Golf tournament reminder of drought
California’s drought evident during the Career Builder Challenge.
The fairways and greens are up to par, but the rough is brown like many of our thirsty lawns.
Now some hope the national spotlight of the tournament will help showcase the Valley’s efforts to save water.
The lush fairways and greens at a professional golf tournament are usually surrounded by even more green. However, at PGA West, the Stadium and Nicklaus Tournament courses are surrounded by brown.
“It’s a pretty contrast. In fact, I was surprised that there’d be the contrast that there is,” said spectator Barry Jacobson.
It’s a visual reminder to the mandatory water restrictions the state is under because of the drought.
“We know California has been severely affected by this,” said Jacobson.
“All of the brown turf you see here in the Valley this season is dormant bermuda grass that has not been overseeded,” said Jon Maddern, director of agronomy at PGA West.
In that state, it doesn’t require very much water.
This year you’ll find 150 acres of it at PGA West, Maddern says it’s become the norm for the Nicklaus and Stadium courses and more clubs are following suit.
“We are all trying to adhere to the water saving guidelines whether we are on canal water, or well water, which most of the golf courses here are on, so our reductions are either 10 percent or 25 percent we need to reduce,” said Maddern.
The Valley has taken heat in the past for its many golf courses and the water usage that comes with it. Maddern hopes the tournament’s national broadcast will help show just how much courses are saving.
“We’ve been one of the leaders,” said Maddern.
Spectators we talked to liked it seeing the green against the brown.
“It makes sense,” said Jacobson.
“I think it’s just a beautiful spot to come, that’s why we come here very often,” said spectator Corinne Pantleuk.
PGA West also, put in more desert landscaping, and upgraded it’s sprinkler systems to save water.
“We are able to cut it way way back,” said Maddern.
