As you know I love golf. But I agree that we use too much water to keep them going. Nor do I think we need that many courses in one place. I suggest to make them desert friendly is to turn some of them in to real desert courses. We have one of those here outside Yakima called River Ridge & the other I know of is in Richland called Horn Rapids. You tee off from Grass to a real green Flag/hole...but the inbetween is part grass & desert sand. It cuts down on the watering. I think it is a very cool concept.
David