Sand-based putting greens characterized by excess organic matter accumulation are quite prone to the development of water repellency that can result localized areas of poor soil moisture availability and severe turfgrass damage. Our objective was to investigate the effects of preventive applications of non-ionic soil surfactants on the summer performance of a chronically water-repellent creeping bentgrass/Poa annua putting green. Performance over five summers was evaluated with visual ratings, soil moisture content readings, and various measures of shoot physiological function. Preventive applications of surfactants reduced soil hydrophobicity and commonly resulted in longer duration of soil moisture availability as irrigation was withheld. Consequently, less wilting was observed. Surfactant-treated plants consistently maintained higher levels of stress-protection compounds (antioxidants and proline) that resulted in greater maintenance of chlorophyll and photochemical efficiency. Faster recovery of turfgrass function and quality occurred given adequate irrigation or rainfall. Our results indicate an important use for non-ionic soil surfactants in sandy soils prone to water repellency.