The drought in the summer of 2022 in Europe created a strong emotional backdrop in public opinion against certain sports played on grass because of the need for irrigation.

Indeed, while agriculture was struggling to get water, and plants, greenery and water bodies were observed to dry up, the media noted that sports fields, especially golf courses, were still irrigating.

Acts of vandalism have taken place in some golf courses in France by organized groups.

These actions are unacceptable from a legal point of view. Even if morally, it is true that watering a golf course or a soccer field next to a field that is struggling to grow its fruits or vegetables may be difficult to defend.

Caught up in the turmoil, the outdoor sports industry, and golf in particular, does not have many arguments to defend itself.

But as in any crisis, there is always a silver lining.

This drought of 2022 will have demonstrated the power of GEPS technology to manage stormwater.

GEPS provides a natural and optimal way to manage the distribution of moisture in the soil. Once the GEPS system is installed, it allows water in the soil to be distributed from wetter areas to less wet areas.

During rainfall, GEPS has a top-down effect, accelerating the infiltration of rainwater. During dry periods, the movement is reversed and the humidity is distributed from the bottom to the top.

The summer of 2022 was a powerful demonstration of the benefits of GEPS on golf courses during dry periods. 

Aurélie Morandin, Head Greenkeeper of the Saint Omer AA Golf Course in the Pas-de-Calais region of France, told us enthusiastically: “Despite this year’s exceptional drought, our area equipped with the GEPS system has held up well. It is the only part of the fairway on the course that has remained green and has kept almost all its density without any watering and only 5 mm of cumulative rainfall in July and August.”

And since a picture is worth a thousand words: