Inform
We turn hard numbers into clear stories people can actually understand. The goal is not to shame golfers. The goal is to make the cost of the game visible.
// Golf Owes The Planet More
WE LOVETHE GAME.
We just think it's time golf had a harder conversation about what it costs the earth to exist. Wear the truth. Play the game. Change the course.
Est. Roughlie///
Golf Courses Use 4 Billion Gallons Of Water Daily///
Over 80 Million lbs Of Pesticides Applied Annually///
34,000+ Courses Worldwide///
1% Of Revenue To Eco Golf Initiatives///
Est. Roughlie///
Golf Courses Use 4 Billion Gallons Of Water Daily///
Over 80 Million lbs Of Pesticides Applied Annually///
34,000+ Courses Worldwide///
1% Of Revenue To Eco Golf Initiatives///
// The Numbers
THE SCORECARD LOOKS DIFFERENT OFF THE TEE BOX.
312B
Gallons
Water consumed by US golf courses every year — enough to supply 2.1 million American households.
80M
Pounds
Pesticides applied to US golf courses annually — more per acre than conventional agriculture.
34K+
Courses
Golf courses worldwide, each requiring up to 150 acres of maintained, chemically treated land.
5%
Certified
Fewer than 5% of golf courses hold any credible environmental sustainability certification.
// The Rough Truth
THE ISSUE ISN'T GOLF. IT'S HOW THE GAME IS BEING MANAGED.
Golf can create joy, jobs, tradition, and community. But the modern industry also depends on huge water use, constant chemical treatment, and land choices that often put appearance over ecology. Roughlie exists to keep both truths in the same conversation.
01
Water Consumption
The average golf course uses between 100,000 and 1,000,000 gallons of water per day. In drought-prone regions, courses can compete directly with neighborhoods, farms, and public systems for access to that water.
02
Chemical Runoff
Fertilizers, herbicides, and pesticides keep turf looking clean, but they do not stay neatly inside the fairways. They can move into nearby soil, streams, ponds, and groundwater systems.
03
Land Conversion
Courses can occupy more than 100 acres each. That means habitat loss, fragmented wildlife space, and fewer chances for land to be used for restoration, housing, or community green space.
04
Greenwashing
Some clubs talk sustainability while making only surface-level changes. Real accountability means measurable reductions, transparent reporting, and course design that works with the environment instead of against it.
// The Collection
WEAR THE MESSAGE.
Every piece funds the next step. Built for the course and the city.
ROUGHLIE
Embroidered Distressed Dad Hat
$20.00
ROUGHLIE
Embroidered Golf Polo Shirt
$38.98
ROUGHLIE
Embroidered Snapback Hat — 'Rough Lie' Script Flat Brim Cap
$25.00
ROUGHLIE
Monogram Golf Towel — RL Flag Embroidered Golfing Towel with Grommet
$17.68
ROUGHLIE
Origins polo-Grey
$35.00
ROUGHLIE
Origins Polo-white
$35.00
// Who We Are
BUILT BY GOLFERS. ACCOUNTABLE TO THE EARTH.
Roughlie isn't anti-golf. We're obsessed with it. Which is exactly why we can't ignore what the industry is doing to the land it depends on.
Every piece we make is a conversation. The stats are real. The damage is real. And the love for the game is real too. That tension is the whole point.
A percentage of every sale goes directly to organisations pushing for sustainable course management, water conservation, and rewilding of disused golf land.
Est. 2025
Play it as it lies
// Our Mission
WE WANT TO CHANGE HOW PEOPLE SEE THE GAME.
Our mission is to show that loving golf and questioning its impact can exist together. We are here to make the conversation louder, more honest, and harder to ignore.
Challenge
We push back on the idea that beautiful turf always equals progress. If a course looks perfect but drains resources or damages habitat, that should matter.
Support Better Golf
We believe golf can evolve through smarter irrigation, reduced chemical use, native landscaping, and course design that respects the land it occupies.
// Why It Matters
THIS IS BIGGER THAN A SPORT.
The way golf uses water, land, labor, and money says something about what we value. A course is not just a course. It is a decision about what gets protected, what gets consumed, and who benefits.
Environment
Course maintenance can reshape ecosystems, water systems, and biodiversity.
Communities
Golf influences local jobs, housing pressure, tourism, and land priorities.
Culture
The sport helps define who feels included, who gets access, and what progress looks like.
// Solutions
BETTER GOLF IS POSSIBLE.
The point is not to cancel the sport. The point is to push it forward. These are the kinds of changes that can make golf more responsible without losing what people love about it.
Smarter Water Use
Use drought-tolerant turf, better irrigation tracking, reclaimed water, and more selective course maintenance instead of watering every area the same way.
Native Landscapes
Replace unnecessary manicured areas with native plants that support pollinators and wildlife while lowering maintenance needs.
Lower Chemical Dependence
Move toward integrated pest management and reduce blanket chemical treatments wherever possible.
Real Accountability
Back up sustainability claims with certifications, public targets, and measurable reporting instead of vague branding.