What to expect in 2025 and 2026

As a superintendent, it is up to you and your management team to prepare and adapt to environmental changes and trends. Radius Sports Group president Gina Rizzi works to educate golf courses for those expected patterns — and prepare for the unexpected flash points.

Radius Sports Group, founded by Rizzi, is a sustainable consulting business that focuses on golf and motor sports. The group focuses on educating superintendents on best management practices for sustainability. As Rizzi discussed expectations for the year, she described trends, which are based on developed patterns, and flashpoints, which are quickly established and more urgent situations.

In 2025, the first thing superintendents can expect is an emphasis on potential variances in federal-state-city environmental regulations and corporate responsibility. 

“It's really looking at how do we arm superintendents with the right tools to be able to face whatever may or may not be wrapped around regulations and changes in regulations,” Rizzi says. 

BMPs for preparing for regulation changes can include keeping proper records of applications, pursuing environmental certifications and developing an annual irrigation budget.

Second, superintendents should prepare for changes in energy dependency and fossil fuel dependency. 

Energy source regulations are constantly changing, and political changes and leadership can bring policy changes. Under President Donald Trump’s administration, drilling for fossil fuels is expected to increase and energy sources are being explored. Regulations vary by state, so remaining educated on key changes is essential. For example, in a state like Nevada, where most fossil fuels are imported, knowing about the political climate around fossil fuels is a necessity. In a state like New Jersey, where legislators are pushing for a transition to electric-powered blowers, it’s crucial to understand the challenges and potential regulations and solutions.

Rizzi recommends tracking energy usage, inspecting pump systems and considering integration of electric equipment where practicable.

Superintendents can also expect effects of urban sprawl and loss of biodiversity in the industry. Population density and increased Built Environments can create pollution, habitat loss, urban heat islands and other environmental and human factors. Urban sprawl could threaten golf courses due to the public not recognizing the benefits of green space, so using your voice to educate about the environmental work being done on your course should be a top priority. 

To counteract these consequences, identifying threatened wildlife species, selecting plants to attract pollinators and preserving native plants and species can all help reverse loss of biodiversity.

A major flashpoint golf courses will see are the effects of water scarcity and management. “Water conservation and water quality management are going to continue to be trends,” Rizzi says. Water quality continues to be monitored, especially in the Northeast, and water conservation continues to be essential in areas such as California, Texas, Arizona and high drought states. 

The final trend Rizzi shared in our conversation was waste and plastic pollution. Although regulations around golf courses are few right now, they can come at any time. Rizzi recommends superintendents and general managers be aware of plastics being used on the property and suggests implementing recycling and biodegradable systems.

This year’s trends will still be here in 2026. “They’re not going to go away,” Rizzi says. She predicts water and pesticide regulations will continue and energy regulations will vary between state and federal governments.

To best manage sustainability trends, Rizzi stresses the importance of developing BMPs at your facility. “The BMPs are a way to be armed,” she says, “to be prepared, and to have a way to substantiate efforts and show the efforts that are being made.”