Source: The Arizona Republic
Winter rules don't often apply to Valley golf courses, but they will be in effect for the third straight year at Phoenix municipal courses.
The city has informed its eight courses that fairways will not be overseeded this fall as a water conservation measure, leaving some golfers unhappy and members of its largest golf association angry.
The Cave Creek Men's Golf Association, which has 420 members, sent a letter to Mayor Phil Gordon and other city officials, expressing concerns and urging the city to reconsider.
"Once again, it appears to us that the city seems more interested in political expediency than it is in attracting golfers to courses that are in dire need of revenue and rejuvenation," the letter read in part.
The decision also doesn't sit well with recreational golfers such as Phil Storey, 65, of Scottsdale, who plays at Papago Golf Course.
"If you're going to maintain the golf course, you should maintain all of the golf course," Storey said. "This is a wonderful golf course if they'd just take care of it. I wish they would overseed it. I think it enhances everybody's skill level. I don't want to see guys moving the ball around (per winter rules). And that's what they do when they don't take care of it."
Rounds and revenue have dropped dramatically on municipal courses from 2001-02 levels, the last year that fairways were overseeded.
Some older courses are badly in need of improvements and modernization, and funding for that comes directly from course revenue.
Despite that, city officials say they will not change their decision to limit overseeding to greens and tee areas, calling it a "100 percent water issue," rather than a budget issue.
"No matter what we do, we can't produce more water," acting Parks and Recreation Director L.C. Scacewater said.
Scacewater said the partial overseeding program was first adopted because of dramatic water-use reductions by the city three years ago, and he added that more cuts have been mandated this year, affecting the entire parks system.
Tempe and Mesa, which have two municipal courses each, have continued to overseed fairways and greens.
"Our philosophy in the city of Mesa is that we overseed areas related to revenue production," said Mark Woodward, parks and recreation administrator and president of the National Golf Course Superintendents Association of America. "Our golf courses certainly fall into that category, along with spring training facilities."
While reduced revenue could delay course improvements recommended by the Golf Division and a Citizens Golf Advisory Council, Scacewater said water conservation remains a greater concern.
"I don't know what other cities and other courses are doing or how they're doing it, but we are not in denial about drought conditions," Scacewater said. "As the city of Phoenix, we have a responsibility to lead by example."
Members of the Cave Creek group have suggested moving to another course, which could result in a substantial revenue loss because it plays weekly and monthly outings at Cave Creek Golf Course.
The association, which was formed 20 years ago, was angered because it was advised Oct. 6 by course staff that fairways would be overseeded and later learned that was not the case. Scacewater said the city didn't issue any statements indicating that fairways would be overseeded this year.
"We don't expect country club conditions at a municipal course," association President Don Chambers said, "but when conditions become unplayable, that's another matter, and last year we were playing off bare spots during the peak season."
Cave Creek faces a greater problem than other city courses because it was built on top of a landfill and its root structure isn't as dense, creating poorer conditions when Bermuda grass becomes dormant.
Scacewater said he understands those concerns.
"I deeply regret that their members were misinformed about overseeding," he said. "That created high expectations, followed by a big disappointment. I don't blame them one bit for wanting to play on green grass. I prefer that myself, but that doesn't mean we can ignore our responsibilities at the administrative level."
When the citizens advisory group met Wednesday, it voted unanimously to support the city's decision.
"It's not a big tragedy," Chairman Cleve Lynch said. "Overseeding fairways is more of an aesthetic thing. We were in agreement that (not overseeding) was the responsible thing to do."
Jim Farkas, head pro at city-owned Encanto Golf Course, said that thick, dormant Bermuda grass provides a good playing surface, contrary to public perception.
"Without overseeding, it's a better playing surface because you don't have the mud on your ball every time you play and you can drive (carts) in the fairway," Farkas said. "But we get a lot of calls from people asking if we're overseeding the fairways. When we say no, they say, 'Well, we'll go play somewhere else.' "
That's the approach Tom Lowden, 39, of Glendale said he will take during the coming peak season.
"There are plenty of public courses now with rates that are competitive with city courses," he said. "If I have to pay an extra 10 bucks to play on grass instead of hardpan, that's what I'll do. And if I have to, I'll just play a few less rounds to make up the difference."
Overseeding tip sheet
* Phoenix municipal golf courses first overseeded fairways for the 1995-96 winter season to appeal to visitors in conjunction with the Super Bowl at Sun Devil Stadium. With prime conditions and low green fees, the courses flourished, with golfers lining up before daybreak to acquire tee times.
* Overseeding returned to greens and tee areas only for the 2001-02 season because of a downturn in the economy and a city mandate to reduce water usage from 4 billion gallons per year to 3 billion gallons.
* In the most recent fiscal year, at the eight city courses combined, rounds played were down by 92,296 and green fees revenue was down $957,381 from the last fiscal year (2001-02) when fairways were overseeded.
* Phoenix is currently in Phase 1 of another water reduction effort, calling for an additional 5 percent cutback. Water use throughout the parks system has been reduced.
* "Muni" courses are using an iron oxide compound on courses to prolong the growing season of Bermuda grass and help it recover more quickly in the spring. Bermuda grass does not go dormant until the first frost occurs.
* Overseeding an entire 18-hole course with rye grass can cost as much as $50,000.