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The captain of Alderney’s golf club has described the course as “patches of green in a sea of brown” following the prolonged dry spell.
While Alderney States said the golf club has been granted “special permission” to use sprinklers during an island-wide sprinkler ban, the golf club has opted to use its own supply of water.
“We have our own well which we use for the greens. We have the option to tap into the States’ water supply should we need, but we stopped using States’ water when the sprinkler ban was imposed,” said Pete Cunningham.
“We are keeping the greens watered, but the fairways are completely brown. It doesn’t affect play too much.”
Pictured: The States of Alderney said that greenkeepers at the golf club had been given "special permission" to continue to use sprinklers during the ban.
Exemptions to water usage for golf clubs has been an issue globally and has faced backlash from climate activists. In France, a group reportedly linked to Extinction Rebellion, blocked holes with cement at the Garonne des Sept Deniers and Vielle-Toulouse golf clubs.
Golf Monthly reported the incident last week (full article available HERE), stating “the exemption of golf greens sparked controversy as 100 French villages are reportedly short of drinking water.
“The activists state that golf is the "leisure industry of the most privileged"… a recent petition from those activists stated that “economic madness takes precedence over ecological reason".”
Pictured: Golf clubs in Guernsey, including L'Ancresse, would be allowed to use sprinklers if a hosepipe ban was introduced locally.
Guernsey Water confirmed that, even if a hosepipe ban were to be introduced, golf clubs on the island would be able to continue to water the courses.
Water Quality Manager, Margaret McGuinness, said: “Guernsey is different to Alderney. Golf clubs over here don't use potable water, they have their own untreated water supplies, so even if we did introduce a hosepipe ban they would still be able to continue to use their sprinklers.”
Islanders urged to cut back on water use
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