As autumn turns to winter, the work of maintaining a golf course changes dramatically. For most greenkeepers, the months ahead are not about presentation or precision mowing, but about protection. At the centre of that challenge lies one critical issue: drainage.
Persistent rainfall, water-logged fairways and prolonged periods of saturation can turn even the best-managed courses into a maintenance battle. Yet while winter drainage problems are familiar to every club, the underlying causes—and the best ways to mitigate them—are evolving as weather patterns change and infrastructure ages.
This article explores the most common drainage challenges golf courses face in winter, and what forward-thinking clubs can do to stay one step ahead.
The Seasonal Shift: Why Winter Magnifies Drainage Problems
Golf courses are designed to manage water naturally. The undulations, grass types, soil composition and subsurface systems all play a role in allowing rainfall to move through and away from the playing surfaces. However, as winter sets in, three key factors combine to make drainage management far more difficult:
- Saturated soils
During prolonged wet spells, the soil profile reaches full saturation, leaving no room for additional rainfall to infiltrate. When this happens, surface water has nowhere to go, resulting in puddling, standing water, and root stress.
For example, at Loch Lomond Golf Club in Scotland, an infiltration rate as low as 0.01 mm per hour was recorded in the existing soil, despite annual rainfall around 2 metres. (bigga.org.uk) - Reduced evaporation and plant uptake
Shorter days, lower temperatures and dormant turf mean that less water is removed naturally. The system that works efficiently in summer can quickly become overwhelmed in winter. - Freeze–thaw cycles
Repeated freezing and thawing of water within the soil can compact layers and cause minor structural failures in drainage lines. Over time, this reduces flow capacity and creates new low points for water accumulation.
The Real Cost of Poor Drainage
When drainage systems underperform, the consequences are more than cosmetic. Standing water affects:
- Playability – Fairways and greens can become unplayable, leading to course closures or restricted access.
A survey reported that some clubs were closed two to four times more days than normal during winter due to saturated conditions. (thegolfbusiness.co.uk) - Turf health – Prolonged saturation reduces oxygen availability in the root zone, weakening turf and encouraging disease.
- Soil structure – Repeated traffic over wet ground leads to compaction, reducing permeability and worsening the drainage issue long-term.
- Financial performance – Fewer playing days and increased maintenance demands directly impact club revenues and budgets.
In Scotland, a greenkeeper at Bathgate Golf Club recorded 611 mm of rainfall between October and January 2023-24 — equivalent to 2.5 average-sized swimming pools on that site. (The Scotsman)
While temporary measures such as aeration or sand topdressing can provide short-term relief, they rarely address the underlying cause. That’s where strategic, system-wide thinking becomes essential.
Evolving Challenges in a Changing Climate
One of the emerging realities for course managers is that traditional drainage systems are being tested beyond their original design. Many installations were built decades ago, sized for predictable rainfall patterns that no longer exist.
In recent years, Scottish courses have seen:
- Heavier, more frequent downpours in shorter timeframes.
- Longer periods of saturated ground.
- Increased pressure on existing outfalls and soakaways.
A 2023 report noted that for Scottish golf courses, “course drainage works are the top priority by quite a margin” in terms of improvement projects, reflecting the seriousness of the wetness issue in the face of wetter winters.
These shifts require a more flexible and resilient approach to drainage design — one that combines surface management, subsurface engineering and modern materials to handle increasingly variable conditions.
Modern Solutions for Sustainable Drainage
Effective drainage today involves more than just pipes beneath the fairways. It’s about creating a connected system that manages water intelligently, from surface to subsoil.
Some of the key approaches include:
- Upgrading existing systems – Replacing ageing clay or blocked pipes with modern corrugated or twin-wall systems improves flow and longevity.
- Installing secondary drainage – Sand slit or gravel-band systems help remove surface water more rapidly in high-traffic areas such as greens and approaches.
- Using geotextiles and membranes – These materials prevent fine soil ingress into drains while stabilising the surrounding structure.
- Improving infiltration zones – Enhancing outfalls, soakaways or attenuation areas ensures that excess water is discharged efficiently.
- Managing traffic and compaction – During wet months, rerouting play and limiting machinery on vulnerable areas helps maintain soil porosity.
For example, Loch Lomond’s renovation involved not only a full drainage infrastructure rebuild (valued at £6.5m–£7.5m) but also sand-capping, geotextile-lined trenches and redesigned pipe sizing to suit the 2 000 mm annual rainfall and poor infiltration soils. (golfcoursearchitecture.net)
The Value of Proactive Maintenance
Even the best-designed drainage systems need regular inspection and care. Catchpits, outfalls and inspection chambers should be checked and cleared before the wet season. Mapping existing lines and monitoring flow during rainfall events can reveal blockages or underperforming zones before they escalate.
Simple interventions — such as jetting old lines, repairing collapsed sections, or extending laterals in problem areas — often deliver significant improvements without requiring full-scale reconstruction.
Building Resilience for the Future
The challenge of winter drainage isn’t going away. As rainfall patterns shift and courses face increasing use year-round, effective water management is becoming a defining feature of modern golf course design and maintenance.
Those who invest time and attention in understanding their site’s hydrology — and partner with specialists who can help tailor solutions — will protect not only their playing surfaces but their long-term sustainability.
Speak to one of our experts
If your club is reviewing its drainage performance or planning winter improvements, our team can help you explore the options, materials and strategies best suited to your course.
To speak to one of our experts, please call us 0141 892 8950, complete our online form or to visit your local branch – use our branch locator below.
