Pasco: Rain keeps dry courses in the green

Rain keeps dry courses in the green

By WAYNE GRUMET

For months, superintendents at county golf courses have struggled to keep their greens from turning brown. The past few weeks of steady rain has brought relief to the local links.

"It's plush as heck out there," laughed Todd Burik, golf pro at The Links of Lake Bernadette in Zephyrhills. "It's green and green."

Course workers have been resorting to some creative ways of keeping the grass alive, let alone plush. And water restrictions have left little wiggle room.

"You've just got to be on top of the latest and greatest chemicals," said Susanne Pace, the pro at Timber Oaks in Port Richey. "We've been lucky. We have reclaimed water that we can use. It doesn't do anything for the receipts. We've needed it bad."

Others have leaned on old-school methods.

"Praying. Just praying for rain," said Bill Rinaldo, owner of Scotland Yards in Dade City. "There's not much you could do. There's a fine line when you can water without violating a rule. You don't want the grass to die."

However, the rain has also brought its share of troubles. The summer months are slow enough without threatening clouds looming overhead each day.

"It rained most of the day this past Saturday," Rinaldo said. "The only days during the summer you can make money to speak of is on Saturday or Sunday. Right now, it's a welcome swamp."

Pace added: "When the weatherman calls for a 65 percent chance of rain right at the start, the phone starts ringing at 7 a.m. for cancellations. People make an about-face in their plans."

The afternoon heat and thunderstorms also bring safety concerns to the fairways, creating the potential for heat exhaustion, heat stroke and lightning strikes.

"With this humidity you need to be drinking fluids the night before and during the round," Pace said. "Folks here year-round know when to take shelter when a storm comes. You'll see white, billowy clouds and then this darkness in the east. It may look like it is miles away but people need to know that lightning will strike in the sunshine."

JUNIOR GOLF: Meadow Oaks will host a golf minicamp each Monday until Aug. 6. Buzz Walker and Alex Koskos will instruct students ages 8 to 17 from 9 to 11:30 a.m. at a cost of $8 a week.

Walker and Koskos will cover basics of the full swing and short game, and rules and etiquette. Clubs can be provided.

Call (727) 856-2878 for information.

HOOPS CAMP: Saint Leo University will host a basketball day camp July 9 to 13 for boys and girls entering grades three through nine. Saint Leo men's basketball coach Mike Madagan will direct the camp. Madagan and his staff will emphasize individual fundamental skills.

Campers of all skill levels are welcome. Participants will be placed in groups based on size, age and ability.

Half- and full-day sessions are available. A full day costs $150 and a half-day costs $125. All campers will receive a ball, T-shirt and lunch.

For information call Madagan at (352) 588-8224.

- Wayne Grumet can be reached by e-mail at bkhwlg@msn.com or by fax at (352) 521-0290.