Sports clubs could be left high and dry if water chiefs extend sprinkler and hosepipe bans to recreational sites across Oxfordshire.

Thames Water has already announced that a hosepipe and sprinkler ban in domestic gardens will come into effect from April 3, following 15 months of below-average rainfall.

Summer sports such as golf, cricket and bowls, which rely on water to maintain grass surfaces, will all be affected if Thames Water is forced to go through with stage two of its water-saving plan.

An 18-hole golf course requires approximately 30,000-40,000 litres of water a day to keep its greens up to scratch.

Southfield Golf Club secretary Michael Blight said: "We have three courses here, meaning that we use around 120,000 litres of water a day.

"Our very existence is measured by the standard of our greens."

Oxfordshire's 42 bowling clubs would also be affected if sprinkler and hosepipes came in, because bowling greens require up to 15,000 litres a day in the height of summer. Oxfordshire Bowling Association county secretary Alan Braden said: "When you get to early July the ground starts to suffer and cracks could appear if it is dry."

Cricket clubs could also be hit, because squares need water so they can be rolled out flat at the beginning of play. Executive member for Cherwell League Ken White said the committee was planning to discuss the matter next month.

He said: "It would be at the height of the summer in the middle of the season when we would be worst affected.

"It's possible to use dew to roll the wicket and I think that's what we did last time when we had water restrictions."

However, organisers of the annual Oxford in Bloom competition vowed to rise to the challenge.

Mike Gass, Oxford in Bloom coordinator, said gardeners should not be downhearted.

He said: "You can use water butts and watering cans, and a lot of gardeners will be doing this already because they prefer using rain water, not tap water, because the flowers prefer it.

"I don't think this ban will affect the quality of the entries and the same goes for allotments.

"The only thing that might suffer is the quality of the lawns, but that will be the same for everyone."

Robin Markwell, a spokesman for Thames Water, said sports clubs could be affected if a drought order was imposed.

The third level of restrictions would be Thames Water applying for water scarcity status, which would allow it to make the installation of water meters compulsory.

At present, the company is focusing instead on fixing leaks, and is spending more than £500,000 a day on the task, fixing an average of 200 leaks per day.

The final sanction, if all else has failed, would be restricting supply.

Mr Markwell said: "The hosepipe ban can be expected to remain in place throughout the summer, but that decision will be regularly reviewed."

The company says anyone flouting the ban could face a £1,000 fine.