concerns into the planning process to the best extent possible. This approach will help minimize questions and delays during the approval process. Be sure that permit and approval applications are clearly written, well indexed, and cross-referenced so that they are easy for the permitting agencies to understand.

Finally, be realistic about the time involved in the process. Some questions are inevitable in any case, and any changes in plans after application submittal will create delays. Planning and follow-up will not always guarantee a smooth shot down the center of the fairway, but it can minimize the amount of time spent hacking around in the rough, or worse yet, stuck in a sand trap.

Environmental impact is a necessary consideration when developing a new golf facility. Frank J. Getchell and William K. Beckman reveal some of the steps that can be taken to ensure water resource management and other environmental issues in "Are Golf Courses a Water Hazard?" (p. 72). Both authors are vice presidents with Leggette, Brashears, & Graham, Inc., a Connecticut-based professional ground-water and environmental services firm.

Getchell is a certified professional geologist with the American Institute of Professional Geologists and has more than 20 years of experience designing and implementing hydrogeologic investigations for groundwater supply development.

Beckman is a registered professional engineer in 17 states with more than 25 years of experience in designing ground-water supply systems and environmental assessment projects.