Tom,
A couple of seasons back Pinon Hills in Farmington NM replaced all of the old impact sprinklers with the new gear driven rotors and really improved their playing conditions, according to the Super and Adam Clayman. Adam told me they eliminated the wet spots and the Super said they eliminated the dry spots. I bet they use about the same amount, but get a better bang for the gallon. Let me state somthing obvious, irrigation systems don't consume water, plants do. A better irrigation system will deliver water more uniformly with better control. Beyond that it comes down to the guy with a finger on the button. I'm with Mike Nuzzo on the sensor thing, I had a sensor salesman ask me if I had moisture sensors and I pointed to my assistant. They don't come any better than an astute human who can see a weather forecast. As far as spacing goes I am favoring the 60 to 62 foot range for the next project, but layout is key as is almost constant tweaking of the irrigation program.
Wetting agents aren't that expensive, I use some pricey stuff on my greens (3 acres) and some cheap stuff on the whole course (80 acres) via irrigation injection. Total bill is around 3K I think.
Organics help with soil structure, not so much for plant nutrition. The plant doesn't know the difference between the nitrogen that was applied in an organic form vs the conventional N. With better soil structure I think I get better utilization of conventional fert and can cut nutrient application, reduce water consumption, mowing, and pesticides. Organic 5% N @ $20/bag vs Urea N 46% @ $8.60/bag. Do the math for 3 to 6 pounds N/1000 sq ft/year and it would be ungodly expensive, but that's not how it works. High protien organics are made from plant and animal residues and byproducts, they cost more but have more energy (microbe food) than manures, which have had the nutrient value extracted by the critter that made the manure. I've been using a poultry waste product at 200#/acre twice a year, $500/ton, total 16 tons, $8000. Then I use cheap bulk soluble or liquid nitrogen to make up the rest of the N requirement and bring me to 3#N/1000. That is applied via injection with wetting agent and some enzyme, kelp, bacteria, and micro nutrients. I save a bunch by not spending on fancy slow release granulars because I can slow release my N with my fertigation, and I don't get the growth spurt thing right after a big fert application. The point is that it is organics for the soil, then use less of the conventional fert for the plant, and save on everything all along.
To answer the original question, though, architects can waste water more easily than they can save it, mostly on amount of acres irrigated. I will also opine that 55 acres (fairways too narrow) that is unplayable and underplayed is 55 acres of irrigation wasted. Eighty acres of heavily used playing surface can be more cost and water effective than a smaller unused track. If we're considering the use of a valuable resource shouldn't we apply a ROI equation? How about $/gallon return and put golf up against other users and see what makes the most sense. Water fountain designers and alfalfa growers won't like it. Architects are one part of the equation, but the Super has much more responsibility over time when it comes to saving water.
As far as the big picture goes, golf has the most efficient systems and best tools for being efficient with water, period. Other agricultural users lag far behind. They are making progress with laser levelling and drip, but when you consider the vast acreage of ag crops, golf is a fraction of a percent of water use for irrigation, industry or residential. Next time you fly over someplace with those big center pivot, round ag fields consider that a big one, quarter section, is equivalent to two new golf courses. Then count the round fields compared to the golf courses, you see what I'm saying. The best way for gca's to conserve water (along with the rest of us) is to quit eating hamburgers. How about some Tofurkey at the turn next time out. I think soy enhances the sixth sense too.