Staff WriterIf LIV Golf is going to keep dragging professional golf around the globe like a travelling circus with better polos, it needs something consistent underfoot—namely, playing surfaces that don’t change personality from one continent to the next.
That’s the idea behind a new collaboration announced today: The R&A Sustainable Agronomy Service and the USGA Green Section will work with the league to advance agronomic standards across its 14-event season spanning 10 countries and five continents.
In plain English: fewer surprises, more “championship-caliber,” and a steadier set of yardsticks—delivered with an eye on environmental responsibility and the realities of modern course management.
A single framework, global expectations
LIV Golf says it will implement a unified agronomic evaluation and preparation framework, drawing on the expertise of The R&A Sustainable Agronomy Service and the USGA Green Section. The objective is to elevate host courses to peak competitive condition—while doing it in a way that respects the land, the location, and the long-term health of the turf.
That’s not just code for “make it fast.” It’s about bringing consistent preparation principles to a schedule that hops climates, grasses, soil types, and maintenance philosophies with the regularity of a passport stamp.
LIV Golf: “fundamental to the success of each event”
Ross Hallett, LIV Golf’s EVP and Head of Events, framed it as a competitive and operational necessity—especially with players who know exactly what good conditions look like and aren’t shy about saying so.
“Our commitment to delivering championship-caliber playing conditions and world-class competition across the LIV Golf League is strengthened by our alignment with The R&A Sustainable Agronomy Service and the USGA Green Section,” said Ross Hallett, EVP, Head of Events at LIV Golf.
“Across 14 host cities worldwide, the preparation of our courses is fundamental to the success of each event. By implementing a comprehensive agronomic framework informed by the expertise of golf’s leading entities, we are able to elevate competitive standards year after year and ensure playing environments reflect the highest levels of professional sport.
Our athletes are among the most competitive and knowledgeable in the game, and competing on courses prepared to exacting global standards is essential to supporting both performance evolution and sustained excellence. We appreciate the continued leadership of The R&A and the USGA and their enduring commitment to advancing the game at the highest level.”
What The R&A and USGA Green Section bring to the table
The consulting services provided by The R&A Sustainable Agronomy Service and the USGA Green Section focus on advancing excellence in course management through resources, technology, insight, and best practices used across the game worldwide.
Their remit—according to LIV Golf’s announcement—includes helping courses and superintendents evolve and adapt with modern agronomic strategies, while preserving each venue’s distinct character. The balancing act is the whole point: deliver consistent, high-level playing environments without turning every host course into the same cookie-cutter stage set.
The legacy pitch: facilities, infrastructure, sustainability
LIV Golf also positioned the move within its broader “leave the place better” messaging—investments not just in course conditions, but clubhouse facilities and supporting infrastructure too. Paired with sustainability initiatives designed to deliver environmentally responsible events, the league says the aim is an enduring legacy beyond competition week.
Whether you buy that as civic-minded stewardship or good business sense (it can be both), the practical effect is clear: LIV Golf wants repeatable, measurable standards that travel well.
(Elvis Smylie of Ripper GC hits his shot from the first tee during the second round of the LIV Golf Riyadh at Riyadh Golf Club on Thursday, February 05, 2026 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Photo by Pedro Salado/LIV Golf)
LIV Golf 2026: big crowds, bigger itinerary
The LIV Golf 2026 season began with events at Riyadh Golf Club in Saudi Arabia and The Grange Golf Club in Adelaide, Australia—where Adelaide reportedly set new records as the highest-attended LIV Golf event ever and the largest professional golf event in Australian history (over 115,000 fans).
Next up, the league’s schedule keeps the frequent-flyer miles coming, with events listed as:
- Hong Kong Golf Club (5–8 March)
- Sentosa Golf Club (12–15 March)
- The Club at Steyn City (19–22 March)
- Club de Golf Chapultepec (16–19 April)
- Trump National Golf Club Washington DC (7–10 May)
- Real Club Valderrama (4–7 June)
- Bayou Oaks at City Park (25–28 June)
- JCB Golf & Country Club (23–26 July)
- Trump National Golf Club Bedminster (6–9 August)
- The Club at Chatham Hills (20–23 August)
- The Cardinal at Saint John’s (27–30 August)
- …and more
With that kind of geographic sprawl, a shared agronomic playbook isn’t a luxury—it’s the glue. And if LIV Golf can deliver week-to-week playing standards that feel both elite and locally authentic, it doesn’t just help the product on television. It makes the league’s global promise sound less like marketing and more like something you can actually putt on.
FAQs
What is LIV Golf’s new agronomy initiative?
LIV Golf says it will use a unified agronomic evaluation and preparation framework, informed by The R&A Sustainable Agronomy Service and the USGA Green Section, to raise and standardise playing conditions worldwide.
Why are The R&A and USGA Green Section involved?
They provide agronomic consulting focused on course management excellence—resources, technology, insights, and best practices—to help courses evolve while preserving their distinct character.
How does this affect LIV Golf events?
The league’s stated goal is consistent, championship-caliber playing standards delivered in an environmentally responsible way across a 14-event season spanning multiple continents.
