Climate activists from Extinction Rebellion (XR) took direct action on Sunday by plugging the holes on ten golf courses across Spain. The demonstration aimed to highlight the sport’s excessive water consumption during a severe drought that Europe is currently experiencing.
Under the cover of darkness, XR activists filled in the holes in golf courses located in Barcelona, Madrid, Valencia, the Basque Country, Navarra, and the Balearic Island of Ibiza. Their goal was to denounce the wasteful use of water “during one of the worst droughts Europe has ever suffered,” according to a statement from the group.
Some activists used cement to block the holes, while others filled them with seedlings. Banners with the message “Alert: drought! Golf closed for climate justice” were also left behind, showcasing XR’s trademark disruptive and attention-grabbing approach to raising awareness about environmental concerns.
XR pointed out that a single hole on a golf course consumes over 100,000 litres of water per day to maintain the lush green surroundings. Citing figures from the Spanish NGO Ecologists In Action, they revealed that 437 golf courses in Spain are irrigated daily. This water usage is claimed to exceed the combined consumption of Madrid and Barcelona, despite golf being enjoyed by a mere 0.6 per cent of the population.
The group criticised the “irresponsibility and sheer cynicism” of allowing such an elitist pastime to continue while Spain faces drought and rural communities suffer losses in their agricultural sector due to water scarcity.
Experts have warned that parts of Spain are experiencing the driest conditions in a thousand years, with reservoirs depleted to half their usual capacity. Last summer marked the hottest on record in Europe, with the continent enduring the worst drought in at least 500 years, according to EU figures. Additionally, the recent heatwave pushed temperatures above 44 degrees Celsius, resulting in 60 per cent of Spain’s territory being on red alert for lack of rain between June 1-10, as reported by the European Drought Observatory.
The golf course protest follows similar actions undertaken in recent weeks in Malaga, Seville, Almeria, and Cordoba, along with a previous demonstration in Madrid last October, XR stated.
Extinction Rebellion emphasised that these protests are part of a broader international movement targeting the wealthiest 1 per cent of the population through their indulgence in activities such as golfing, private jet travel, and luxury cars. The group aims to highlight that such lavish and resource-intensive leisure pursuits are a luxury that the world cannot afford.
One of XR’s key demands is the implementation of an immediate and democratically-agreed plan for water usage, including restrictions on watering golf course greens, in order to address the pressing environmental concerns exacerbated by climate change and drought.

