More than 140 golf clubs in England have violated their water extraction licenses over the past five years, according to a data analysis by The Guardian. These breaches occurred either by extracting more water than permitted, taking water outside of allowed periods, or failing to monitor and report usage properly. Over a third of the clubs were found to be taking water illegally, while the rest were not following required reporting protocols. Despite 100 of these incidents posing a risk to the environment, none of the golf clubs have faced prosecution or fines. Amy Fairman, head of campaigns at the environmental group River Action, called the findings "absolutely unacceptable," stating that the lack of consequences for breaching water licenses needs to be addressed. She emphasized the need for stronger monitoring and enforcement. The Environment Agency (EA), which oversees water abstraction licenses, said it has improved its monitoring capabilities and aims to work with violators to bring them into compliance. However, it has not ruled out taking further action if necessary. England is currently experiencing severe drought conditions, with over 70% of the country in drought following record-breaking heatwaves. The Met Office recently confirmed that this summer was the hottest on record, surpassing last year’s previous high. Nine major reservoirs are at exceptionally low levels, and farmers have raised concerns about potential food shortages due to the water crisis. The data analyzed by The Guardian covers the period from 2021 to 2025 and shows that the number of breaches has more than doubled, likely due to improved digital record-keeping and monitoring. During this time, golf clubs committed 279 breaches, accounting for about 6% of all reported violations. Of these, 175 were classified as category 2 or 3 breaches, meaning they could have a reasonably foreseeable impact on the environment, human health, or quality of life. These breaches included those that occurred during the droughts of 2022 and 2025. Fairman stressed the need for a national plan to ensure water is prioritized for essential services rather than for non-essential uses like golf. She also called for the creation of small reservoirs or wetlands on golf courses to retain more water locally. Dr. Megan Klaar, an expert in hydroecology, warned that water abstraction breaches can harm river ecosystems by raising temperatures, concentrating pollutants, and reducing habitat for aquatic life. The Environment Agency uses a combination of inspections, satellite data, and desk-based assessments to check compliance. When breaches are found, the agency may issue warnings, fines, or even pursue legal action. While some golf clubs use their own abstraction licenses, others have drawn criticism for using mains water in areas where householders are under hosepipe bans. Environmental campaigners have called for golf courses to be rewilded and for the sport to reduce its water consumption as part of the broader climate crisis response.