When ominous, dark gray clouds blew into the area recently, Steve Foss couldn't have been any happier.
At Midland Valley Country Club in Graniteville, the golf pro has watched as afternoon and evening showers have turned his course into a lush, olive landscape.
"It's been good for us," he said. "You can't beat natural irrigation. I think our fairways are better than they've ever been."
Since the start of June, golf courses have enjoyed an ample supply of free water - Mother Nature transforming 18-hole tracts into aesthetic wonders. The deluges also have helped some courses offset lost greens fees by conserving energy and water - at Midland Valley the club saves on electricity because it doesn't have to pump water from its pond to dampen the course.
Rain clouds deposited 10.25 inches of precipitation in June alone. Add another .63 inches the first four days of July and it adds up to nearly half the total so far this year - 23.44 inches.
"This rain has really perked it up for us," Forest Hills Golf Club general manager Red Price said. "Up until the first of June, we worried about a shortage of water. ... Irrigation only keeps your grass alive."
While most of the showers have come later in the day, The River Golf Club director of golf Chris Verdery admitted it has slowed down business - something a drought will not do.
While Foss said he hasn't seen a slowdown, Price said his business has taken a hit, but not solely because of rain.
"The water doesn't slow it down as much as thunderstorms," he said.
Forest Hills, which reopened its course in November after a redesign, might be the one course that has benefitted the most from the downpours - especially on its par-3 seventh hole, which for the past six weeks has had a temporary green.
Price said the maintenance crew "re-sprigged" it, and the permanent green will soon open, with a little assistance from the wet weather.
"The rain helped it and hurt it," he said. "The rain gave us plenty of moisture. But we haven't had any sunshine."
At River Golf Club, Verdery said the rain has softened up his course. Verdery added that his maintenance staff has had to be more careful cutting the grass and also had to repair more bunkers.
"Our course dries pretty well," he said. "But you can only take so much."
Source: The Augusta Chronicle (Georgia)