Dry conditions tough on area golf courses

By CHRIS BIERI, Staff Writer cbieri@minotdailynews.com
The current drought has been public enemy No. 1 for North Dakota’s agricultural industry, but it has also wreaked havoc on area golf courses. North Dakota’s infamous howling winds haven’t helped either.

Souris Valley superintendent Kim Knatterud can’t remember a dryer spring. He said the lack of moisture was evident when Souris Valley opened.

Generally, carts aren’t allowed on the course until all the wet spots in low-lying areas on the course have dried up. This year there were no wet spots.

“Usually there’s some moisture and it’s soft and muddy (in places),” Knatterud said. “We haven’t had to keep the golf carts off at all.”

Bruce Ruppert has been the superintendent at the Minot County Club for 24 years. He can’t remember a time when conditions have been as barren.

“I’ve been doing this since 1983, this is as dry as I’ve ever seen it,” he said. “(19)89 was dry, but that was late in the season. This is the dryest spring I’ve ever seen.”

Ruppert said that in times of drought, course superintendents are left with only one option.

“Conserve,” he said. “Make sure we are not overwatering so we have enough for the greens. Making sure we are watering enough maybe not to keep it green, but to keep it alive.”

With grass kept short on fairways and especially on greens, that can be a challenge.

“(The lack of moisture) affects the greens the most, because of the mowing height,” Ruppert said.

“When you mow grass as close as we do, it doesn’t stand up to dry conditions,” Knatterud said.

Both Ruppert and Knatterud said they are currently handwatering greens and hope to get irrigation systems up and running next week.

While a week of precipitation would help the courses, Ruppert said there is no quick fix.

“I don’t think it’s that simple,” he said. “It would help. I’m still concerned about making it through the whole golf season.”

Knatterud said getting some rainfall could at least help to postpone severe dehydration of courses.

“Just the irrigation help that would provide would be significant,” he said. “If we could get a run-off event in July, that could help us through the end of the summer.”

Both Ruppert and Knatterud are hoping for conditions to improve, but are preparing for the worst.

“It looks tough,” Knatterud said. “Things can change, but it’s probably not going to be a pretty golf course.”