As the dry weather continues across large parts of the country, BIGGA CEO Jim Croxton cited the need for Club Managers and Course Managers to work together to navigate the challenges.
Club Managers are being urged to support their greenkeeping teams as they contend with the driest spring for decades.
Following some exceptionally wet recent winters, the spring of 2025 has brought a stark contrast. According to the Met Office, rainfall across many regions has been at historic lows. Wales recorded its driest March since 1944, while East Anglia experienced its second-driest March on record. With May showing little improvement, greenkeepers are under extreme pressure to maintain playing surfaces amid growing turf stress.
These conditions are presenting major challenges for turf recovery and maintenance. Areas without irrigation, such as fairways, are suffering, while teams attempt to preserve greens and tees with limited water resources.
BIGGA CEO Jim Croxton said: “Our advice to clubs is to engage in professional dialogue with your Course Manager, set agreed objectives and show open support for your team of greenkeepers.
“They will be much more motivated and determined to overcome these challenges with strong support from their members.”
Reflecting on the ongoing challenge faced by those on the front line of golf course maintenance, he added: “Our climate provides huge challenges for golf courses, particularly at a time when appropriate resources are becoming scarce and some key tools for turf management are being taken away.
“It is critical that Club Managers and officers engage with their greenkeeping teams to understand the challenges we are facing and then proactively communicate with golfers to manage their expectations.”
Croxton wants to see the strong relationship shared by BIGGA and the GCMA reflected in the professional dynamic of Club Manager and Course Manager – two people whose role in the overall health of any golf club can scarcely be overstated.
“BIGGA really values its relationship with the GCMA, our ambitions are very closely aligned, with both organisations focussed on the people within golf clubs whose skilled work is critical to the health of golf,” he said.
“Our sport uniquely depends on talented people to provide golfers with the golf club and course experience they want. In my experience the most successful golf clubs have highly professional managers working with highly motivated greenkeeping teams in a positive fashion.
“A mutually supportive relationship between Club and Course Managers is imperative.”
David Byron, Head Greenkeeper at Thorndon Park Golf Club in Essex, said: “It’s very, very dry. It’s the driest start to spring in nearly 70 years. We’ve had almost no rain, and what we have had has come in just one hit.
“In our fairways, we’re down to about 3–4% moisture content. Normally, you’d want 10 to 15% for the grass species we have.”
Royal Aberdeen’s Course Manager, Richard Johnstone, said he had recorded just 11mm of rainfall between April and early May: “We’re experiencing extreme weather patterns. There’s no longer a balance. Instead, we’re seeing one extreme or the other – either constant pouring rain or complete drought.
“There doesn’t seem to be much consistency anymore, and that presents some big challenges.”
Paul Woodham, The R&A’s Agronomy Lead for Europe and the UK, noted that warm days combined with cold nights have disrupted seasonal growth, resulting in stressed grass and delayed recovery from winter damage.
Clubs are encouraged to communicate openly with their members, sharing insight into current conditions and course management strategies. Transparent engagement and social media updates are key tools to foster support.
“As course managers, it’s our responsibility to communicate and educate,” said Johnstone. “We need to use various channels like social media, blogs, and other platforms to help people understand the current conditions and our management approach.”
Find out more about the impact the dry weather is having on golf courses: https://www.bigga.org.uk/news-listing/uk-greenkeepers-on-lack-of-rainfall-this-spring.html
