Rancho Bernardo golf course enacting drought plan

Gov. Jerry Brown has ordered a 25 percent statewide decrease in water consumption for California communities — a first-time decree that could find many lush, green golf courses turning brown in addition to lawns at private residences.

Visual proof of the four-year long drought’s effects and imposed water conservation could become very evident in Rancho Bernardo and Poway, which combined has six public and private golf courses bordered by houses and main thoroughfares.

Brown, during an April 1 press conference after California recorded its lowest snow pack in decades, said, “This historic drought demands unprecedented action. ... As Californians, we must pull together and save water in every way possible.”

The governor’s recent action followed his proclamation last year that California was in a “drought state of emergency,” to which local government leaders responded by imposing additional water restrictions to those enacted several years ago.

On Tuesday night, Poway City Council toughened its outdoor watering restrictions. Starting May 1, Powegians will only be allowed to water their lawns two times per week, limited to 10 minutes per session. Right now they are limited to three times per week.

San Diego Mayor Kevin Faulconer announced Wednesday that the city will increase enforcement of water consumption restrictions, reinstitute a rebate program for residents who remove their lawns and the city will reduce its water use in landscaped medians and parks. Since Nov. 1, San Diegans have been limited to watering their lawns to three assigned days per week.

As local government leaders enact additional water rules that especially target landscape irrigation, local golf courses superintendents are having to formulate plans to keep their playing fields alive. Brown stated that golf courses — along with campuses, cemeteries and other large landscape areas — will be required to make significant cuts in water use.

Jim Alwine, golf course superintendent at Bernardo Heights Country Club and president of the California Chapter of the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America, said Bernardo Heights has been taking drought response steps since he became its superintendent 2 1/2 years ago. This has included installing a well and replacing grass with mulched areas.

Alwine said Bernardo Heights has used well water since summer of 2013 and solely irrigating with it since last October. Well water also fills its ponds and water features. However, he anticipates some potable water will also be needed during the coming hot summer months since the club’s well will not provide enough water.

To decrease the amount of potable water needed, he said more turf will be replaced with mulch. Areas that remain grassy will have their water-thirsty rye — which can be killed if irrigated with the salty well water — replaced with drought-tolerant Bermuda grass that can survive with salty water and less frequent irrigation.

Bernardo Height’s greens, a combination of annual bluegrass (also called Poa annua) and bentgrass, are the club’s top priority and cannot be allowed to die since replacing turf at each of the 18 greens can cost around $50,000 per green, he said. They are maintained almost daily.

Of the club’s 125 acres, he said about 100 acres had turf, recently decreased to 95 acres. By August, Alwine’s goal is to have no more than 60 acres of turf.

Replacing turf can be a costly endeavor, but since water prices will likely spike, replacement is necessary, he said. To offset the expense, the club obtains as much free mulch from tree trimmers as possible and is applying for turf replacement rebates so drought-tolerant plants and ground covers can be added to make the course attractive.

“A lot of the grass doesn’t need to be (on the course),” Alwine said. “There is plenty off the beaten path. So much of that grass is not necessary.”

He said to keep golf courses green, they are typically over-seeded with rye grass for colder months, while Bermuda grass is used in warm months. That has to change.

“We’ve gone all Bermuda grass, taking out the rye 100 percent in the fairways,” Alwine said. “All, except the greens, will be Bermuda that uses significantly less water and can go many days without water.”

Alwine said if the drought gets to be so bad that water is rationed, the club will stop watering the Bermuda grass altogether and let it turn brown. “We can let it go for a year or two and it will come back. It’s a strong turf.”

He said when the club irrigates, it is using drip lines, low-flow heads and a weather station to strategically water. Staff also use a soil moisture meter — which cost $1,000 — to determine when and where water is needed. For example, greens are checked daily since they must have at least 15 percent moisture to keep the grass alive. Staff check many areas and hand water only those that fall below the minimum, which might be only two or three spots. Moisture variations in each green are due to many factors, such as slope and shading.

While there was significant cost to the club to install the well, Alwine said since it started using well water for irrigation the annual bill has decreased from around $500,000 to about $200,000 last year. The savings are important, especially if in the near future rates increase to encourage conservation. Alwine said golf courses pay the same rates as homeowners, something he realized when comparing the club’s water rates to that of his San Diego home.

Alwine said golf courses can always find ways to meet water percentages set by government officials. If necessary, they can let the fairways and driving range go brown and in some areas, dye the remaining grass green, which Bernardo Heights has recently done in some areas.