Golf Courses vs. People: Who Really Uses Las Vegas's Water?
While Lake Mead dries up and residents face restrictions, Las Vegas golf courses consume 725 acre-feet of water each per year. Water that cannot be recycled. Who comes first?
The average golf course in Southern Nevada consumes about 725 acre-feet of water per year—water from the Colorado River that, unlike indoor use, cannot be reclaimed and returned to Lake Mead. As the water crisis deepens, golf courses remain thirsty.
The Golf Water Problem
Unlike water used indoors (which is treated and returned to Lake Mead), water used for irrigation evaporates or soaks into the ground. It's gone for good.
Golf courses are among the largest outdoor water users:
- 725 acre-feet: Average annual consumption per course
- 50+: Golf courses in the Las Vegas Valley
- Millions of gallons: Lost to evaporation annually
Recent Restrictions
In response to the water crisis, the Las Vegas Valley Water District has imposed new restrictions on golf courses:
- November 2021: New golf courses banned from using Colorado River water
- January 2024: Water budgets reduced from 6.3 to 4 acre-feet per irrigated acre
- Surcharges: Courses that exceed their budget face financial penalties
These are steps in the right direction, but existing courses continue to consume significant water.
The Conservation Argument
Golf course advocates point to conservation efforts:
- Courses have removed more than 900 acres of grass from non-playing areas since 1999
- This has saved more than 2 billion gallons of water
- Many courses use "water-smart" landscaping in areas outside fairways and greens
The Anthem golf course, for example, recently removed 900 acres of unused grass as part of valley-wide conservation efforts.
The Counter-Argument
Critics argue that conservation efforts by golf courses, while helpful, don't change the fundamental equation: golf courses use massive amounts of non-recyclable water in a desert that's running out.
Questions remain:
- Should a luxury amenity receive any Colorado River water during a crisis?
- Are restrictions strong enough given the severity of Lake Mead's decline?
- Why are existing courses grandfathered in while new development is banned?
Priorities in a Crisis
If Lake Mead continues to fall, difficult choices will be required. What gets cut first?
- Residential outdoor watering?
- Golf courses?
- Resort pools and fountains?
- Parks and green spaces?
So far, policymakers have avoided forcing these choices by implementing broad conservation measures. But as the crisis deepens, priorities will have to be set.
The Wealth Factor
Golf in Las Vegas is not equally distributed. The sport skews toward higher incomes and resort guests. When water is allocated to golf courses, it's being allocated to:
- Tourists who can afford greens fees
- Residents of golf course communities
- Corporate entertainment
Meanwhile, residents in lower-income neighborhoods face the same restrictions without the same amenities.
What Should Happen
Possible policy responses include:
- Mandatory conversion of golf courses to desert landscaping
- Higher water rates for golf courses during shortage periods
- Caps on total golf course water use across the valley
- Incentives for courses to convert to non-grass alternatives
The question is political will. Golf courses have influential members. But Lake Mead doesn't care about politics.