It may seem like a distant memory now but we have just enjoyed the driest and warmest summer in memory. It meant that greenkeepers the length and breadth of the land faced some huge challenges in keeping our courses playable. And the good news is that, according to our latest membership survey, you have singled out the greens staff for special praise.
At my own club we have had preferred lies in place all year long. There were some grumbles – of course there were. But as we now head into the winter season the course has most definitely benefited. And the thing that all members have agreed on is that the greens have been consistently good throughout the year.
I have played a lot of golf in 2025 on courses throughout Norfolk and beyond and the one thing that has struck me above everything else has been how well kept almost every one of these courses has been. Being a greenkeeper is a thankless task, this year perhaps more than ever before. They have done an incredible job.
How challenging was 2025 for golf courses?
Despite one of the driest summers in recent memory, most golf clubs rose to the challenge – with greenkeepers earning high praise for maintaining playable and enjoyable conditions across the country.
Naturally, some of you reported that your courses suffered, citing scorched fairways and water shortages. But 55% of you praised the condition of your courses, praising the greenkeepers and pointing to improved irrigation and efficient management of resources. Climate change means that long hot summers are likely to become the norm and that means British golf clubs are going to have to find ways to meet the challenges that causes. We are also likely to see wetter winters, and that presents its own set of issues.
Golf clubs with modern irrigation systems, proactive maintenance and innovative practices such as robotic mowing and water recycling will thrive, while others will struggle to adapt to prolonged drought and heavy rainfall.
It is encouraging to note that many of you describe 2025 as one of the best playing years in living memory, highlighting fast-running fairways, firm greens, and consistent conditions. For senior golfers, rock-hard fairways were a bonus because it meant they were hitting longer drives than they had been able to do for years.
Praise for greenkeepers was widespread, underscoring their role as the key factor in determining whether the season was viewed as a success.
Golfers praise greenkeepers for their incredible work
Here is just some of the positive feedback we received from you:
“Despite the dry weather the course is as good as I have ever known it.” “The long spells of dry weather we have had this year has allowed our greenstaff to be able to get the course back to the great condition it was in before the previous approx 18 months of relentless rain in 2023 / 2024.” “Our course remained in great shape even though the local weather was hot and dry. I appreciate those efforts.” “The long dry summer has seen the course in the best condition for many years.” “Our course was excellent throughout the year.” “Exceptional weather and proper links conditions – best year for golf in a while.” “The course has remained well worth playing even through the dry spell.” Some golfers were concerned about the condition of courses
But some of you were not so happy with the conditions you faced:
“Lack of rainfall during the summer severely impacted on the condition of the course.” “Course conditions have been poor.” “The course got beaten up by the heat, hopefully it can recover.” “Course has been left in terrible condition due to poor management during extremely dry summer.” “Most courses weren’t prepared for the long dry summers, resulting in baked hard fairways.” “Our course took a beating this year with the prolonged hot and dry weather.” “Many clubs have suffered badly due to the lack of water.” “It’s a shame some of the bigger named courses are now charging stupid money for a round of golf despite the grass being burned up.”
It is all too easy to forget that water is a precious commodity and that many parts of the country imposed restrictions on its use. My own club has several ponds and streams, many of which dried up during the summer – and are still bone dry. For golf clubs without their own natural sources of water this was a deeply challenging year, as highlighted by the following comments:
“Just about every club has suffered from unusual weather conditions, mainly lack of water.” “Drainage is becoming a problem for some courses.” “The weather has caused issues with maintenance and many clubs seem to have difficulty maintaining a quality workforce.” “Most courses have been very dry. It does seem that clubs have been able to improve their courses.” “Pretty much all courses have suffered with the hot dry summer. A measure of how carefully a club plans ahead is what it does through the winter to combat these conditions in another similar year.” What are the key takeaways for golf courses this year? 55% of golfers said the dry weather did not deteriorate course conditions. 45% did experience some decline – mostly due to lack of irrigation or poor planning. Golfers repeatedly praised greenkeepers for their adaptability and hard work. The year highlighted a growing climate resilience gap between well-resourced and underprepared clubs.
As climate change continues to test golf courses across the UK, 2025 has proven that preparation, innovation, and skilled maintenance can make a difference. While some clubs struggled under the prolonged dry spell, many others showcased remarkable resilience – delivering some of the best playing conditions golfers can remember.
Derek Clements is a seasoned sports journalist and regular Golfshake contributor, specialising in tour coverage, opinion pieces, and feature writing. With a long career in national newspapers and golf media, he has reported on the game across Europe, the United States and Australia. A passionate golfer, he has played and reviewed numerous renowned courses, with personal favourites including Pebble Beach, Kingsbarns, Aldeburgh, Old Thorns and the K Club. His love of the game informs his thoughtful commentary on both professional golf and the wider golfing community.
