Arizona, August 30, 2025
News Summary
A superintendent from a Phoenix-area golf course has made history by being inducted into the Arizona Golf Hall of Fame, recognizing his innovative work in water conservation and irrigation. His career reflects a blend of turf management and active policy engagement, emphasizing sustainable practices in the desert environment. Notable achievements include a $2 million irrigation overhaul and substantial reductions in irrigated acreage, providing a model for water efficiency in golf courses across arid regions.
Paradise Valley, Ariz.
Big recognition for smart water work
In a move that highlights water smarts as much as golf chops, a longtime superintendent at a Phoenix-area course has been added to the state’s Hall of Fame for his leadership on irrigation and conservation. The induction recognizes a career that blends turf management, large-scale irrigation upgrades, and active policy work to help golf courses operate in a desert climate.
From a water crisis to long-term fixes
The story really turned in 2006 when the course was cited by the state water agency for exceeding its allocated usage. The club was forced to shut off water to 10 of its 122 acres during that episode, which led to the loss of turf and mature trees and drove a tough but necessary rethink of how the property used water.
That rethink became a full-scale irrigation overhaul. The renovation, focused squarely on water conservation and modernizing the system, carried a price tag of nearly $2 million. The outcomes were concrete: the renovated system allowed the course to stay within its water-use allocation for nearly 20 years after the project, showing that investment and planning can pay off in long-term compliance and resource savings.
Cutting irrigated acreage and planning more reductions
Part of the conservation strategy included reducing irrigated turf. The property went from 122 irrigated acres down to 96 acres, with plans to trim that further to about 90 acres. Those changes reduce the volume of water needed to keep the course playable while creating opportunities to re-think non-play areas so they are better suited to the desert environment.
Hands-on, technical approach to irrigation
The superintendent’s approach relies on squeezing more efficiency out of existing systems and testing meticulously before making changes. Practices noted include improving irrigation system distribution efficiency and versatility, and using multiple soil moisture tools such as time domain reflectometry, handheld moisture meters, and probes to guide decisions. These data-driven steps help deliver water only where and when turf actually needs it.
Innovation and turf trials
Beyond hardware and monitoring, the course is exploring turf alternatives that better fit desert water budgets. Trials include looking at zoysiagrass varieties that could reduce overseed requirements and demand less water—part of a broader strategy of balancing playability with environmental stewardship.
From club work to statewide policy
The superintendent has been a member of the professional association for 34 years and is active beyond the course, serving as chairman of a Water Policy committee within the state’s golf alliance. That role involves frequent engagement with the Arizona Department of Water Resources to help shape practical water regulations for commercial users, aiming for rules that are enforceable and realistic for turf managers.
A mentor and recognized innovator
Industry groups have taken note of the program’s technical and educational contributions. The superintendent has been recognized for innovative irrigation practices and is known for sharing lessons at conferences and trade shows, positioning himself as a mentor and educator on water conservation for peers across the state. His induction marks him as the 11th superintendent to join the Arizona Golf Hall of Fame and the first since an inductee selected in 2021.
Career background that builds credibility
Before his long tenure at the Paradise Valley course, he served as superintendent at a Missouri club and as assistant superintendent at a Scottsdale facility. He also spent two years as an intern at a prestigious Ohio club early in his career. Those stages built a foundation of experience that informed the later focus on irrigation system efficiency and policy engagement.
What this means for golf in Arizona
The induction underscores a shift in how the golf community measures success. It’s not only about championship tees or rolling fairways; in arid states, leadership on how to conserve water, adapt turf choices, and build practical regulations is now central to keeping golf viable. The result is a model other courses can study: targeted investment, careful monitoring, and steady outreach to regulators and peers.
FAQ
Who was inducted into the Hall of Fame?
The long-serving superintendent at the Paradise Valley course was inducted for his leadership in water conservation and industry education.
Why was the induction notable?
It recognizes a blend of on-course conservation work, a major irrigation renovation, and leadership in state-level water policy—an emphasis on sustainability in a desert golf market.
What happened during the 2006 water citation?
The course was cited for exceeding water allocations; water was turned off to 10 of 122 acres, resulting in loss of turf and trees and spurring a nearly $2 million irrigation overhaul.
How much irrigated turf remains and what are the plans?
Current irrigated acreage was reduced from 122 to 96 and there are plans to reduce it further to about 90 acres to conserve water.
What conservation tools and strategies were used?
Upgraded irrigation hardware, improved distribution efficiency, detailed soil moisture testing using time domain reflectometry and handheld meters, and trials with lower-water turf varieties such as zoysiagrass.
How does this affect other golf courses?
The example provides a practical blueprint for courses in arid regions: invest in efficient systems, apply data-driven irrigation, and engage with regulators to craft workable policies.
Quick reference table
| Topic | Detail |
|---|---|
| Professional membership | 34 years with the national turf management association |
| Water citation | 2006 citation for exceeding allocated water; 10 of 122 acres had water turned off |
| Irrigation renovation | Major system overhaul focused on conservation; cost nearly $2 million |
| Irrigated acreage | Reduced from 122 acres to 96 acres; planned reduction to about 90 acres |
| Monitoring tools | Time domain reflectometry, handheld moisture meters, moisture probes |
| Policy role | Chair of a state golf water policy committee, engages with the state water department on commercial regulations |
| Recognition | Inducted as the 11th superintendent in the state’s Golf Hall of Fame |
| Turf trials | Exploring zoysiagrass and other varieties to reduce water use and overseed needs |
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Additional Resources
- Golfdom: Paradise Valley CC Director Induction
- Livingston Enterprise: Controversial Golf Course
- GCM Online: Rob Collins Induction
- Phoenix Magazine: Valley Neighborhood Rankings
- AZ Central: Arizona Golf Association Inductees
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