Many golf courses pride themselves on their lush landscapes, but few stop to consider the unseen challenges of maintaining them—especially on remote islands. In this episode, we dive into the unexpected realities of water management at one of the world’s most stunning new golf resorts, Cabot St. Lucia. Without easy access to freshwater, maintaining fairways and greens becomes a surprisingly complex and costly endeavor, revealing a hidden problem that many golf operations face without even realizing it.
As director of agronomy Damon Di Giorgio explains, water scarcity isn't just a looming environmental issue—it’s a daily operational reality that demands creative solutio...
Many golf courses pride themselves on their lush landscapes, but few stop to consider the unseen challenges of maintaining them—especially on remote islands. In this episode, we dive into the unexpected realities of water management at one of the world’s most stunning new golf resorts, Cabot St. Lucia. Without easy access to freshwater, maintaining fairways and greens becomes a surprisingly complex and costly endeavor, revealing a hidden problem that many golf operations face without even realizing it.
As director of agronomy Damon Di Giorgio explains, water scarcity isn't just a looming environmental issue—it’s a daily operational reality that demands creative solutions. From reverse osmosis desalination systems to microclimate-specific management strategies, Damon and his team must be meticulous with every drop. Listeners will come to appreciate how standard practices elsewhere would spell disaster in a setting like St. Lucia—and why sustainable resource management isn’t a bonus, but a necessity.
By the end of the conversation, you'll see how Cabot St. Lucia isn’t just surviving these challenges—they're setting a new standard for eco-conscious, cost-effective golf course management. Through innovative partnerships, on-site nurseries, and precision agronomy practices, the team at Cabot demonstrates that environmental sustainability and financial sustainability can—and must—go hand-in-hand for the future of golf.
Topics covered:
(0:00) Damon’s intro and Cabot St. Lucia
- John Failla introduces Damon Di Giorgio and shares personal experience playing the course
- Damon shares his background and role at Cabot St. Lucia
- Overview of Cabot Collection and Point Hardy Golf Club
(04:20) Damon’s agronomy leadership
- Damon explains his “head trash picker-upper” philosophy
- Three key divisions: beach cleaning, landscaping, and course maintenance
- Emphasis on supporting and mentoring his team leaders
(06:54) Defining sustainability locally
- Damon frames sustainability as both “the right thing” and “necessity”
- Explains high cost of desalinated irrigation water
- Describes Cabot's design prioritizing minimal water use
(08:53) Island operations challenges
- Long, complex supply chains vs. mainland operations
- Heavy reliance on planning, stocking, and improvisation
- Specific issues with beach cleaning and sargassum influx
(12:22) Big sustainability projects
- Replanting native plants removed during course construction
- Two onsite nurseries: landscaping propagation and organic farming
- Use of saltwater and organic fertilizers to reduce chemical use
(20:44) Key partnerships advancing sustainability
- Entire Cabot Collection enrolled in Audubon’s Platinum Signature Sanctuary program
- Toro partnership working toward AI-driven moisture management
- Regular soil testing and precision irrigation practices
(27:10) Future vision and tech innovation
- Focus on microclimate-based management across the course
- Research collaborations to time pest and weed control naturally
- Dream of reusing desalination brine for sustainable herbicide solutions
Resources & People Mentioned
- Cabot St. Lucia — https://cabotstlucia.com
- Audubon International’s Platinum Signature Sanctuary Program — https://www.auduboninternational.org/signature-sanctuary-certification
- Toro and TurfRad Technologies — https://www.turfnet.com/news.html/toro-and-turfrad-develop-new-moisture-sensor-technology-r1840/
Connect with Damon Di Giorgio
- Connect with Damon Di Giorgio on LinkedIn
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