It's a time of transition for golf courses around the United States and wider world. With communities prioritizing sensible allocation of resources, water use is a particularly important topic, one that affects the present and future of golf course architecture. Golf courses are generally labor-intensive, and with labor and materials costs rising, facilities that can shore up this part of their balance sheets while continuing to offer golfers an enjoyable experience will have the brightest futures. Matt Ginella recently sat down with recent American Society of Golf Course Architects (ASGCA) President John Sanford, a Florida-based golf course architect, to talk about this and other trends. Sanford’s recent approach to golf course design has focused on reducing golf’s footprint while still offering a solid experience.