It’s April 2026, and everything feels bone dry around Denver. I’ve been playing golf here for years, and I hate seeing how stressed the grass looks on my local courses. Golf courses use a ton of water to keep things green, but they’re working hard to protect the turf and the environment at the same time. I think the biggest changes I’ve noticed are the cart path only rules and walking only days. Those rules might bug some people, but from what I’ve seen, they really help save the grass without shutting everything down.
When the ground gets this dry, it can’t take much punishment. Golf carts are pretty heavy, and if you drive them off the paths onto the fairways or rough, they leave ruts and compact the soil. That just makes the grass die faster and needs even more water to fix. That’s why so many spots around here, like Coal Creek and some in Loveland, have stuck with cart path only. You have to keep your cart on the paved paths the whole round. No shortcuts across the grass. It slows you down a bit because you end up walking more between shots, but I actually don’t mind it. The turf stays in better shape, so they don’t have to water as much to repair damage. It feels like a good trade-off to me.
Some courses have gone even stricter with walking only. I remember when a few Denver city courses made everyone walk until late March, and CommonGround in Aurora did it for part of the winter too. No carts at all. You carry your bag or push one, and that’s it. It cuts out all the vehicle weight on the turf, which is huge when the soil is so dry. The grass roots can breathe better, and the course doesn’t get beat up as bad. Yeah, it makes the round tougher if you’re not used to it, especially on a hot day or if your bag is heavy. But I’ve done it a few times, and it wasn’t as bad as I thought. Plus, it makes you feel like you’re doing a little something to help the environment.
I know some buddies of mine complain about these rules. They say it takes the fun out of it or makes rounds too slow. I get that. But honestly, I’d rather walk a bit or stay on the paths than see whole fairways turn brown and courses start closing holes. Golf means a lot to me and a lot of folks here in Colorado. These rules help keep the courses open longer with less water waste.
They’re doing other smart stuff too, like watering just the important areas and using recycled water where they can. Some places aerate the soil to help it soak up moisture better and mow the grass a little higher so it shades itself. It’s not perfect, but it shows they’re trying.
If you’re planning to play soon, just check the course website or call ahead. A little extra walking might not be fun, but it could save the grass for the rest of the summer. Who knows, it might even make me a better golfer in the long run. Let’s hope we get some real rain soon so things can go back to normal. In the meantime, I’m grateful the courses are open and doing what they can.