We take advantage of the amount of water we have by using it for unnecessary things. Most people are oblivious to the water crisis or just don’t care. We use water for things like aquariums, water parks, and for maintaining golf courses, while there are people out there who struggle to just take a bath. About half a billion people live in countries where the water is scarce and by 2025 it is estimated to increase to three billion because of the increasing population, which is expected to be 9 billion by then (Hanjra, 2010). Using up 50 billion gallons of water every year for golf courses alone, recreational things account for a lot of wasted water (Kaufman, 2009). Golf courses aren’t the only recreational activity that waste water, but they are certainly a major one, which is why there are different ways to help conserve water (Kaufman, 2009). The average golf course uses up a lot of water in order to keep the fairways nice and green (Getchell, 2000). Water is not only used to grow the turf, but after the turf is grown there is still very large water consumption (Getchell, 2000). But in places more harsh, like the Joshua Tree National Park in southern California, golf courses would require much more water (Himot, 2003). In this environment, the stream beds are usually dry, the average annual rainfall is slightly over four inches, and there are very few waterholes (Himot, 2003). Although the conditions aren’t perfect for a water conserving golf course, a private developer has plans to build a resort there (Himot, 2003). This resort would have 12 golf courses, three hotels, and nearly 7,000 homes (Himot, 2003). The 12 golf courses would need up to an estimated six million gallons of water a day (Himot, 2003). This would use up an enormous amount of water if bought out to plan. Golf course irrigation is another way that water is wasted (Getchell, 2000). About 80% of the water used by irrigation is lost because of evaporation and transpiration, therefore hindering the amount of water that returns to the aquifer (Getchell, 2000). With the amount of water that golf courses use, there are different methods to help conserve water (Kaufman, 2009). There are many different ways golf courses can help conserve the amount of water they consume. There is even a golf course in Afghanistan, called Kabul Golf Club, that claims to have no hazard on water at all (Semple, 2007). This nine-hole course has no grass and no defined line that distinguishes the fairways from the rough (Semple, 2007). The course is made up of a mixture of sand and oil that is packed down, and since the main reason for water loss in golf courses is the grass, a lot of the problems are eliminated (Semple, 2007). Conserving water doesn’t have to be that extreme though, there are also little things that could be done on golf courses that can make a huge difference. One way which is used by Mark Esoda, superintendent of the Atlanta Country Club, is an installment of monitors that prevent sprinklers from starting once it has rained (Kaufman, 2009). He also sends out workers to use watering cans, on areas where dry spots appear on the green, instead of turning on the sprinklers (Kaufman, 2009). Mr. Williams, the director Marriott's Stone Mountain public courses, has another effective way to conserve water (Kaufman, 2009). He lets the native grasses take over; he doesn’t mow the grass off the fairways and keeps his grass cut slightly higher than most courses (Kaufman, 2009). With his methods he has decreased water consumption by 45% in two golf courses (Kaufman, 2009). The amount of water that is wasted for golf courses alone per year is comparable to the amount that 1,400 people use a year (Kaufman, 2009). Golf courses require a ton of water to keep the turf nice, but there are also ways to help conserve water. It is important that these water conserving methods are utilized in order to save as much water as possible. There are people who dedicate their lives to trying to get water, which may not even be clean; while golf courses and other recreational things guzzle up all the water they want (Baldauf, 2007).

References
Baldauf, S. (July 27, 2007). Water, climate change, and the Darfur crisis. Christian Science Monitor, 99, 169.)
Getchell, F. J., & Beckman, W. K. (June 01, 2000). Are Golf Courses a Water Hazard? Meeting the Challenges of Golf Course Development. Parks & Recreation, 35, 6.)
Hanjra, M. A., & Qureshi, M. E. (October 01, 2010). Global water crisis and future food security in an era of climate change. Food Policy, 35, 5, 365-377.
Himot, K. (January 01, 2003). Special Report - Water-draining golf courses, chronic underfunding, and air pollution land some of America's national parks on NPCA's Ten Most Endangered List. National Parks : [the Magazine of the National Parks & Conservation Association], 77, 3, 24.
Kaufman, L. (August 06, 2009). Thirsty Golf Courses as Model for Water Thrift. New York Times.
Semple, K. (October 15, 2007). A Golf Course Where Water Is No Hazard. New York Times.