Mike,
Can you share the research done on paspalum that proves it needs less water then bermuda? I've seen some of the research, and the last I saw paspalum was the most salt tolerant of all grasses that can be used for golf course turf. There are other grasses more salt tolerant, but they don't have the density at low heights of cut to form good golf turf. But, the research I have read has not proved that paspalum will be maintainable at a quality needed for greens, fwys, and tees with less water then bermuda. Lower water quality, yes, less water, no. The key being that although both paspalum and bermuda are very drought tolerant, bermuda retains it's quality better then paspalum when under drought stress. I heard Strange say more then once that maybe paspalum was the grass of the future for use on golf courses because of it's low water needs. I don't expect to see paspalum out of the tropic zone any time soon. I believe paspalum is a great grass in the right application, but it certainly has it's limitations.
Also, I believe the paspalum on the greens was overseeded, was it? Once a turf is overseeded, the needs of the overseed turf surpass the needs of the primary or dormant turf. Even if the entire course is paspalum, it will still be overseeded and the rye that is there will still need more water then the paspalum, right?