Case Study: Improving water efficiency at Seaham Harbour Golf Club
9th April 2026
Seaham Harbour Golf Club spans over 6,047 yards and has multiple facilities across the premises, so water efficiency is of the utmost importance. Club manager, Michael Trippett explains what it takes to keep his course and premises in good health – and why working closely with a water supplier is crucial to finding value for money.
If you’ve ever played a round of golf, you’ll know how crucial the condition of the course is. Lush greens, smooth fairways and well-kept tees don’t just happen – they rely on care, attention and, of course, water.
For Michael Trippett, Manager at Seaham Harbour Golf Club, the ongoing maintenance of his course and the wider club is a daily consideration.
“I oversee everything,” Michael says. “From the green staff to the bar team, the pro shop and reporting to the board – it’s all part of the role. Most days, you’re firefighting whatever comes up but it’s never dull and I enjoy the challenge.”
Getting on top of water issues and keeping costs controlled
Seaham Harbour Golf Club is a busy, 100-year-old course with a thriving clubhouse, catering facilities, and recently refurbished washrooms. But the real demand for water comes from the 6,047-yard course itself.
“The irrigation system is key,” Michael explains. “If the greens and tees aren’t up to standard, members won’t be happy.”
The club relies on a 20,000-litre tank, mainly filled with borehole water. But last year brought a perfect storm of problems. Michael says,
“It was a very dry year, so the borehole couldn’t keep up. We had to rely more on mains water. At the same time, we discovered two leaks – one underground and another in the irrigation system.”
These costly leaks demonstrated the financial impact of water being wasted and encouraged the golf club to look at implementing tools and technologies to both reduce consumption and closely monitor potential leaks.
Having experienced the cost and inconvenience of substantial water leaks, Seaham Harbour Golf Club engaged with Everflow in January 2026 to conduct an EcoMOT – a water audit designed to uncover inefficiencies and spot potential issues early. These fixes can include installing water-saving devices in toilets or simply reducing tap flow rates. While relatively small wins, these changes nevertheless have the ability to save the club £300 per year, 600 kWh of energy and an estimated 100 litres of water per day.
“These are small changes, but they all add up,” says Michael. “It’s still early days, but we’re already thinking more carefully about how we use water.”
Taking on the challenge of an ageing water tank
Aside from the smaller, quicker fixes, the Everflow team identified a more substantial issue: the club’s ageing 20,000-litre water tank. Michael explains,
“We’ve had issues with this water tank for years. We tried to repair it, but the problem kept persisting. The team at Everflow gave us a quote to replace the tank and suggested that we trialled rainwater harvesting alongside a new tank. This is incredibly beneficial to a location like Seaham where it rains heavily. I couldn’t believe we had never considered this before!”
This rainwater harvesting will save the club a further £300 a year and 300 litres per day of mains water it is estimated. The report also suggested adding a reverse osmosis system so that the whole site, including toilets, sinks, and showers, would no longer need mains water.
“Repairing the tank is nearly the same cost as it would be to replace it, so it’s a no-brainer. However, that sum is still costly, and we are looking for funding. Being able to upgrade the current tank and implement rainwater harvesting would cut our water bill costs and make a great difference,” Michael adds.
Working more closely with Everflow
While managing water supply and dealing with issues such as leaks isn’t always easy, Michael is happy with the service the club has received from Everflow.
“The team at Everflow are very friendly and informative. They’re always there to help and respond to queries very quickly. Despite one mishap with our meter readings, the team did give us a leakage allowance and the process of getting that was very smooth. I’d give them a solid 8 out of 10.”
For Seaham Harbour Golf Club, water efficiency is no longer just about reacting to problems – it’s about planning for the future. With smarter systems, better monitoring, and potential upgrades on the horizon, the club is taking control of its water usage – helping to protect both the course and its bottom line.
If, like Seaham Harbour Golf Club, you’re looking for ways to improve the water efficiency across your business, book your EcoMOT today.
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