Course operator American Golf, which manages more than 110 facilities across the US, is working with state officials to conserve water on its southern California courses by retrofitting sprinklers with efficient metal nozzles.

“We are working with the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California (MWD), which is offering rebates to golf courses that switch out plastic nozzles to FCI Profile metal nozzles,” said Scott Bourgeois, American Golf's southern California director of maintenance and a GCSAA Class A member. “This programme is an excellent opportunity to participate in a beneficial partnership with the MWD to help achieve water conservation goal.”

Launched last summer at the Sea Cliff Country Club in Huntington Beach, the retrofit replaces factory-installed plastic nozzles with FCI Profile metal nozzles with stainless steel orifices, proven to increase distribution uniformity and save water. The company reckons to retrofit facilities in four southern California counties and encompass more than 20,000 nozzle switch-outs.

At Sea Cliff, Bourgeois anticipates a five per cent reduction in water use, which translates to 6-10 million gallons (22.7-37.9 million litres) annually.