Drought restrictions: Check with your supplier and prepare for disruption 

Golf clubs are being advised to check the latest guidance from their water supplier and prepare for possible disruption as drought conditions and water restrictions take effect across large parts of England and Wales. 

The Environment Agency confirmed on 29 July that seven areas are formally in drought: East Anglia, Hertfordshire and London, Thames Valley, Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, Devon and Cornwall, the West Midlands and Wessex. 

A further six areas are experiencing prolonged dry weather, while seven water companies have introduced Temporary Use Bans (TUBs) covering around 23 million customers. 

The All-Party Parliamentary Group for Golf has provided the industry with an analysis of the developing situation and its potential implications for clubs. 

BIGGA CEO Jim Croxton said: "Greenkeeping teams are already managing the consequences of a prolonged dry period and the position may become more challenging as restrictions develop. 

"The most important step for every club is to establish exactly what applies in their area because the rules are not consistent from one water company to another. Clubs should check their supplier's latest guidance, understand whether their irrigation is mains-fed or relies on an independent source and review contingency plans now.  

"Preparing early will help clubs make informed decisions, communicate clearly with golfers and protect the most important playing surfaces if access to water becomes more limited." 

Restrictions are imposed by individual water companies rather than through one national set of rules, meaning the treatment of golf courses is not standardised. 

Some suppliers explicitly include golf courses, sports grounds, and recreational facilities within their restrictions. Others may allow limited watering of greens or sports turf during specified hours or provide certain exemptions. 

Clubs should not assume the rules applying in another region will also apply to them. They should consult their own supplier's current guidance and seek clarification directly where the position is unclear. 

TUBs apply to mains water. Where a ban covers golf courses, mains-fed automatic sprinklers and hosepipes may not be used to irrigate greens, tees, fairways or surrounds. 

Water drawn from a club's own boreholes, lakes or reservoirs is not covered by a TUB. However, clubs using these sources may still face separate Environment Agency controls. 

Where a club holds an abstraction licence for a borehole, lake or river intake, restrictions may be imposed if the source river or aquifer falls below a specified level. More than 1,500 abstraction licence restrictions have already been issued across all sectors during 2026. 

Conditions may change quickly if dry weather continues, with tighter measures possible in areas where water resources come under further pressure. Greenkeeping teams should review their water sources, irrigation priorities, and communication plans rather than waiting until additional restrictions are announced. 

As in previous drought periods the governing bodies of the game will continue to work closely with government, utilising the APPG, to make a strong case for golf to maintain necessary access to irrigation water to keep critical surfaces healthy.  

What you need to know 

• Restrictions are set at water-company level rather than nationally, so different regions may face materially different rules 
• The treatment of golf clubs is not standardised and varies by supplier
• TUBs only restrict mains water use, including automatic sprinkler systems and hosepipes supplied from the mains
• Water drawn from a club's own boreholes, lakes or reservoirs is not affected by a TUB
• Clubs with abstraction licences may still face Environment Agency restrictions if water levels fall below specified thresholds
• Clubs should check directly with their water supplier and prepare for possible disruption if restrictions are introduced or extended 

Resources 

England Golf Water Security Toolkit Scottish Golf Water Stewardship Report Scottish Golf Water Stewardship Guide R&A Water Portal