C.O. golf courses making adjustments in water use amid severe drought

(Update: Adding video, comments)

REDMOND, Ore. (KTVZ) -- Just like so many others, Central Oregon's golf courses are working to conserve water during the drought.

"You'll see more brown spots out here than we would typically have," Juniper General Manager Rob Malone told NewsChannel 21 on Tuesday.

Conserving water is the name of the game this year.

"We don't want to overstay our welcome, so to speak, by using more than what the resources of the area need," Malone said.

Redmond's municipal golf course gets water from a well owned by the city, but it’s given a certain allotment of it each year. With this year's drought and repetitive heat waves, it has adjusted.

"We do a lot more hand-watering this season,” Malone said. “Which means we go out, hook up to a quick couple and water the area that needs it, and not the entire area."

Malone explained when they hand-water, it uses hundreds of gallons, instead of the thousands the sprinklers use. The difference is noticeable, if you look past fairways and greens.

You can see some spots on the golf course aren't being watered anymore. And If Juniper can't use its well, they'll actually turn to the ponds on the golf course for water.

And their irrigation system has the ability to sense how much and where water is needed.

"A lot of people actually think golf courses are a waste of water, but in reality, we use water in a much more judicious manner than a lot of other water-centric industries do," Malone said.

The grounds crew will also lay down wetting agents, to help the turf absorb water better.

"We don't want to flaunt that we can water, so we're very cognizant of the quantity that we use for that purpose," Malone said.