Marrakesh Country Club removing acres of turf to save water

Marrakesh Country Club in Palm Desert is digging deep, cutting water use anywhere it can.

Orlando Delgado, Marrakesh golf course superintendent said the burned areas of grass are part of the three and a half acres of turf his crew will remove from the golf course this summer. They’ll also get rid of two acres of Home Owner’s Association green areas and replace them with desert landscaping.

Delgado expects the project will save an estimated three million gallons in water a year.

“As a golf superintendent it’s hard sometimes to really save that much water, but as a community we have to do our part,” said Delgado.

The golf course is the livelihood of Marrakesh, but what’s removed will be out of bounds. The country club’s made changes over the last several years. It installed a new irrigation system, is watering only at night and closely monitoring leaks at its ponds.

Delgado hopes residents will enjoy the course’s new desert makeover.

“You have a picture and the picture can be beautiful, but it doesn’t really stand out until you put a frame. This will represent the frame. This will frame the golf course and make it stand out more.”

The project will cost between $30,000 and $50,000 an acre.

“I look at it as beautifying the golf course and you’re getting all of the water savings.”

Delgado expects to finish this first phase of turf removal by September and get to work removing more next year.